Rewrite the sentence according to the instructions without altering its meaning:
As soon as the principal stepped into the courtyard, the students dispersed.
Begin: No sooner...
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. No sooner had the principal stepped into the courtyard than the students dispersed.
- Step 1: Apply grammatical negative inversion: placing the restrictive phrase No sooner at the start of the clause requires subject-auxiliary inversion (had the principal stepped).
- Step 2: Pair with the proper subordinating conjunction: No sooner pairs obligatorily with than (never when), forming: No sooner had the principal stepped into the courtyard than the students dispersed.
Answer
No sooner had the principal stepped into the courtyard than the students dispersed.
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