SKILL 17: INVERT
THE SUBJECT AND VERB WITH NEGATIVES
The subject and verb can also be
inverted after certain negatives and related expressions. When negative
expressions, such as no, not, or never, come at the beginning of a
sentence, the subject and verb are inverted.
In the first example the negative
expression not once causes the
subject I to come after the helping
verb did. In the second example the
negative word never causes the
subject Mr Jones to come after the
helping verb has. In the last example
the negative expression at no time
causes the subject woman to come
after the helping verb can.
When a negative expression appears
in front of a subject and verb in the middle of a sentence, the subject and
verb are also inverted. This happens often with the negative words neither and nor.
I do not want to go, and neither does Tom.
The secretary is not attending the
meeting, nor is her boss.
In
the first example the negative neither causes
the subject Tom to come after the
helping verb does. I the second
example the negative nor causes the
subject boss to come after the verb is.
EXERCISE 17: Each of the following
sentences contains a negative or “almost negative” expression. Circle the
expressions of place. Look at the clauses that immediately follow the place
expressions and underline the subjects once and the verbs twice. Then indicate
if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
3.
(_______)
Steve did not win the prize, nor did he expect to do so.
4.
(_______)
Only once in my life gone I have to New York City.
5.
(_______)
Did he go out of the house at no time.
6.
(_______)
Seldom their secretary has made such mistakes.
7.
(_______)
No sooner had she hung up the phone than it rang again.
8.
(_______)
Sheila did not arrive late for work, nor she left early.
9.
(_______)
Barely had he finished the exam when the graduate assistant collected the
papers.
10.
(_______)
The police did not arrive in time to save the girl, and neither did the paramedics.
ANSWER KEY
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