Had the man not been late for the plane, ...

chance22

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Mar 14, 2010
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Of the two subjunctive mood sentences below, I'm not sure which kind of inversion is correct, or is it likely that both are accepted? Could you help explain?
1. Had the man not been late for the plane, he would have been killed in the air crash.
2. Had not the man been late for the plane, he would have been killed in the air crash.
 
I think you mean to say this. (See below.)

Had he not missed his flight he would have been killed in the crash.
 
1. is correct and 2. is incorrect.

You invert the subject and auxiliary. The negator 'not' or any adverb must follow both of those.
 

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