Word order

I have the following tense in a TOEFL sample test:

"Plants are known to need about the same vitamins for GROW and development as do animals."

In this case GROW must be changed to "growth" but I cannot understand why we should say "... as do animals".

"As do animals" is not a negative or restrictive phrase - is it? - so I don't understand.

Thx

Originally Posted by garabito

I have the following tense in a TOEFL sample test:

"Plants are known to need about the same vitamins for GROW and development as do animals."

In this case GROW must be changed to "growth" but I cannot understand why we should say "... as do animals".

"As do animals" is not a negative or restrictive phrase - is it? - so I don't understand.

Thx

If you put a coma the sentence will be more clear. try it now

"Plants are known to need about the same vitamins for growth and development, as do animals."

Here the sentence means that just like animals plants also need the same vitamins for growth and development. The 'as' usage is like a comparison.

The sentence is rather complicated, right?
S1+V1,as V2+S2?
confusing

[Tdol]

"Plants are known to need about the same vitamins for growth and development as animals."

This sounds better to me.

The 'do' is optional, but links back to 'need'.