This grammar exercise tests your ability to use no sooner …than. Fill in the blanks with did or had.
1No sooner ............... than the fog disappeared.
Wrong!
After "No sooner", we invert the auxiliary and subject, so the correct phrase is "had the sun risen".
2No sooner ............... than I got a good job.
Wrong!
After "No sooner", we use inverted word order, so the correct phrase is "had I finished my studies".
3No sooner ............... than it started ringing again.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "had I put the phone down" and "did I put the phone down" are correct: after "No sooner" we invert the subject and auxiliary with either the past perfect (had + past participle) or the past simple (did + base form). "I put the phone down" is wrong because it has no inversion.
4No sooner ............... than they fell in love with each other.
Wrong!
With the base verb "meet", the correct inverted phrase is "did they meet".
5No sooner ............... than darkness began to envelop the planet.
Wrong!
After "No sooner", the past perfect uses inversion, so the correct phrase is "had the sun disappeared below the horizon".
6No sooner ............... than the tiger sprang on him.
Wrong!
With the base verb "fire", the correct inverted phrase is "did he fire the gun".
7No sooner ............... than trouble started brewing again.
Wrong!
After "No sooner", the past perfect uses inversion, so the correct phrase is "had the police left the scene".
8No sooner ............... than he ran away.
Wrong!
With the base verb "see", the correct inverted phrase is "did he see the police".
Exercise complete
0 out of 8
correct answers
Answers
- No sooner had the sun risen than the fog disappeared.
- No sooner had I finished my studies than I got a good job.
- No sooner had I put the phone down / did I put the phone down than it started ringing again.
- No sooner did they meet than they fell in love with each other.
- No sooner had the sun disappeared below the horizon than darkness began to envelop the planet.
- No sooner did he fire the gun than the tiger sprang on him.
- No sooner had the police left the scene than trouble started brewing again.
- No sooner did he see the police than he ran away.