[Grammar] not only did....

[Oceanlike]

Greetings teachers,

My first thought on the following exercise went straight to "TRAIN" (base verb) because of "did" in front. However, due to the subsequent words "also mentored", I became unsure of the correct answer. Please help me to understand. Many thanks!


Qn: Not only did the coach train the badminton players but he also mentored them.

 

[Barb_D]

It's not clear what your question is.

 

[Matthew Wai]

However, due to the subsequent words "also mentored", I became unsure of the correct answer.

Do you mean you were unsure whether 'ed' was unneeded after 'train'?
If so, I am quite sure that it is not needed.

Not a teacher.

 

[Roman55]

Please help me to understand. Many thanks!


Qn: Not only did the coach train the badminton players but he also mentored them.

I am not a teacher.

It's quite correct as it is.

The structure is, not only did he do this, but he also did that.

 

[Matthew Wai]

The auxiliary 'did' applies to 'train' in the first clause but not to 'mentored' in the second clause.

Not a teacher.

 

[Oceanlike]

Sorry that my question was unclear.

@Matthew Wai: Yes, you are right. I was unsure whether the verb "train" should be in the present or past tense, since mentor was used in its past tense.

From the replies, i understand that the sentence is correct: Not only did the coach train the badminton players but he also mentored them.
And the grammar rule is that the helping verb "did" only applies to the verb in the first clause?

Thank you.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Yes.