INVERSION AFTER AS AND THAN
Now we can learn to use inversion in structures that compare or show similarity between two different things.
INVERSION AFTER AS

As can be followed by an auxiliary verb (or the verb to be) which is inverted with the subject.
The structure indicates a similarity between the two things compared in the sentence. For example, The sitting room was found to be filthy, as was the kitchen focuses on the fact that both rooms were similarly dirty.
Our neighbours refused to pay the money, as did we once we knew the plumber was
overcharging.
James is going to go to the local school, as will Harry when he’s old enough.

INVERSION AFTER THAN

THAN can be followed by an auxiliary verb (or the verb to be) which is inverted with the subject.
The structure indicates a comparison between things or people.
For example.
- People living in the countryside have fewer leisure opportunities than do those living in the city. => focuses on the comparison between the two groups of people.
- The stars of US films are often better known than are the stars ofour own, home-grown cinema.
- Delegates attending my afternoon session will have a shorter lunch break than will those attending Mr Wilson’s session.

PRACTICE

Exercise 1. Match the sentence halves.

1. Learning in a class is, for me, far more
effective
2. A printed dictionary is nicer to use
3. Learning my third and fourth languages
seemed easier
4. Tired and stressed students remember
less
5. Books that have very tiny print seem
harder to understand
6. Doing my shopping at the supermarket
is more time-consuming


a. than do those with larger type.
b. than doing it online.
c. than do those that are more relaxed.
d. than did learning my second.
e. than an online version, I think.
f. than learning independently.


1. …2. … 3. … 4. … 5. … 6. …


Exercise 2. Find the wrong or extra word in each sentence.
1. Henry always gave his children stunning birthday presents, as they did his mother and father.
2. Bus ticket prices will rise in the new year, as will rise train and underground prices.
3. Pedro and Nina have just started as going dancing on a Friday night, as have their friends Mike and Tanya.
4. The vegetables we get from Mr Tyson`s shop are more fresher than those we buy anywhere else.
5. Facial expressions can communicate more feelings than can express words.
6. My sister has got a boyfriend at the University of Hong Kong, as has got my friend, Natasha.

Exercise 3. Choose the correct word.
1. The train station is usually very busy in the mornings, as / than is the bus station.
2. Klaus is passionate about painting, as / than is his father.
3. Tom followed the leader, as was / did the rest of the climbing group, up the south side of the peak and finally to the top.
4. The books on the tables in the centre of the shop sell much more quickly than do / sell those on the shelves.
5. I`d like to offer you many congratulations on your engagement, as had / would everyone else in my family.
6. The people who had arrived earliest got a much better view of the performance than did / had the rest of us.

Exercise 4.
Write the correct form of the verb in brackets to complete each sentence.
1. Children who................(eat) healthily generally behave better in school than do those
with unhealthy diets.
2. Katy...............(have) a natural ability to run fast, as does her brother.
3. House prices in the east of the country(increase), as did those in the south.
4. Johnnie had...............(know) Jorge for ten years, as had Jim, before they set up a
business together.
5. Travelling has ...............(teach) me much more than has reading thousands of books.
6. I...............(still/ wait) for my results, as is everyone who took the exam on 20 May.

Exercise 5. Complete the sentences by writing one word in each gap.
1. The horse escaped through the open gate, as...............the cows.
2. Athletes need to eat a lot more carbohydrates than...............people who exercise little.
3. Simon thought that the hotel was superb, as...............most people who stayed there.
4. My great aunt Janie looks more like me than...............anyone else in my family.
5. His latest thriller will in the future be recognized as a masterpiece, as his three earlier works.
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