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Ana Helena Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Use of "did" in affirmative sentences

Hi there,

I´ve been testing my English and there´s something that I just can´t understand: Why is it correct to use the auxiliary "did" before a pronoun in an affirmative sentence?

For example:

"Only after they had completed the analysis to that degree did they begin to ask how to apply technology to the needs of our enterprise."

Just can´t get it...

Can anybody help me?

Thank you so much!
  

Top answer

This is a classic case of inversion. Note that "did" in inversions comes always with "only" which combines with time expressions and it is usually used with past simple. It has nothing to do with it being before a pronoun and in an affirmative sentence .

— Englishmann

  • This is a classic case of inversion.
  • Note that "did" in inversions comes always with "only" which combines with time expressions and it is usually used with past simple.
  • It has nothing to do with it being before a pronoun and in an affirmative sentence .
  • If you need other examples of inversions, just say a word.
  • What is "inversion" good for?
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1 Answers
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This is a classic case of inversion.

Note that "did" in inversions comes always with "only" which combines with time expressions and it is usually used with past simple. It has nothing to do with it being before a pronoun and in an affirmative sentence .

If you need other examples of inversions, just say a word.
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