Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[humpty]

Hi,

Could you please help me on the following?

I think that the following sentence is incorrect, but I don't know how to explain it in grammar terms. Inversion + aux.verb + subject + comma + non-defining relative clause + comma + mais verb. The verb form (does suspect) was split by the relative clause:

"Little does my friend, who is an English teacher in China, suspect that he is about to lose his job."

Thanks.

Best

H.

[IanT]

It's correct. Clumsy, but not wrong. If you take out the non-defining clause it reads fine.

Best wishes,
Ian
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[humpty]

Thank you.

You said well: "If your take out the relative clause, it reads fine." That's my point precisely. And if you don't take it out? Can we accept it as it is? Is it correct to split the verb as it is?

Thanks.
H.