Choose the option that maintains correct sentence syntax following the restrictive adverbial clause:

Only after the forensic accounting firm audited the offshore subsidiaries ________ the full extent of the fraudulent transactions.

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: C. did the regulatory board realize

Answer: did the regulatory board realize. Why not the others: 'the regulatory board realized' lacks required subject-auxiliary inversion; 'had the regulatory board realize' pairs auxiliary 'had' with a base verb instead of a participle; 'realized the regulatory board' incorrectly attempts full verb inversion.
  1. Step 1: Identify the structure: the sentence opens with the restrictive temporal adjunct 'Only after [subordinate clause]'. Restrictive adjuncts beginning with 'Only' trigger inversion in the subsequent main clause.
  2. Step 2: Form the inverted main clause in simple past: use the auxiliary 'did' before the subject 'the regulatory board', followed by base verb 'realize'.

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