In the session titled #GrammarTrivia: Omitting If, we have learned the inversions of subjects and verbs in conditional sentences. When a conditional sentence contains should, were, or had, the subject and verb of the if-clause are inverted. Inversion is also possible in sentences with negative expressions or comparisons.
(More on Omitting If: https://englishtips4u.com/2018/11/10/grammartrivia-omitting-if/)
1) Inversion with Negative Expressions
A negative expression, when it precedes a subject and verb, causes them to be inverted. It is to emphasize the negative element of the sentence.
List of negative expressions:
– no
– rarely
– not
– hardly
– never
– only
– neither
– rarely
– nor
– scarcely
– seldom
Examples:
1. Never were they so enthusiastic.
2. Hardly does she attend the class.
2) Inversion with Comparisons
Inverting the subject and verb of a sentence which contains a comparison is optional and rather formal.
Examples:
1. China is larger than Japan.
2. China is larger than Japan is.
3. China is larger than is Japan.
Sources:
Betty Schrampfer Azar, Understanding and Using English Grammar: Third Edition
Deborah Phillips, Longman Complete Course for the TOEFL Test
Compiled and written by @fathrahman for @EnglishTips4U on Monday, November 19, 2018
