Members help members on grammar, vocab, pronunciation...
Moderator: EC
wellow
Member
Posts: 5 Joined: Fri Jan 26, 2007 3:23 pm
Location: france
Post
by wellow » Fri Jan 26, 2007 3:29 pm
hi,
can anyone explain a grammar point please?
it relates to the sentence ' Not until later did I realise my mistake'
Is this a type of conditional? Can anyone give me any other examples please?
thanks
Micawber
Member
Posts: 17 Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:54 am
Location: Yokohama
Post
by Micawber » Sat Jan 27, 2007 2:29 pm
.
It is not a conditional. It is an example of subject-verb inversion as a result of a fronted negative adverbial . Another example:
Never have I seen such a beautiful woman!
.
wellow
Member
Posts: 5 Joined: Fri Jan 26, 2007 3:23 pm
Location: france
Post
by wellow » Sun Jan 28, 2007 8:40 pm
umm, sorry to be thick, but what is a 'fronted negative adverbial'?
thanks
Micawber
Member
Posts: 17 Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:54 am
Location: Yokohama
Post
by Micawber » Sun Jan 28, 2007 10:08 pm
.
Pretty much what it says, wellow-- an adverb or adverbial phrase which has negative connotations and is placed at the front of the sentence:
Hardly had he opened his eyes than the alarm rang.
Only seldom can one find a giraffe in a supermarket.
wellow
Member
Posts: 5 Joined: Fri Jan 26, 2007 3:23 pm
Location: france
Post
by wellow » Mon Jan 29, 2007 7:15 am
ok - thanks, was just a bit flawed by the terms. am a native speaker and not a linguist!!