nor

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Anonymous  #510224  Tue, 06 May 08 08:30 AM

Hi,

At The American Heritage Book of English Usage at Bartleby.com in the section named "1. Grammar: Traditional Rules, Word Order, Agreement, and Case", I saw this line in its note:

However, when a verb is negated by not or never, and is followed by a negative verb phrase (but not an entire clasue), you can use either or or nor: He will not permit the change or (or nor) even consider it.   

Can you tell me what is it saying???

Before that, it had this example sentence:

He cannot find anyone now, nor does he expect to find anyone in the future. Jane will never compromise with Bill, nor will Bill compromise wth Jane.

And it seemed to have noted that these constructions nor causes an inversion of the  "does' and 'will' and subject (whatever that is).  

 

  
Mister Micawber  #510265  Tue, 06 May 08 09:53 AM
.
Can you tell me what is it saying???

He is saying that these are both right:

He will not permit the change or even consider it.
He will not permit the change nor even consider it.


Yes, negative words often cause S-V inversion:

I cannot swim; neither can I dive.
Hardly had he opened the door when the dog shot out.

  
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