Notes 27/04

Name: Anthony Romero

Theme: Negative adverbs and word order

Negative adverbs are words like never, not only, and notonce. You can start a clause with a negative
adverb to add emphasis. When you use a negative adverb to start a clause, put the verb before the
subject.

Not only is the Millau Viaduct a feat of engineering, it is also beautiful.

(The subject is the Millau Viaduct.)

• Not once were the engineers unable to find asolution to a problem.

(The subject is the engineers.)

Auxiliary verbs

When the verb is a simple present verb, add do or does before the subject.

• Not only does the Millau Viaduct ease traffic congestion, but it has become a landmark.

When the verb is a simple past verb, add did before the subject

. Not once did the engineers fail to find a solution.

When the verb is a present perfect or past perfect verb. put has, have or had before the subject.

• Not only has the bridge solved the traffic problem, but it has become a major landmark

• Never before had engineers attempted to builda bridge like this.

Inversion with little, rarely, hardly, hardly ever, seldom, and only + prepositional phrase

Some adverbs including little, rarely, hardly, hardly ever, and seldom have a negative

meaning. When you use these adverbs to start a clause, use the same in version and put the

verb before the subject.

• At the outset, little did they realize how difficult the project would be.

• Rarely has a bridge like this attracted so much attention.

• Hardly ever do projects of this scale stay on schedule.

You also invert the subject and verb after only + prepositional phrase.

Only by elevating the highway were the architects able to achieve the stunning

visual

impact. Only on clear days does the valley below become completely visible.
Clauses that begin with a noun or pron

Only invert the subject and verb when a negative adverb begins a clause. If the clause begins with a
noun or pronoun subject, you do not need to change the word order.

The Millau Viaduct not only eases traffic congestion, but it has become a landmark but Not only does
the Millau Viaduct ease traffic congestion, but it has become a landmark. Engineers had never
before attempted to build a bridge like this.

but Never before had engineers attempted to build a bridge like this

Essone Incredible feats:

Crammar: Emphasizing ideas

(A) Watch the presentation. Practice saying the example sentences.

Clauses that begin with a noun or pronoun subject

Only invert the subject and verb when only at the beginning of a clause is followed by a prepositional

phrase.

Only one team of engineers was allowed to erect the pylons

but Only by elevating the highway were the architects able to achieve the stunning visual

impact