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Thomas_Anderson Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Not only is its... ??
I came across this sentence in Economist magazine "Not only is its economy far smaller; its government’s finances are also a mess."
Why writer has placed is earlier?
Is it correct?
Shouldn't it be "Not only its economy is far smaller; its government’s finances are also a mess."
What's the differences in the two versions?
Please help me with this problem.
Why writer has placed is earlier?
Is it correct?
Shouldn't it be "Not only its economy is far smaller; its government’s finances are also a mess."
What's the differences in the two versions?
Please help me with this problem.
Top answer
There are some phrases in which we invert the subject/verb order. "Not only" is one of them. Not only are you smart, but you are also attractive.
- There are some phrases in which we invert the subject/verb order.
- "Not only" is one of them.
- Not only are you smart, but you are also attractive.
- Not only is this country's economy smaller, it's also experiencing a financial meltdown.
- I wouldn't have put the ; between these two clauses, though.
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4 Answers
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There are some phrases in which we invert the subject/verb order.
"Not only" is one of them.
Not only are you smart, but you are also attractive. Not only is this country's economy smaller, it's also experiencing a financial meltdown.
I wouldn't have put the ; between these two clauses, though. The "not only" makes it a dependent clause and it needs the next one to be a
"Not only" is one of them.
Not only are you smart, but you are also attractive. Not only is this country's economy smaller, it's also experiencing a financial meltdown.
I wouldn't have put the ; between these two clauses, though. The "not only" makes it a dependent clause and it needs the next one to be a
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Compare: Not only are you nice, but also clever. to Not only you are nice, but also clever.
The secound example makes it sound as if you told someone, that not only he, but also other people are nice.
The secound example makes it sound as if you told someone, that not only he, but also other people are nice.
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Hi Thomas
There are quite a few negative conjunctions, adverbs and phrases that, when used at the beginning of a sentence or clause, will trigger the inversion of the subject and the verb. For example:
At no time
Barely
By no means
Hardly
In no way
Never
No sooner
Not once
Not only
Not until then/Monday/next week/etc.
Nowhere
On
There are quite a few negative conjunctions, adverbs and phrases that, when used at the beginning of a sentence or clause, will trigger the inversion of the subject and the verb. For example:
At no time
Barely
By no means
Hardly
In no way
Never
No sooner
Not once
Not only
Not until then/Monday/next week/etc.
Nowhere
On
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Thanks a lot Grammar Geek, Lucbert and Yankee.
Now my concept is clear.
Thanks for your time.
Now my concept is clear.
Thanks for your time.
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