WAEC 2012 English Language · Question 80

No sooner had they arrived … we left the hall

Question

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences: No sooner had they arrived.............we left the hall

A.than
B.when
C.so
D.therefore

Answer: A. than

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question: The sentence uses the structure "No sooner had they arrived ... we left the hall." You need the word that correctly completes this fixed expression.

Explain the concept: "No sooner" is a comparative expression, so it is always followed by than, never "when."

No sooner + had + past participle + than + past simple • No sooner had the teacher entered than the students stood up.

Compare it with "hardly/scarcely/barely," which take when:

Hardly had he sat down when the phone rang.

Step-by-step solution:

Spot the opening phrase: "No sooner had they arrived" (inverted structure showing one action immediately followed by another).
Recall the pairing: no sooner ... than.
Test the options: • A. than: correct, as it completes the pair. • B. when: pairs with "hardly/scarcely," not "no sooner." • C. so: doesn't fit the structure. • D. therefore: a conjunctive adverb showing result, which is not suitable here.

Complete sentence: No sooner had they arrived than we left the hall.

Answer: A. than

Exam tip: Remember the pairs:

No sooner → than (both have "er" sounds: sooner/than)
Hardly / Scarcely / Barely → when

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