Introduction
LESSON 24 LESSON 24
Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression 147
• When the following expressions beginning with only occur at the beginning of a sentence (with these expressions the subject and verb of the second clause are inverted)
only if only because only until
only when only after
Only if you have a serious problem should you call Mr. Franklin at home.
Only when you are satisfied is the sale considered final.
• When clauses beginning with the word so + an adjective or participle occur at the beginning of a sentence
So rare is this coin that it belongs in a museum.
So confusing was the map that we had to ask a police officer for directions.
• When clauses beginning with expressions of place or order occur at the start of a sentence (in these cases, the subject and main verb are inverted since auxiliary verbs are not used as they would be in most questions)
In front of the museum is a statue.
Off the coast of California lie the Channel Islands.
First came a police car; then came an ambulance.
... Sample Items
Andromeda is a galaxy containing millions of individual stars, but it is _ _ _ _ _ _ Earth that it looks like a blurry patch of light.
(A) so far away from (B) away so far from (C) from so far away (D) away from so far
Only choice (A) involves the correct word order for this sentence. Choices (B) and (D) are incorrect word orders in any sentence. Choice (C) could be correct in certain sentences, but is not correct in the context of this sentence.
Not only _ _ _ _ _ _ shade and beauty, but they also reduce carbon dioxide.
(A) do trees provide (D) trees provide (C) provide trees (D) trees do provide
Only choice (A) correctly uses question word order after not on(y. Choices (B) and (C) do not use an auxiliary verb, which is required after not only. Choice (D) does not follow the correct word order: auxiliary + adjective + main verb. ....
Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression 147
LESSON 24
WORD ORDER ITEMS
All of the answer choices for a Structure item involving word order contain more or less the same words, but they are arranged in four different orders. The word order is "scrambled" in three choices;
one is correct. Most items consist of three or four words.
(A) XY Z (B) YX Z (C) ZYX (D) X ZY
Word order problems are easy to identify because the answer choices are exactly-or almost exactly-the same length, so the answer choices form a rectangle.
(A) so far away from (B) away so far from (C) from so far away (D) away from so far
Many different types of structures are used in word order problems. One of the most common is a phrase with a superlative adjective or adverb.
c":.) Word order items are the only Structure items in which the dis tractors can be ungrammatical. In other Structure problems, distractors are always correct in some context. However, at least two of the choices may be grammatical. The correct choice depends on the context of the sentence.
It sometimes is easy to eliminate distractors in word order items by making sure they "fit" the rest of the sentence. If you are not sure which remaining answer is correct, use your "ear." Say the sentence to yourself (silently) to see which sounds best. Sometimes in word order problems, the answer that looks best doesn't always sound best. Don't, however, go just by the sound of the answer choices; you must consider them as part of the whole sentence.
A special type of word order problem involves in"ersions~ This type of sentence uses question word order even though the sentence is not a question. When are inversio~s used?
• When the negative words listed below are placed at the beginning of a clause for emphasis
not only not until not once at no time by no means nowhere
Not once was he on time.
never seldom rarely scarcely no sooner
Seldom have I heard such beautiful music.
Not only did the company lose profits, but it also had to layoff workers.
• When the following expressions beginning with only occur at the beginning of a sentence (with these expressions, the subject and verb in that clause are inverted)
only in (on, at, by, etc.) only once
only recently Only in an emergency should you use this exit.
Only recently did she return from abroad.
Only by asking questions can you learn.
• When the following expressions beginning with only occur at the beginning of a sentence (with these expressions the subject and verb of the second clause are inverted)
only if only because only until
only when only after
Only if you have a serious problem should you call Mr. Franklin at home.
Only when you are satisfied is the sale considered final.
• When clauses beginning with the word so + an adjective or participle occur at the beginning of a sentence
So rare is this coin that it belongs in a museum.
So confusing was the map that we had to ask a police officer for directions.
• When clauses beginning with expressions of place or order occur at the start of a sentence (in these cases, the subject and main verb are inverted since auxiliary verbs are not used as they would be in most questions)
In front of the museum is a statue.
Off the coast of California lie the Channel Islands.
First came a police car; then came an ambulance.
... Sample Items
Andromeda is a galaxy containing millions of individual stars, but it is _ _ _ _ _ _ Earth that it looks like a blurry patch of light.
(A) so far away from (B) away so far from CC) from so far away CD) away from so far
Only choice CA) involves the correct word order for this sentence. Choices CB) and CD) are incorrect word orders in any sentence. Choice (C) could be correct in certain sentences, but is not correct in the context of this sentence.
Not only _ _ _ _ _ _ shade and beauty, but they also reduce carbon dioxide.
(A) do trees provide (B) trees provide CC) provide trees CD) trees do provide
Only choice (A) correctly uses question word order after not only. Choices (B) and (C) do not use an auxiliary verb. which is required after not on~y. Choice CD) does not follow the correct word order: auxiliary + adjective + main verb. ..
Section 2 • Guide to Structure and Written Expression 149