With the use of the ( f, g)-inversion formula under specializations that f = 1−xy, g = y−x, we establish an expansion of (modified) basic hypergeometric r φ s series in variablex t as a linear combination of r+2 φ s+1 series in t and its various specifications. These expansions can be regarded as common generalizations of Carlitz's, Liu's, and Chu's expansion in the setting of q-series. As direct applications, some new transformation formulas of q-series including new approach to the Askey-Wilson polynomials, the Rogers-Fine identity, Andrews' four-parametric reciprocity theorem and Ramanujan's 1 ψ 1 summation formula, as well as a transformation for certain well-poised Bailey pairs, are presented.