Question

Identify the correct version of the given sentence:
They had no sooner gone to sleep when the alarm started ringing.

• A. No change
• B. They had no sooner gone to sleep but the alarm started ringing.
• C. No sooner had they gone to sleep than the alarm started ringing.
• D. They had no sooner gone to sleep then the alarm started ringing.

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

No sooner had they gone to sleep than the alarm started ringing.

If the second event occurs immediately after the first, no sooner...than is used to express such situations. In such a structure, no sooner introduces the event that occurred first. No sooner is followed with the past tense. Option C is correct as no sooner is followed by past form 'had'. Options D is grammatically wrong as 'then' is used with no sooner. Option B is wrong as 'but' cannot be used with no sooner.