Subject auxiliary inversion

Maybe (d) has two elements fulfilling the role of Focus, which typically is reserved for one element.

Hi, KDog,

@KDog posted:

a. Only in that election did Leslie run for public office.

b. * Only in that election Leslie ran for public offcie.

c. Only Leslie ran for public offcie.

d. * Only Leslie did run for public office.

First of all, I understand a, b, and c. But the problem is d. Why is d grammatically incorrect? I think "did" in d is inserted there for emphasis as in this exmple sentence, "I do want to go to a museum."

The problem with (d) is that, for inversion to exist, the component being restricted or negated (in this case, restricted by only) does not have to be the subject, and "Leslie" is the subject.

Emphatic "did run" does not work with "only" in the subject, as Raymond suggested.

Notice what happens with "alone" depending on whether it appears within the subject or within the predicate:

1. Leslie alone ran for public office. CORRECT

2. (*) Leslie alone did run for public office. INCORRECT

3. Leslie did run for public office alone. CORRECT

Although semantically different—in (1) "alone" is synonymous with "only," while in (3) it means "unacccompanied"—, syntactically emphasis only works if "alone" does not appear in the subject, just as is the case with "only."

Thank you so much for your reply. Crystal clear explanation!

@KDog posted:

a. Only in that election did Leslie run for public office.
b. * Only in that election Leslie ran for public offcie.
c. Only Leslie ran for public offcie.
d. * Only Leslie did run for public office.

First of all, I understand a, b, and c. But the problem is d. Why is d grammatically incorrect?

I'd like to add, as a footnote to this interesting discussion, that "only" need not be interpreted as an adverb in (b), (c), and (d), where it can be interpreted as a coordinating conjunction. On that interpretation, (b), (c) and (d) are perfectly grammatical. In (b), however, I would set "in that election" off with commas:

(b') Leslie had not participated at all in many elections. Only, in that election, she ran for public office.
(c') We thought that we'd seen the last of Leslie. Only she ran for public office.
(d') We thought she wouldn't run. Only Leslie did run for public office.

Good point, David!