Choose the correct sentence:
No sooner had he reached home than the phone rang.
The structure 'No sooner ... than' has two strict requirements:
(i) Inversion: when a sentence begins with 'No sooner', the auxiliary verb (had / did) must come before the subject.
(ii) Correlative: 'No sooner' is always followed by 'than' (never 'when').
(iii) After 'had', the main verb must be in the past participle form (reached), not the bare infinitive.
Examining each option:
(A) 'No sooner had he reached home than the phone rang.' — inversion ✓, 'than' ✓, past participle 'reached' ✓. Correct.
(B) 'No sooner he had reached home than the phone rang.' — no inversion. Wrong.
(C) 'No sooner did he reach home when the phone rang.' — uses 'when' instead of 'than'. Wrong.
(D) 'No sooner had he reach home than the phone rang.' — uses bare infinitive 'reach' instead of past participle 'reached'. Wrong.
Hence, the correct sentence is option 1.
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Important Questions from Sentence Improvement
Select the option that will improve the underlined part of the given sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select 'No improvement required'.
Is this the same book like our teacher recommended?Select the option that will improve the underlined part of the given sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select 'No improvement required'.
The show flopped miserably to the utter disappointment of everybody.Select the option that will improve the underlined part of the given sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select 'No improvement required'.
The news about the surge in Covid-19 cases is broadcasted every morning.Select the option that will improve the underlined part of the given sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select 'No improvement required'.
The teacher found it difficult to exceed on the students' request.Select the option that will improve the underlined part of the given sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select 'No improvement required'.
Do I need finish this work today itself?
