Fill in the blanks.
1. No sooner had I reached the station .............................. the train left.
2. No sooner ................................... the umpire given the batsman out than the crowd rushed on to the field.
3. No sooner ................................... the thief run out of the jail than the guard fired at him.
4. ................................... I reached the station, the train left.
5. Hardly ................................. the umpire given the batsman out when the crowd rushed on to the field.
6. ..................................... the thief ran out of the jail, the guard fired at him.
Answers
1. No sooner had I reached the station than the train left.
2. No sooner had the umpire given the batsman out than the crowd rushed on to the field.
3. No sooner had the thief run out of the jail than the guard fired at him.
4. As soon as I reached the station, the train left. OR Hardly (or scarcely) had I reached the station when the train left.
5. As soon as the umpire gave the batsman out, the crowd rushed on to the field. OR Hardly (or scarcely) had the umpire given the batsman out when the crowd rushed on to the field.
6. As soon as the thief ran out of the jail, the guard fired at him. OR Hardly (or scarcely) had the thief run out of the jail when the guard fired at him.
Notes
It is wrong to use when instead of than in sentences with no sooner. Also note that the auxiliary did or had must come immediately after no sooner.
It is wrong to use than instead of when in sentences with hardly or scarcely.
