Question

Choose the most suitable option to replace the highlighted part of the sentence: No sooner had I reached the station when the train departed.

• A. than the train departed
• B. then the train departed
• C. when the train had departed
• D. than did the train depart

Answer 1

Answer:

A. than the train departed

Correlative Pair: The phrase "No sooner" is a correlative conjunction that must always be paired with "than". Using "when" or "then" is a common grammatical erroг.

Inversion Rule: When a sentence begins with "No sooner," the auxiliary verb (had/did) must come before the subject (I). The structure in the question-No sooner had I...-is already correctly inverted.

Tense Consistency: The standard structure is No sooner + had + subject + V3 (past participle) + than + subject + V2 (simple past).

Question: No sooner had I reached (V3)...

Correct follow-up: than the train departed (V2).