Inversion 3: As Do Many Others
In this lesson, you can interpret and build a supporting as-clause with recoverable ellipsis.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Choose a short recording.
Before you start
Give an ordinary shared-action sentence with as.
See one possible response
Our group meets weekly, as the other group does.
You compare fictional reading groups in a formal programme note, then adapt the same information for speech.
What you will practise
- Interpret and build a supporting as-clause with recoverable ellipsis.
- Preserve the comparison when changing word order.
- Select a matching auxiliary and reformulate for clarity or register.
Respond before revealing. Preserve participant roles, source limits and register; justify a valid alternative where the context permits it.
As + auxiliary + subject
In a supporting comparison, an auxiliary can precede the subject: Our group meets monthly, as do several neighbouring groups. Do stands for the understood predicate meet monthly. This as means similarly, not because. Ordinary as several groups do is also possible.
The evening group uses short texts, as does the weekend group.
Our members can borrow copies, as can members of the partner group.
Than + auxiliary + subject
Formal comparisons can also use inversion: The library attracts more visitors than does the small gallery. The comparison is with the gallery’s visitor total, not a question. A non-inverted version is often more conversational.
The first edition contains more examples than does the revised one.
The newer route takes less time than does the older route.
Match the auxiliary and choose the register
Do/does/did supports an ordinary lexical verb; retain an existing modal or auxiliary when needed. Full noun-phrase subjects often work well in these formal examples. Inversion is a choice in selected constructions, not a rule after every as or than. Expand unclear ellipsis rather than display complexity.
The team has checked the captions, as has the editor.
The editor has checked the captions too.
Preserve the predicate when expanding the comparison
Guided practice
Say or write your answer first. Then compare the meaning and grammar with the model.
1. Our group meets monthly, as do two nearby groups. What do the nearby groups do?
Compare a model and explanation
They meet monthly.
Do recovers the stated predicate.
Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.
2. The first group uses summaries, as ___ the second group. Use do support.
Compare a model and explanation
as does the second group
The second subject is singular.
Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.
3. The members can borrow books, as ___ the tutors.
Compare a model and explanation
as can the tutors
Can is the shared modal; adding do would lose it.
Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.
4. The library opens earlier than does the gallery. Use ordinary order.
Compare a model and explanation
The library opens earlier than the gallery does.
The comparison is unchanged.
Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.
5. The first edition has more notes than does the second.
Compare a model and explanation
The first edition has more notes than the second edition has.
The lexical have reading is made explicit.
Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.
6. Our group meets online, as do two others. Does as mean because here?
Compare a model and explanation
No.
It adds a parallel fact about the other groups.
Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.
7. As I entered, the bell rang. Must I and entered be inverted?
Compare a model and explanation
No.
Temporal as is not this supporting comparison construction.
Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.
8. The team has checked the figures, as has the editor. Give a clear spoken alternative.
Compare a model and explanation
The team and the editor have both checked the figures.
The same actors and action remain without the marked clause.
Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.
A short conversation
Listen to the exchange, then take one role. The speaker labels identify roles; do not narrate them.
Open the conversation transcript
Writer: I wrote The first edition includes more notes than does the second.
Editor: That works in the report. How would you say it in a conversation?
Writer: The first edition has more notes than the second one does.
Editor: Good. The comparison is the same; the register is less marked.
Listening checks
Listen to each extract, then choose the best answer. These three questions have their own score.
Answer key with explanations
What do the weekend groups share?
Monthly meetings.: Do recovers meets once a month.
Compare all choices
- A causal responsibility for the evening meeting.: As adds a parallel fact, not a cause.
- The same members necessarily.: Shared membership is not stated.
- Monthly meetings.: Do recovers meets once a month.
Which route is described as quicker?
The newer route.: It takes less time in the stated comparison.
Compare all choices
- The newer route.: It takes less time in the stated comparison.
- The old route.: That reverses the comparison.
- Neither; this is a question about time.: The clause is declarative despite inversion.
What is attributed to the editor?
Having checked the captions.: Has recovers the perfect predicate.
Compare all choices
- Writing every caption personally.: Checking does not establish authorship.
- Having checked the captions.: Has recovers the perfect predicate.
- Planning to check them next week only.: The perfect presents earlier checking.
Mastery quiz
Choose the best answer for each situation. The score is out of eight.
Answer key with explanations
Match the present-simple meaning and singular second group: Our group meets weekly, as ___ the partner group.
does: It supports the lexical verb and agrees with the singular subject.
Compare all choices
- can: This would introduce capability rather than the same asserted routine.
- does: It supports the lexical verb and agrees with the singular subject.
- do: This does not match the singular target subject.
Which preserves the modal?
We can borrow copies, as can the tutors.: Can is shared across the clauses.
Compare all choices
- We can borrow copies, as do the tutors.: This changes the second claim to actual borrowing rather than matching capability.
- We can borrow copies, as have the tutors.: Have does not recover the stated modal predicate.
- We can borrow copies, as can the tutors.: Can is shared across the clauses.
Which non-inverted version preserves than does the gallery?
than the gallery does: The subject precedes the auxiliary in ordinary order.
Compare all choices
- than the gallery does: The subject precedes the auxiliary in ordinary order.
- than the gallery can: Can changes the comparison to ability rather than the same present-simple action.
- than the gallery did: Did changes the present-simple comparison to a past one.
In the target as-clause, as primarily means ___.
similarly, in the stated respect: It adds a parallel proposition.
Compare all choices
- because in every context: This confuses different uses of as.
- similarly, in the stated respect: It adds a parallel proposition.
- at the same physical place necessarily: No shared location is required.
Which statement about inversion after than is accurate?
It is optional in selected patterns, and ordinary subject–auxiliary order is also possible.: The lesson teaches a register-sensitive option, not an obligatory rule.
Compare all choices
- Inversion after than always turns the clause into a direct question.: This inversion remains part of a comparison, not a direct question.
- Every than-clause must put an auxiliary before its subject.: Ordinary-order comparative clauses are common and grammatical.
- It is optional in selected patterns, and ordinary subject–auxiliary order is also possible.: The lesson teaches a register-sensitive option, not an obligatory rule.
Which retains the perfect auxiliary?
The team has checked the list, as has the editor.: Has recovers has checked.
Compare all choices
- The team has checked the list, as has the editor.: Has recovers has checked.
- The team has checked the list, as does the editor, meaning the same completed check.: Does would normally support a different habitual predicate rather than the target perfect.
- The team has checked the list, as will the editor.: Will changes the second check to a future one rather than preserving the present-perfect comparison.
The first route takes less time than does the second. What is compared?
The two routes’ durations.: The omitted predicate is takes time.
Compare all choices
- The routes’ distances necessarily.: A time comparison does not determine distance.
- The two routes’ durations.: The omitted predicate is takes time.
- The routes’ costs.: Takes less time compares duration, not price.
Which edit prioritises clarity when the omitted predicate is hard to recover?
Repeat the relevant predicate explicitly.: Expansion prevents a misleading comparison.
Compare all choices
- Add another inverted clause with a new topic.: That can increase ambiguity.
- Assume the most recent noun always supplies the meaning.: Predicate recovery needs the whole context.
- Repeat the relevant predicate explicitly.: Expansion prevents a misleading comparison.
Use it in your own words
Supporting comparison
State a practice shared by two fictional groups using as plus an auxiliary, then expand both clauses.
Reveal a possible response
Our group reads short stories, as does the evening group. Both groups read short stories.
- Match the auxiliary
- Preserve the shared predicate
Other familiar practices are acceptable.
Formal and conversational
Compare two editions or services using inverted than, then give ordinary order.
Reveal a possible response
The first guide contains more maps than does the second. The first guide contains more maps than the second one does.
- Keep the comparison direction
- Explain the register choice
No real product recommendation is needed.
Put it all together
Give a formal and a spoken update on a fictional booklet: two teams checked it, one unresolved date remains and a new edition has fewer notes. Retrieve one stance or status construction from this level.
Reveal a possible response
Both teams have checked the booklet, as has the editor. There remains one unresolved date. The new edition has fewer notes than does the first. In plain terms, it has been checked, but the date still needs confirmation and the new edition includes fewer notes.
- Preserve actors, quantity and uncertainty
- Use inversion selectively
- Adapt the whole message for speech
Do not imply that checking guarantees the date is correct.
Take it with you
Selected as and than clauses allow formal inversion. Match the auxiliary and keep the omitted predicate recoverable. Ordinary word order remains a valid option.