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Question 2021Question →

Select the pronoun that correctly completes the sentence in accordance with standard formal English rules of pronoun-antecedent agreement:

"Neither of the senior diplomats who attended the international peace summit was willing to compromise _____ position on the disputed territorial clause."

Show answer & explanation

Answer: his

Answer

The correct option is the singular possessive pronoun 'his'.
In standard formal English, the indefinite pronoun 'Neither' is singular and functions as the true antecedent of the sentence. Intervening phrases like 'of the senior diplomats' do not alter the number of the head antecedent. Therefore, the singular possessive pronoun 'his' is required to maintain grammatical agreement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the true grammatical antecedent in the main clause.
The subject of the sentence is the indefinite pronoun 'Neither'. The phrase 'of the senior diplomats' is a prepositional phrase modifying 'Neither', and 'who attended the international peace summit' is a relative clause.
Indefinite pronouns such as 'neither', 'either', 'each', and 'everyone' are grammatically singular in standard formal English.
2
Determine the correct pronoun form required for agreement.
Because the antecedent ('Neither') is singular, the pronoun modifying 'position' must also be singular and possessive.
A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number and case.
3
Evaluate the choices against formal agreement rules.
The form 'his' maintains singular possessive agreement, whereas 'their' and 'themselves' introduce plural concord errors, and 'there' is a homophonous adverb.
Formal English requires strict singular pronoun concord with singular indefinite pronouns.

Key Concept

Indefinite Pronoun-Antecedent Concord
Question 2022Question →

Select the option that correctly converts the following sentence into the passive voice: 'The senior surgeon carried out the delicate operation successfully.'

Show answer & explanation

Answer: The delicate operation was carried out successfully by the senior surgeon.

Answer

The delicate operation was carried out successfully by the senior surgeon.
The correct answer accurately converts the active simple past tense verb 'carried out' into its passive counterpart 'was carried out' while maintaining correct singular subject-verb concord with 'the delicate operation' and preserving the complete phrasal verb particle.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the subject, verb phrase, object, and tense of the active sentence.
Subject = 'The senior surgeon', Verb = simple past phrasal verb 'carried out', Object = 'the delicate operation'.
The object of the active sentence must become the subject of the passive sentence.
2
Select the appropriate passive auxiliary verb for the simple past singular noun phrase.
The singular past auxiliary is 'was', giving 'was carried out'.
Passive voice in the simple past requires 'was' or 'were' + past participle, matching the singular subject 'operation'.
3
Retain all particles of the phrasal verb and include the original agent in a prepositional phrase.
'The delicate operation was carried out successfully by the senior surgeon.'
Phrasal verbs must retain their prepositional particles to preserve meaning.

Key Concept

Passive voice transformation for simple past tense phrasal verbs
Estimated Time:45s
Question 2023Question →

In a prescribed post-colonial play, an aging railway supervisor stubbornly refuses a massive financial bribe from a powerful smuggling syndicate to clear unsafe cargo, despite facing imminent personal bankruptcy and his daughter's expulsion from medical school. Which of the following best articulates the central theme projected through the protagonist's decision?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: The moral imperative of unyielding individual integrity amidst systemic corruption and personal hardship

Answer

The moral imperative of unyielding individual integrity amidst systemic corruption and personal hardship
The protagonist's refusal to accept a bribe under severe personal threat demonstrates that true moral conviction requires sacrifice. The central message emphasizes that personal integrity must stand firm against pervasive corruption regardless of the personal cost.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the core narrative action and conflict presented in the stem
Identified a protagonist choosing severe personal loss over participating in illegal bribery.
The central conflict pits personal sacrifice against moral compromise.
2
Distinguish between narrative context/supporting details and underlying central theme
Recognized that financial hardship and school expulsion serve as narrative catalysts, while the core message addresses moral rectitude.
Themes represent broader abstract statements about human nature or society, not mere plot summary elements.
3
Evaluate the options to find the statement that encapsulates the central thematic lesson
The option asserting the moral imperative of individual integrity correctly synthesizes the dramatized values of the text.
The protagonist's decision directly proves that moral principles should not be compromised even under extreme duress.

Key Concept

Thematic Analysis and Central Messages
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 2024Question →

Complete the sentence below by supplying the correct form of the verb in the blank.

Fill in the blanks below

During the commission's inquiry, the lead researcher testified about the initial trials as though she present when the original laboratory data was compiled.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

had been
The correct verb form is 'had been'. The conjunction 'as though' introduces a statement contrary to past fact (an unreal past condition). In standard English grammar, when a counterfactual comparison refers to a time prior to the main past-tense verb ('testified'), the past perfect aspect ('had been') must be used.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the narrative frame and time reference of the main clause.
The main verb 'testified' establishes a simple past narrative setting, and the subordinate clause refers to an earlier event ('when the original laboratory data was compiled').
Identifying the temporal anchor is necessary to establish proper sequence of tenses.
2
Determine the mood and aspect required by the conjunction 'as though'.
The phrase 'as though' introduces a counterfactual (unreal) past condition, since the researcher was not actually present at that earlier time.
Unreal or hypothetical comparisons contrary to past fact require past perfect subjunctive aspect.
3
Select the verb form that fulfills both past time reference and counterfactual aspect.
The past perfect auxiliary combined with the past participle ('had been') correctly marks the counterfactual past state.
'Was' or 'were' would incorrectly signal an unreal present condition, while present perfect forms violate the past tense sequence.

Key Concept

Counterfactual Past Subjunctive with 'As Though / As If'
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 2025Question →

What possessive pronoun correctly maintains pronoun-antecedent agreement in the sentence below?

Fill in the blanks below

Neither of the two research committees had submitted preliminary report before the deadline elapsed.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

its
The singular possessive pronoun 'its' correctly agrees with the singular indefinite pronoun 'Neither', which functions as the head of the subject phrase. In formal written English, 'neither' is grammatically singular and takes a singular pronoun, even when followed by a prepositional phrase containing a plural noun.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the grammatical antecedent of the missing pronoun.
The syntactic subject of the sentence is the indefinite pronoun 'Neither'.
The prepositional phrase 'of the two research committees' modifies the subject but does not change its singular grammatical number.
2
Determine the correct possessive pronoun form to match the singular inanimate antecedent.
The singular possessive pronoun 'its' must be used.
In standard formal English, singular indefinite pronouns such as 'neither' require singular pronouns for agreement. Since 'committees' refers to non-human entities, 'its' is the required pronoun.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Singular Indefinite Pronouns
Question 2026Question →

Read the sentence below and answer the question that follows.

"While inspecting the refurbished hydroelectric facility, the chief engineer noticed that the secondary turbine was running __________."

Which of the following modifier phrases correctly completes the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: exceptionally smoothly

Answer

The correct phrase is 'exceptionally smoothly' because an action verb requires an adverb modifier, which can itself be intensified by another adverb.
The phrase 'exceptionally smoothly' is correct because the action verb 'running' requires the adverb 'smoothly' to describe the manner of operation, and 'exceptionally' functions as an adverb of degree modifying 'smoothly'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the element being modified in the sentence.
The target word is the action verb 'running'.
Action verbs describe actions and must be modified by adverbs, not adjectives.
2
Determine the grammatical form required for the primary modifier.
The word modifying 'running' must be the adverb 'smoothly'.
Using the adjective 'smooth' to describe how an action verb functions is grammatically incorrect.
3
Determine the grammatical form required for the degree modifier preceding the adverb.
The intensifier modifying the adverb 'smoothly' must also be an adverb ('exceptionally').
Adverbs of degree modify adjectives or other adverbs, requiring the '-ly' suffix in this context.
4
Verify vocabulary choice to avoid paronym confusion.
'exceptionally' means to an unusual or extraordinary degree, whereas 'exceptionable' means open to objection.
The sentence requires an adverb meaning extraordinarily well, making 'exceptionally smoothly' the only correct choice.

Key Concept

Adverbial Modification of Action Verbs and Distinction of Paronyms
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 2027Question →

In a prescribed prose narrative detailing a kingdom's internal political struggle, several critical incidents unfold following the sudden disappearance of the royal chest. Arrange the following plot events in the correct chronological order as they occur in the narrative.

Drag items to arrange them in the correct order

Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct narrative sequence begins with the prime minister publicly accusing the palace guards and imposing a curfew, followed by the scribe discovering the hidden royal seal in the shrine, leading to the emergency tribunal interrogating the chief treasurer, and culminating in the exiled prince's return to demand a public audit.
The narrative follows a strict cause-and-effect progression: the initial curfew and accusation create chaos, the scribe's discovery provides the pivotal clues, the tribunal acts upon those clues, and the climax brings the exiled prince back to exploit the political vulnerability.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the inciting crisis that triggers immediate executive action.
The prime minister's accusation and curfew imposition mark the immediate fallout of the theft.
Initial plot actions stem directly from panic and official suppression right after the main event.
2
Trace the discovery of hidden evidence that redirects the plot's momentum.
The scribe finding the royal seal in the ancestral shrine alters the direction of the investigation.
Physical discovery of evidence must precede formal judicial proceedings against new suspects.
3
Locate the institutional response triggered by the new evidence.
The council convenes an emergency tribunal for the chief treasurer.
The tribunal is formally called only after evidence implicating official treasury involvement surfaces.
4
Determine the climax or major structural fallout arising from the internal instability.
The exiled prince arrives with external envoys to demand an audit.
External intervention occurs as a climax after internal governance collapses during the tribunal.

Key Concept

Chronological Plot Progression and Event Sequencing
Question 2028Question →

Match each bracketed noun phrase in the sentences below with its exact syntactic function.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

The board appointed Mrs. Okon [the managing director].
The management offered [the outstanding candidate] a lucrative contract.
His sudden resignation remained [a mystery to everyone].
The security guards interrogated [the suspicious visitor] for two hours.

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct matches are: 'the managing director' is an Object Complement; 'the outstanding candidate' is an Indirect Object; 'a mystery to everyone' is a Subject Complement; and 'the suspicious visitor' is a Direct Object.
Each bracketed noun phrase correctly corresponds to its functional role within clause structure: an object complement completing a direct object's identity, an indirect object receiving the direct object of a ditransitive verb, a subject complement completing a subject across a linking verb, and a direct object directly undergoing the action of a transitive verb.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze sentence 1 to identify the relationship between the transitive verb 'appointed', the direct object 'Mrs. Okon', and the noun phrase 'the managing director'.
The noun phrase specifies the title/role assigned to the direct object, making it an object complement.
An object complement follows a direct object to modify, rename, or complete its meaning.
2
Examine sentence 2 to determine the beneficiary or recipient of the item being offered.
'the outstanding candidate' receives the direct object 'a lucrative contract', making it the indirect object.
An indirect object identifies to whom or for whom the action of a ditransitive verb is performed.
3
Identify the nature of the verb in sentence 3 ('remained') and the function of the phrase that follows it.
'remained' is a copular (linking) verb, so 'a mystery to everyone' acts as a subject complement.
A noun phrase that follows a linking verb to rename or describe the subject is a subject complement.
4
Determine the entity receiving the physical or abstract action of the verb 'interrogated' in sentence 4.
'the suspicious visitor' directly receives the action, functioning as the direct object.
A direct object undergoes or directly receives the action expressed by a transitive verb.

Key Concept

Syntactic Functions of Noun Phrases
Question 2029Question →

Complete the sentence by filling in the blank with the grammatically correct degree modifier.

Fill in the blanks below

Of the two environmental restoration strategies submitted to the cabinet, the coastal mangrove initiative was considered the viable.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct modifier is 'more'.
When comparing precisely two entities or options, standard English grammar requires the comparative degree modifier ('more'). Therefore, 'more' is the only grammatically correct word to complete the comparison between the two restoration strategies.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the number of entities being compared in the sentence.
The sentence explicitly specifies a comparison between two entities ('Of the two environmental restoration strategies...').
Grammatical rules governing modifiers depend on whether two entities or more than two entities are being compared.
2
Determine the appropriate degree of comparison (comparative vs. superlative).
The comparative degree ('more') must be used for two entities, while the superlative degree ('most') is reserved for three or more.
In formal English syntax, using a superlative modifier for a set of only two items is grammatically incorrect.
3
Supply the correct comparative modifier for the adjective 'viable'.
The modifier 'more' correctly completes the phrase 'the more viable'.
'Viable' forms its comparative degree multisyllabically using 'more'.

Key Concept

Degrees of Comparison: Comparative vs. Superlative Modifiers
Question 2030Question →

Complete the sentence by filling in the blank with the grammatically appropriate verb form.

Fill in the blanks below

No sooner had the referee sounded the final whistle than the excited spectators onto the football pitch.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct verb form to complete the sentence is 'rushed' (or 'ran', 'surged', 'poured').
When a sentence begins with the negative inverted structure 'No sooner had...', the first action is expressed in the past perfect tense and the subsequent action introduced by 'than' must be expressed in the simple past tense (e.g., 'rushed').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the inverted correlative conjunction structure 'No sooner ... than'.
The clause following 'No sooner had + subject + past participle' introduces the subsequent event using 'than'.
The introductory clause 'No sooner had...' establishes a past perfect action, requiring the clause following 'than' to express the immediate subsequent action in the simple past tense.
2
Select the correct past tense verb form for the action following 'than'.
The simple past form 'rushed' correctly pairs with the past perfect construction 'had sounded'.
In English grammatical sequence of tenses, correlative structures starting with 'No sooner had' demand a simple past tense verb in the subordinate clause introduced by 'than'.

Key Concept

Correlative Conjunctions and Sequence of Tenses (No sooner ... than)
Estimated Time:45s
Question 2031Question →

Read the sentence below:

"Despite the persistent opposition from critics, the proposed reform remains a monumental milestone in environmental governance."

In the sentence above, what is the syntactic function of the bolded noun phrase?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: Subject complement

Answer

Subject complement
The phrase 'a monumental milestone in environmental governance' functions as a subject complement because it follows the copular (linking) verb 'remains' and completes the meaning of the sentence by describing the subject 'the proposed reform'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the verb in the main clause and its classification
The main verb is 'remains', which functions as a linking (copular) verb connecting the subject to its state or identity.
Linking verbs do not take direct objects; instead, they take complements that describe or rename the subject.
2
Identify the subject of the clause
The subject is 'the proposed reform'.
This is the noun phrase performing the state of being expressed by the verb.
3
Determine the relationship between the subject, linking verb, and bolded noun phrase
The bolded phrase 'a monumental milestone in environmental governance' renames and characterizes the subject ('the proposed reform') following the linking verb 'remains'.
A noun phrase following a linking verb that renames or defines the subject is syntactically a subject complement.

Key Concept

Syntactic Functions of Noun Phrases: Subject Complement
Question 2032Question →

Which of the following options correctly completes the clause structure in the sentence below?

'The dean announced that ________ the faculty had published groundbreaking research, ________ it lacked sufficient laboratory equipment to conduct advanced clinical trials.'

Show answer & explanation

Answer: inasmuch as / —

Answer

inasmuch as / —
The choice 'inasmuch as / —' is correct because 'inasmuch as' functions as a subordinating conjunction that properly introduces the finite subordinate clause ('the faculty had published groundbreaking research'). In formal standard English syntax, a subordinate clause introduced by a subordinating conjunction connects directly to the principal clause without an intervening coordinating conjunction such as 'but' or 'yet'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the syntactic structure of the dependent clause
The clause 'the faculty had published groundbreaking research' contains a subject and a finite verb, requiring a subordinating conjunction rather than a prepositional phrase.
Prepositional phrases like 'in spite of' cannot directly introduce finite clauses.
2
Evaluate conjunction pairing rules between the dependent and main clauses
When a dependent clause is introduced by a subordinating conjunction ('inasmuch as' or 'although'), the principal clause must follow directly without an additional coordinating conjunction ('but' or 'yet').
Using both a subordinating conjunction and a coordinating conjunction to link two clauses violates standard English sentence structure through redundant conjunction pairing.
3
Select the option that satisfies both grammatical requirements
The combination 'inasmuch as / —' correctly introduces the dependent clause and connects to the main clause without structural redundancy.
This establishes a grammatically sound complex sentence structure.

Key Concept

Subordinating Conjunctions and Redundant Conjunction Pairing in Clause Structure
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 2033Question →

Complete the reported speech sentence by supplying the appropriate words for the blanks.

Fill in the blanks below

Direct Speech: "I will submit the assignment tomorrow," said Kemi.
Reported Speech: Kemi said that she submit the assignment the day.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

blank_1: would; blank_2: following (or next)
When changing direct speech to indirect speech with a past reporting verb ('said'), modal verbs shift to their past form ('will' to 'would') and time adverbs shift accordingly ('tomorrow' to 'the following day' or 'the next day').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Backshift the modal auxiliary verb from direct to indirect speech.
The modal verb 'will' changes to 'would' because the reporting verb 'said' is in the past tense.
When converting direct speech into reported speech with a past-tense reporting verb, future modal auxiliaries backshift.
2
Convert the time adverbial to match reported context.
'tomorrow' becomes 'the following day' or 'the next day'.
Time expressions referring to the future shift relative to the point of reporting.

Key Concept

Backshifting modal verbs and shifting time adverbs in reported speech
Question 2034Question →

Despite expressing strong reservations during the preliminary deliberations on the structural reform, the board members were ultimately compelled to acquiesce ______ the executive committee's final resolution. Which preposition correctly completes the sentence above?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: in

Answer

The preposition 'in' correctly completes the sentence.
The verb 'acquiesce' conventionally governs the preposition 'in' when denoting reluctant or quiet compliance with a directive, decision, or agreement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the main verb governing the blank in the sentence.
The target verb is 'acquiesce'.
The blank follows 'acquiesce' and precedes the noun phrase 'the executive committee's final resolution'.
2
Determine the standard dependent preposition required by 'acquiesce'.
The verb 'acquiesce' takes the preposition 'in' to indicate passive agreement or submission to a decision or plan.
In standard formal English, 'acquiesce in' is the fixed prepositional collocation required for this syntactic structure.

Key Concept

Dependent Prepositions and Fixed Verbo-Prepositional Collocations
Question 2035Question →

Fill in the blank in the sentence below with the correct present-tense form of the verb to satisfy the rules of grammatical concord.

Fill in the blanks below

Rice and beans a popular combination served in many Nigerian households.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

is
The verb 'is' is correct because when two singular nouns joined by 'and' refer to a single dish, unit, or idea (such as 'rice and beans' treated as one meal), the subject is grammatically singular and requires a singular verb.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the grammatical subject of the sentence.
The subject is 'Rice and beans'.
Determining the subject is necessary to establish whether a singular or plural verb is required.
2
Apply the appropriate concord rule for compound subjects linked by 'and'.
Since 'rice and beans' refers to a single dish or food combination, it functions as a singular concept.
When two nouns connected by 'and' express a single unified idea, entity, or dish, they take a singular verb.
3
Select the correct present-tense singular verb.
The singular verb 'is' correctly completes the sentence.
'is' agrees in number with the singular conceptual subject.

Key Concept

Concord of Single Entity / Compound Nouns Expressing One Concept
Estimated Time:45s
Question 2036Question →

Complete the sentence below by supplying the correct passive verb form that preserves the tense of the active sentence.

Active: The lead auditor reviewed all financial records before the annual meeting.
Passive: All financial records {{blank_1}} by the lead auditor before the annual meeting.

Fill in the blanks below

All financial records by the lead auditor before the annual meeting.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

were reviewed
The active sentence is in the simple past tense ('reviewed'). When transformed into the passive voice, the plural object 'all financial records' becomes the subject of the passive verb, requiring the plural simple past passive structure 'were reviewed'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the tense and object of the active sentence.
The active verb 'reviewed' is in the simple past tense, and its direct object is the plural noun phrase 'all financial records'.
When converting to passive voice, the original object becomes the new subject, and the tense must be strictly preserved.
2
Form the passive construction using the appropriate auxiliary verb and past participle.
The plural subject 'all financial records' combined with simple past passive yields 'were reviewed'.
The simple past passive is formed using 'was/were' + past participle. Because the new subject is plural, 'were' must be used.

Key Concept

Active to Passive Voice Transformation (Simple Past Tense)
Estimated Time:45s
Question 2037Question →

Which of the following options correctly completes the sentence below?

'__________ had the vice-chancellor concluded his address than the student union representatives raised a point of order.'

Show answer & explanation

Answer: No sooner

Answer

No sooner
The expression 'No sooner' is a negative comparative element that requires inversion of the auxiliary verb ('had the vice-chancellor') and strictly correlates with 'than' in the subsequent clause to express two actions happening in immediate sequence.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the structural connector in the second clause of the sentence.
Identified the comparative conjunction 'than' introducing the subordinate clause.
Correlative conjunctions operate in strict pairs; the presence of 'than' dictates the preceding negative/limiting adverbial.
2
Evaluate the pairing rules for negative limiting adverbs used with inverted clause structures.
'No sooner' pairs exclusively with 'than', whereas 'hardly', 'scarcely', and 'barely' pair with 'when' or 'before'.
Matching the correct correlative pair ensures grammatical concord across the complex sentence structure.

Key Concept

Correlative Conjunctions and Inverted Clause Structure
Estimated Time:45s
Question 2038Question →

Which pair of verb forms correctly completes the sentence below in accordance with the rules of grammatical concord?

"Neither the resident auditor nor the deputy directors _______ aware that the president of the institute, alongside his executive board members, _______ scheduled to present the annual audit report."

Show answer & explanation

Answer: are / is

Answer

The pair of verbs that correctly completes the sentence is 'are / is'.
The option containing 'are / is' correctly adheres to both concord rules: the rule of proximity governs the first gap, making the verb agree with the plural noun 'deputy directors' ('are'), while the principal subject rule governs the second gap, keeping the verb singular ('is') to agree with 'the president' despite the intervening phrase 'alongside his executive board members'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the first clause containing the correlated subjects joined by 'neither...nor'.
The subjects are 'the resident auditor' (singular) and 'the deputy directors' (plural). By the rule of proximity (nearest concord), the verb must agree with the subject closest to the gap, which is 'the deputy directors' (plural). Thus, a plural verb ('are') is required for the first blank.
When subjects are connected by 'either...or' or 'neither...nor', the verb agrees in person and number with the subject nearer to it.
2
Analyze the second clause containing the main subject and the parenthetical modifier.
The head noun of the subject is 'the president of the institute' (singular). The phrase 'alongside his executive board members' is a prepositional/parenthetical insertion. Therefore, the verb must agree strictly with the singular head noun ('president'), requiring a singular verb ('is').
Expressions introduced by prepositions or quasi-conjunctions such as 'alongside', 'as well as', 'together with', or 'accompanied by' do not form a compound subject and do not alter the number of the principal subject.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement involving Correlated Subjects (Rule of Proximity) and Parenthetical Modifiers
Estimated Time:1m 15s
Question 2039Question →

Which of the following options represents the correct indirect speech form of the sentence: "I will submit my project tomorrow," said Ngozi?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: Ngozi said that she would submit her project the following day.

Answer

Ngozi said that she would submit her project the following day.
The correct indirect speech form accurately backshifts the modal verb 'will' to 'would', updates the first-person possessive pronoun 'my' to 'her', and shifts the temporal adverb 'tomorrow' to 'the following day'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the reporting verb tense
The reporting verb 'said' is in the past tense, requiring backshift of tenses and changes to pronouns and time expressions.
Past reporting verbs mandate shifting direct speech elements to their corresponding past or indirect forms.
2
Backshift the modal auxiliary verb
'will' becomes 'would'.
In indirect speech after a past reporting verb, future modal 'will' shifts to conditional/past modal 'would'.
3
Adjust the possessive pronoun and temporal adverb
'my' changes to 'her', and 'tomorrow' changes to 'the following day'.
Pronouns shift to align with the perspective of the reporter (Ngozi), and time references shift relative to the past point of reporting.

Key Concept

Tense Backshift and Adverbial Adjustments in Reported Speech
Question 2040Question →

Which auxiliary verb correctly completes the sentence below?

Fill in the blanks below

No sooner the newly appointed managing director taken office than a major financial crisis erupted.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

had
When a sentence starts with the negative adverbial 'No sooner', subject-auxiliary inversion occurs and requires the past perfect auxiliary 'had' before the subject to match the past participle 'taken' and correlate with 'than' in the subsequent past clause.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence structure and sequential relation of events.
The sentence begins with the restrictive negative adverbial phrase 'No sooner', which introduces an event preceding another past event ('erupted').
Negative adverbial openers demand subject-auxiliary inversion and require the past perfect tense to mark the earlier completed action.
2
Select the appropriate auxiliary verb to pair with the past participle 'taken'.
The auxiliary verb 'had' completes the past perfect aspect ('had taken').
The past perfect construction (had + past participle) paired with 'than + simple past' expresses an action that happened immediately before another past event.

Key Concept

Negative Inversion and Past Perfect Aspect ('No sooner had... than')
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