| No Title by Joane - 2010/03/26(Fri) 19:50 No.281 |
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Inversion
We put an auxiliary verb before the subject of a clause in several different structures. This is called inversion. Consider the statement She is coming with us, in which the subject she precedes the auxiliary is. In the corresponding YES/NO question Is she coming with us?, the auxiliary is comes before the subject she.
Note that inversion does not occur in indirect questions.
* I don't know if she is coming with me. (NOT I don't know if is she coming me?)
Inversion may also occur in certain other circumstances. With may
In wishes, may often comes before the subject.
* May God bless you. * May all your dreams come true.
After words like scarcely, hardly, seldom, little, never, rarely etc.
* Little did he realize the danger he faced. * Never have I seen such a mess.
Sometimes a negative adverb or adverbial expression comes at the beginning of a clause for emphasis. It is usually followed by an auxiliary verb + subject.
* Under no circumstances can we cash cheques.
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