rarely can they

[GUEST2008]

Hi

People can go against their nature but rarely can they change it.

Is there some rule which says it should be "rarely can they" instead of "rarely they can"?

 

[5jj]

People can go against their nature but rarely can they change it.

Is there some rule which says it should be "rarely can they" instead of "rarely they can"?

Generally speaking, we invert subject and verb (or DO as auxiliary) when a (near-) negative begins the sentence:

Never/Rarely/Seldom have I seen such a sight.
Rarely/seldom do you see such beauty.
Only when you have been a teacher can/do you understand such situations.

 

[Tdol]

People can go against their nature but rarely can they change it.

You could also say but they can rarely change it.