Directions: In this section, each sentence is incomplete and is followed by four options. Select one of the four options to complete the sentence. No sooner had he returned ________
than he was off again
Understanding Sentence Completion with "No sooner"
The question asks us to complete a sentence that begins with the phrase "No sooner had he returned _______". This type of sentence structure requires knowledge of specific correlative conjunctions in English grammar.
Let's look at the incomplete sentence:
No sooner had he returned ________
We need to choose the option that grammatically and logically completes this sentence.
Analyzing the Options
Let's examine each option provided:
than he was off againbut he was off againtherefore went awaythence went away
Detailed Explanation
The sentence starts with the phrase "No sooner". This phrase is part of a standard grammatical construction used to indicate that one event happened immediately after another. The correct structure requires "No sooner" to be followed by "than". The structure is typically:
No sooner + auxiliary verb (like had or did) + subject + main verb + than + subject + verb (in past tense)
This structure often involves inversion, where the auxiliary verb comes before the subject, as seen in the question's beginning: "No sooner had he returned".
Now let's evaluate the options based on this rule:
- Option 1: than he was off again - This option uses "than", which is the correct conjunction to follow "No sooner". The structure fits the rule: "No sooner had he returned than he was off again". This sentence means that immediately after he returned, he left again. This is grammatically correct and makes sense.
- Option 2: but he was off again - This option uses "but". The conjunction "but" is not used with "No sooner" in this type of construction. The correct correlative conjunction pair is "No sooner... than".
- Option 3: therefore went away - This option uses "therefore". "Therefore" is a conjunctive adverb used to show a result or consequence. It does not fit the "No sooner" structure. Also, "went away" lacks a subject in this construction context.
- Option 4: thence went away - This option uses "thence", which means "from that place". Like "therefore", it does not fit the "No sooner" structure. Again, "went away" lacks a subject.
Therefore, the only option that correctly completes the sentence following the standard English grammar rule for "No sooner" is option 1.
Why "No sooner... than"?
The construction "No sooner... than" is used to connect two events that happen in quick succession. The event following "No sooner" happens first, and the event following "than" happens immediately after. It's similar in meaning to "as soon as" or "immediately after", but uses a specific inverted structure when placed at the beginning of the sentence.
Example:
No sooner had I finished studying than the power went out. (Meaning: As soon as I finished studying, the power went out.)
Conclusion
Based on the grammatical rules governing the use of "No sooner", the correct word to complete the sentence is "than". Option 1 correctly uses "than" to form the required correlative structure.
The complete sentence is: No sooner had he returned than he was off again.
| Phrase | Correct Conjunction | Example Structure |
|---|---|---|
| No sooner | than | No sooner + had/did + Subject + Verb + than + Subject + Verb |
| Hardly / Scarcely | when / before | Hardly/Scarcely + had/did + Subject + Verb + when/before + Subject + Verb |
Revision Table: Correlative Conjunctions for Immediate Succession
| Correlative Pair | Usage | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| No sooner... than | Indicates one event follows immediately after another. Often uses inversion (auxiliary verb before subject) when "No sooner" is at the start of the sentence. | No sooner had she arrived than the phone rang. He had no sooner closed his eyes than he fell asleep. |
| Hardly... when/before | Similar to "No sooner... than", indicating immediate succession. Also uses inversion when at the start. | Hardly had I stepped out when it started raining. Scarcely had they begun the game before it was interrupted. |
Additional Information: Inversion with Negative Adverbials
When negative adverbial phrases like "No sooner", "Hardly", "Scarcely", "Never", "Rarely", "Seldom", "Little", or phrases like "Not only", "Not until", "Only then" are placed at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis, the structure that follows is often inverted. This means the auxiliary verb comes before the subject, similar to how it does in questions.
Original: He had no sooner returned than he left.
Inverted: No sooner had he returned than he was off again.
This inversion is a key feature of these advanced sentence structures and is important for mastering English grammar for competitive exams and better communication.
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