Questions tagged [subject-verb-inversion]

Questions about reversing the order of a clause’s subject and verb, including subject–auxiliary inversion in questions and normal subject–verb swap in locative, directive, copular, and quotative inversions.

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How do multiple modal constructions work with ellipsis or inversion?

I have been researching on multiple modal constructions, which is a dialect mainly used in The Southern United States. Unlike Standard English, this dialect allows more than one modal auxiliary per ...
student's user avatar
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1 answer
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Does an inverted protasis mean just plain “if”, or does it mean “even if”?

When the first part of a conditional’s if-clause is inverted and the if consequently dropped, is the missing if just a plain old “simple if”, or is it more of an “even if”? For example, in this ...
anotherworld's user avatar
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Nor + inversion or no inversion?

My teacher showed me these examples at the lesson about conjunctions: a) She does not eat meat, nor does she drink milk. b) My grandfather could neither read nor write, but he was a very wise person. ...
Bartene's user avatar
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Negatives and Interrogatives with and without subject-verb inversion: "Didn't you have a lecture today?" vs "You didn't have a lecture today?"

"Didn't you have a lecture today?" vs "You didn't have a lecture today?" Regarding the aforementioned clauses, from "experience", I can surmise different, subtle nuances. ...
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'Did/does' at head of subordinate phrase

He does have a sense of humour does Mr Marr. Nigel Williams, 1992 Is this double use of do just doubly emphatic? Secondly, why can't do be used similarly, for example with a plural proper noun?
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How to understand the grammar of "strength were granted me"?

I find the following sentence from a translation of Proust's In search of lost time: But at least, if strength were granted me for long enough to accomplish my work, ... I want to understand it ...
ddd's user avatar
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Subject-verb inversion when subject isn't clear

I just felt like writing the following sentence: n^k distinct configurations has a 2dfa(k). It's natural formulation would be "a 2dfa(k) has n^k distinct configurations", but its after 2AM,...
Utkan Gezer's user avatar
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Inverted sentence + parallel structure

"Only through accurately understanding our feelings can we learn to free ourselves from negative emotions, which provides more creative energy, as well as the opportunity for limitless personal growth,...
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Is the sentence, "What I can tell you is that, hidden within the question, lies the answer," correct?

Here's the sentence: "What I can tell you is that, hidden within the question, lies the answer." It makes sense, but I don't really know it's it right. I figured that the "hidden within the question, ...
FimpleSlips's user avatar
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494 views

Inversion when using "not only ~ but also."

Is the following sentence correct? Not only can the coverage be easily increased, but the topology can also be more robust.
Danny_Kim's user avatar
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so ~ that ~ structure vs. inversion of sentence

My colleagues (who are teachers) are divided about the exact structure and meaning of the bolded sentence in the following sentence: Improvements in diet, hygiene and medical science have led to ...
Heewoo Kim's user avatar
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Inversion with two clauses?

a) Only after I had explained everything, did he stop blaming and did she stop crying. b) Only after I had explained everything, did he stop blaming and she stop crying. c) Only after I had explained ...
hebothu's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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Unsure if my inverse order compound sentence makes is correct

I am working on a college essay and I have one sentence that may have a grammar issue. I was successful in my goals for the program, but even more so was the program successful in its goals for ...
Riley Fitzpatrick's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
145 views

Can I make an inverted sentence from the following original one?

Here is the original sentence: So, I decided to walk only at night until I was far from the town. A teacher said this sentence can be changed into the following one : Only at night, did I dicide to ...
genesis's user avatar
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How we can omit the subjects in "not only but also" structure?

When we can omit the subject (or sometimes the verb) in the second part of "not only... but also" structure? I have seen some examples: Not only is he handsome but also intelligent Not only ...
Ali Abdari's user avatar
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Color and inverted sentence?

One of my colleagues asked me the other day why can we say both the following? Red is my favorite color. My favorite color is red. Yet, we cannot say Red is his house. when his house is red. What ...
IcyIcicle's user avatar
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Why we need inversion when a clause starts with a negative adverb?

Why is inversion needed when a clause starts with a negtive adverb? When a clause starts with neither, nor, never, we need inversion. Examples Never will you go to school. Nor will I do that. ...
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Negative Inversions

I am familiar with inversions, but I'm not sure about the following inversions. Would anyone say the ones in bold - or start a sentence that way? Not entirely am I not convinced… Not entirely am I ...
mscola1975's user avatar
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Inversion with of?

Could the prepositional verb "of" be used with inversion? As so: " Of the apple there was nothing left, for the worm had found it's way inside and it could only be thrown away." Is the emboldened ...
user79773's user avatar
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1 answer
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See? How fun this game is!

I'm not a native speaker, and I need help with the proper usage of exclamatives in some contexts. [Context1: John is playing a video game alone, and is enjoying it. He utters:] 1. How fun this game ...
braininvat's user avatar
-1 votes
2 answers
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Transformation of sentence beginning with As soon as into sentence beginning with Hardly.....when

Consider this sentence: As soon as we reached the station, the train left. Now if I transform this into a sentence beginning with Hardly, then which of the following sentences is correct and why? ...
user744725's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
166 views

Is this a correct way to use hyperbaton?

Soon this man found himself in the clutches of an evil witch. Mean, full of hatred hell-bent she was on finding and killing him no matter the cost. Does the latter part of the sentence above make ...
user79773's user avatar
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-2 votes
1 answer
255 views

Is it always possible to inverse the subject and the verb?

I am wondering whether we can invert the subject and the verb in english. Ex (illustrative only): A car is provided to the players. The keys must be retrieved at the office. would become Is ...
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