A computer-implemented method and system are provided for teaching syntax for training a neural network based natural language inference model. The method includes selectively performing, by the hardware processor, person reversal on a set of hypothesis sentences, based on person reversal prevention criteria, to obtain a first training data set. The method further includes enhancing, by the hardware processor, a robustness of the neural network based natural language inference model to syntax changes by training the neural network based natural language inference model on original training data combined with the first data set.