can you get good at it or you can get good at it?

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Dear Torsten,
I’d like to thank you for your huge efforts , but please can we say : (( Speaking English requires a lot of practice and constant work. It’s similar to doing a sport: Only if you practise it on a regular basis, can you get good at it… )) or : you can get good at it ?
thanks

2

Hi,

I would suggest:

Speaking English requires a lot of practice and constant work. It’s similar to doing a sport: Only if you practise it on a regular basis, can you BECOME good at it.

Alan

3

Hello Memo,

To answer your actual question, no, you should not use the word order ‘you can get’ in that sentence. When a sentence begins with the phrase ‘Only if’, the word order in the [color=darkblue]main clause changes. The subject and verb in the [color=darkblue]main clause are inverted:

  • Only if he resigns [color=darkblue]will I continue to work here. (NOT “I will continue”)

  • Only if her identity is kept secret [color=darkblue]will she agree to provide us with information. (NOT “she will agree”)

[color=darkblue]__________________________________________________________________________________
[size=75]“Private victories precede public victories. You can’t invert that process any more than you can harvest a crop before you plant it.” ~ Stephen R. Covey[/size]

4

Hi Miss Yankee,
I thank you for understanding and I highly appriciate your nice response.
and many thanks to Mr.Alan.
Best regards