Identify the sentence that correctly employs inversion after a negative introductory adverbial phrase.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Seldom have we witnessed such rapid technological transformation in university education
- Step 1: When an independent clause begins with a negative or restrictive adverbial (seldom, rarely, scarcely, never), subject-auxiliary inversion is mandatory.
- Step 2: The auxiliary verb 'have' must precede the grammatical subject 'we': 'Seldom have we witnessed...'.
Answer
Seldom have we witnessed such rapid technological transformation in university education.
Why not the others: 'Seldom we have witnessed such rapid technological transformation in university education' fails to invert the subject and auxiliary; 'Seldom have witnessed we such rapid technological transformation in university education' incorrectly moves both auxiliary and main participle before the subject; 'Seldom we witnessed such rapid technological transformation in university education' omits the auxiliary verb and fails to invert.
Practise more Grammar, Sentence Structure and Error Identification.
Free questions with an explanation for every one, and full timed University of Bahrain Aptitude Test (UOB Aptitude) mock tests.
More Grammar, Sentence Structure and Error Identification questions
- Choose the sentence that demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement with a collective noun.
- Identify the sentence that correctly utilizes parallel grammatical structure.
- Select the sentence that avoids a misplaced or dangling participial modifier.
- Choose the correct relative pronoun to complete the sentence: 'The researcher _______ published the landmark paper on desiccant cooling was…
- Identify the sentence that contains a comma splice error.
- Select the sentence that correctly employs the subjunctive mood for an academic formal demand.