"... not only does it ..." vs. "... not only it ..."?

Question

What structure the two following expressions follow? More specific, what is the role of "does" in the first expression?

This is mainly because not only does it positively affect students' opinions, but it also ... .

This is mainly because not only it positively affect students' opinions, but it also ... .

Does the removal of "does" in the second structure make it wrong. If not, what is the first one is benefitted from "does"?

StephenS · Accepted Answer

This is mainly because not only does it positively affect students' opinions, but it also ... .
This is mainly because not only it positively affect students' opinions, but it also ... .

The “does” is required to put the subject after “not only”. Without it, you must use the standard word order:

This is mainly because it not only positively affects students' opinions, but it also ... .

Notice that without “do” as a helper verb, “affect” changes from bare infinitive to present simple. Since the subject is “it”, that means “-s”.

"... not only does it ..." vs. "... not only it ..."?

One Answer

Add your own answers!

Ask a Question