inversion for IF clauses - type 2?

[Nessie]

Hi,
Do people often use inversion for IF clauses - type 2? (I find this a bit weird as I've never seen it used)
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Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

[Atomos]

Hi,

I rarely use it but I've seen it used in exercises. For example:

If I were rich, I would buy a Ferrari.
===> Were I rich, I would buy a Ferrari.
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[Alan]

Hi Nessie,

This inversion construction for conditionals is usually reserved for dramatic/poetic/emotive expressions. You could say: If I had known you were at the station, I would have offered you a lift. That's just a matter of fact statement. But you could say: Had I known what I now know, I would never have agreed to that ridiculous plan. Here you are expressing regret/anger/emotion.

Hope that clarifies.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Nessie]

Thanks a lot, Alan and Atomos, I know that this kind of inversion is rarely used in daily conversation, but I'm just curious :)
Yea, I've seen sentences such as 'Were I rich, I would buy a Ferrari', but what about this: 'If you helped me, I would tell you the secret"
=> How can it be inverted?
_________________
:(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

[Atomos]

Hi, nessie

[Nessie]

Actually, I am not taught much about inversion of IF clauses - type II. I did do exercises like 'were I rich, I would...', and I also heard (maybe for once) about 'were I you, I would...', but I've never gone further in this. My teachers mentioned nothing about 'Had I some money, I would...', so I really have no idea whether it's correct or not (a bit odd to my ears :P). Anyway, let's wait for some native speakers' ideas :)
_________________
:(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

[Yankee]

Hi Nessie

I'd say you'll rarely see that sort of inversion in a type 2 IF sentence unless, as Atomos mentioned, you use 'were'. (AmE) The inversion with 'were' would tend to sound much more formal than the "regular" uninverted version.

This sentence sounds ludicrous to me:
* Had I some money, I would buy myself a hotdog. :roll:
I would only expect to hear someone say something like that as a joke.
.
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"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Nessie]