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Grammatical Structure

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Question 401Question →

Complete the sentence below by supplying the most appropriate preposition in the blank space.

Fill in the blanks below

The suspect was formally charged armed robbery during yesterday's court proceedings.
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Answer

with
The dependent preposition 'with' is strictly required following the verb 'charged' when indicating the legal offense alleged against a person.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the verb in the sentence and determine its fixed dependent preposition in a legal context.
The verb 'charged' when referring to a criminal accusation requires the preposition 'with'.
Standard English grammar dictates that one is 'charged with' a crime, whereas one is 'accused of' or 'arrested for' a crime.

Key Concept

Dependent Prepositions after Verbs
Estimated Time:45s
Question 402Question →

Despite repeated warnings from the municipal oversight committee, neither of the proposed architectural plans had _____ structural safety permit renewed before construction began. Which option best completes the sentence while adhering strictly to formal rules of pronoun-antecedent agreement?

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Answer: its

Answer

The possessive determiner 'its' correctly completes the sentence because the singular indefinite pronoun 'neither' is the true antecedent.
The correct response is 'its' because the sentence's subject antecedent is the singular indefinite pronoun 'neither'. In formal English, 'neither' requires a singular pronoun. Since 'architectural plans' are non-human objects, the singular neuter possessive determiner 'its' must be used.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the grammatical antecedent of the missing pronoun.
The antecedent is the indefinite pronoun 'neither', not the plural noun 'architectural plans' inside the modifying prepositional phrase 'of the proposed architectural plans'.
Nouns contained within prepositional phrases modifying a subject do not alter the number of the head antecedent.
2
Determine the grammatical number and person of the antecedent.
The indefinite pronoun 'neither' is singular and third-person neuter (referring to inanimate plans).
Standard formal English treats 'neither' as a singular subject when referring to items individually.
3
Select the appropriate possessive form to modify 'structural safety permit'.
'Its' is the correct singular third-person neuter possessive determiner.
A possessive determiner is required before the noun phrase 'structural safety permit'.

Key Concept

Indefinite Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Question 403Question →

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

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Although the examination was difficult, the candidates answered the questions .
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Answer

correctly
The blank requires an adverb of manner to describe how the candidates performed the action 'answered'. The adverb 'correctly' fits grammatically and logically.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the element being modified in the sentence.
The word needing modification is the verb 'answered'.
An adverb is required to describe how the action of answering was performed.
2
Select the appropriate adverb form to modify the verb.
The adverb 'correctly' (or 'accurately') properly modifies the verb 'answered'.
Adjectives modify nouns, whereas adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

Key Concept

Adverbial Modification of Verbs
Estimated Time:45s
Question 404Question →

The spokesperson declared during the press conference that it is high time the municipal council ________ effective measures to resolve the acute water shortage. Which option best fills the gap to convey the correct grammatical sense?

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Answer: enforced

Answer

enforced
The expression 'it is high time' is followed by a subject and a verb in the past subjunctive (unreal past) tense to indicate that an action is overdue and ought to happen immediately. Therefore, the simple past form 'enforced' is grammatically mandatory.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the key grammatical expression in the sentence
The clause is introduced by the idiom 'it is high time'.
Phrases such as 'it is time' or 'it is high time' establish a specific syntactic rule governing the subsequent verb.
2
Determine the required tense and aspect for the verb that follows
The structure requires an 'unreal past' subjunctive form (simple past tense).
Even though the reference is to the present or immediate future, English grammar dictates using the simple past form to indicate an action that is overdue.
3
Select the option corresponding to the simple past tense of 'enforce'
The correct verb form is 'enforced'.
'enforced' correctly fulfills the unreal past requirement.

Key Concept

Unreal Past Tense after 'It is high time'
Question 405Question →

Complete the sentence below by filling in the blanks with the correct present-tense auxiliary verbs that satisfy the rules of concord.

Fill in the blanks below

The lead archivist, accompanied by three research assistants, cataloged the rare manuscripts, yet neither the head librarian nor the board members prepared to grant public access to the collection.
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Answer

The first blank requires 'has' and the second blank requires 'are'.
For the first blank, 'has' is required because the singular head subject 'The lead archivist' governs the verb; modifying phrases introduced by 'accompanied by' do not make the subject plural. For the second blank, 'are' is required because with correlative subjects linked by 'neither... nor', the verb agrees in number with the nearest noun phrase, which is the plural noun 'the board members'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the primary subject for the first clause and evaluate the effect of the intervening parenthetical phrase.
The core subject is 'The lead archivist' (singular). The phrase 'accompanied by three research assistants' is a quasi-conjunction and does not pluralize the subject.
Expressions such as 'accompanied by', 'as well as', and 'together with' do not form compound subjects; grammatical agreement remains strictly with the head noun.
2
Determine the correct verb for the first blank.
Select the singular auxiliary verb 'has'.
A singular subject ('The lead archivist') requires a singular auxiliary verb ('has').
3
Analyze the subject structure of the second clause connected by correlative conjunctions.
The subjects 'the head librarian' (singular) and 'the board members' (plural) are joined by 'neither... nor'.
When correlative conjunctions connect subjects of differing numbers, the principle of proximity dictates that the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
4
Determine the correct verb for the second blank.
Select the plural auxiliary verb 'are'.
The subject closest to the verb is 'the board members' (plural), so a plural verb ('are') is required.

Key Concept

Subject-Verb Agreement (Concord) with Quasi-Conjunctions and the Principle of Proximity
Question 406Question →

The testimony provided by the key prosecution witness was completely ______ the official forensic report submitted to the judicial panel. Which of the following prepositional expressions correctly completes the sentence?

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Answer: at variance with

Answer

at variance with
The expression 'at variance with' is a fixed prepositional phrase meaning to be in disagreement, conflict, or inconsistency with something. In formal English grammar, 'at variance' must be followed by the preposition 'with' when pointing out discrepancy between two items or accounts.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the target relationship and core prepositional idiom in the sentence.
The sentence describes a relationship of conflict or inconsistency between a witness testimony and a forensic report.
English prepositional phrases governing contrast or conflict rely on fixed preposition-noun-preposition collocations.
2
Evaluate the options against standard English fixed prepositional idioms.
The standard idiomatic expression is 'at variance with'. Expressions using 'to', 'in', or 'on...from' break the fixed structural rule of this idiom.
Fixed prepositional phrases do not allow arbitrary substitution of their internal or terminal prepositions.

Key Concept

Prepositional Phrases and Fixed Idiomatic Collocations
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 407Question →

Complete the sentence by supplying the correct form of the verb in brackets to express the appropriate temporal aspect.

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By the time the special investigative commission presents its final report next month, the audit panel (examine) all the relevant financial records.
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Answer

The correct form of the verb is 'will have examined'.
The sentence requires the future perfect tense ('will have examined') because the time prepositional phrase 'By the time...' accompanied by a present tense subordinate clause ('presents...') sets a future boundary by which the action in the main clause will already be accomplished.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the temporal marker and time frame in the sentence
The clause begins with 'By the time...' and includes a simple present verb ('presents') referencing a future time marker ('next month').
Temporal expressions introduced by 'by the time' paired with a simple present verb establish a future point of completion.
2
Determine the appropriate tense and aspect required for the main clause
The action of examining the financial records must be completed prior to the specified future deadline, requiring the future perfect tense.
The future perfect structure ('will have' + past participle) expresses an action that will be completed before a particular time or event in the future.

Key Concept

Future Perfect Aspect in Time Clauses
Question 408Question →

Read the sentence below carefully and answer the question that follows:

"The maritime safety board stipulated that the cargo vessel need not have anchored outside the harbor during the storm, as the inner basin was fully sheltered."

What does the modal verb phrase 'need not have anchored' indicate in this context?

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Answer: The vessel anchored outside the harbor, but that action was unnecessary.

Answer

The modal phrase indicates that the vessel anchored outside the harbor, but doing so was unnecessary.
The modal structure 'need not have + past participle' is used to show that an action was executed in the past, but it was not necessary. Therefore, saying the vessel 'need not have anchored' means the vessel did anchor, even though doing so was unneeded.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the structural components of the underlined modal phrase.
The phrase consists of the semi-modal 'need' + 'not' + present perfect auxiliary 'have' + past participle 'anchored'.
Identifying the verb structure helps determine whether it expresses present necessity, past prohibition, or an unnecessary past action.
2
Apply the semantic rules governing 'need not have + past participle'.
In English grammar, 'need not have + past participle' expresses that a past action was actually carried out, but in retrospect, it was unnecessary.
Distinguishing 'need not have done' (action performed unnecessarily) from 'did not need to do' (action was unnecessary, and may or may not have been performed) is critical for precise interpretation.
3
Match the grammatical interpretation with the correct context option.
The vessel did anchor outside, but that action was superfluous because the inner basin was safe.
This directly aligns with the meaning of past unnecessary action.

Key Concept

Expressing Absence of Past Obligation / Unnecessary Past Action (Need Not Have)
Question 409Question →

Which of the following verb forms correctly completes the sentence below?

Not only the lead prosecutor but also each of the defense attorneys who participated in the high-profile tribunal _______ expecting the judge to grant a stay of execution.

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Answer: is

Answer

The correct option is 'is' because in correlative conjunction structures (not only... but also), the verb agrees with the subject phrase following 'but also'. Within that phrase ('each of the defense attorneys'), the head word is the singular indefinite pronoun 'each', which strictly mandates a singular verb.
The sentence uses the correlative conjunction pair 'not only... but also...', which mandates that the verb agree with the second subject component ('each of the defense attorneys...'). The head word of this noun phrase is the indefinite pronoun 'each', which is grammatically singular and takes the singular verb 'is'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the structural rule governing correlative conjunctions.
In sentences joined by 'not only... but also...', the verb must agree with the subject phrase closest to the verb (the second subject element).
Correlative proximity concord dictates that the clause after 'but also' controls verb agreement.
2
Analyze the head word of the subject phrase following 'but also'.
The subject phrase is 'each of the defense attorneys'. The head word of this phrase is the distributive indefinite pronoun 'each'.
Prepositional modifiers like 'of the defense attorneys' do not alter the grammatical number of the head pronoun.
3
Apply indefinite pronoun concord to select the appropriate verb form.
The pronoun 'each' is grammatically singular and requires a singular auxiliary verb ('is').
Singular indefinite pronouns demand singular verb forms regardless of intervening plural nouns.

Key Concept

Correlative Conjunction and Indefinite Pronoun Concord Rules
Estimated Time:1m 15s
Question 410Question →

Fill in the blank with the appropriate verb form that maintains correct grammatical concord.

Fill in the blanks below

Five million naira requested by the committee to construct the new community health clinic.
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Answer

The correct verb to fill the blank is 'was' (or 'is'), because expressions denoting a specific total sum of money function as a single unit and take a singular verb.
In English grammar, phrases indicating a specific sum of money (such as 'Five million naira') represent a single aggregate quantity and therefore require a singular verb like 'was' or 'is'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the subject of the sentence and determine its grammatical nature.
The subject is 'Five million naira', which expresses a single total sum of money.
Nouns or phrases representing specific amounts of money, periods of time, or distances are treated as single collective entities.
2
Apply the rule of concord for expressions of money, time, and distance.
A singular verb form ('was' or 'is') must be paired with the singular sum of money.
Even though 'naira' or the number 'five million' might appear plural, the entire phrase represents a single aggregate quantity.

Key Concept

Concord of Amounts and Quantities
Question 411Question →

Which verb phrase correctly fills the blank to express the appropriate conditional aspect in the sentence below?

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Had the investigative panel uncovered the fraudulent transactions earlier, the board (dismiss) the chief executive officer before the annual general meeting.
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Answer

would have dismissed
The sentence begins with an inverted conditional clause ('Had the investigative panel uncovered...'), which represents an unreal/unfulfilled condition in the past (third conditional). Standard grammatical rules mandate that the result clause of a third conditional sentence takes the form of 'would have' plus the past participle of the main verb ('dismissed'). Hence, 'would have dismissed' is the grammatically correct response.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the structure of the conditional clause.
The clause 'Had the investigative panel uncovered...' is an inverted third conditional construction expressing an unfulfilled condition in the past.
Inversion of 'If the panel had uncovered' removes 'if' and places the auxiliary 'Had' at the beginning of the clause.
2
Determine the required verb structure for the main (result) clause of a third conditional sentence.
The result clause requires the modal auxiliary construction 'would have' followed by the past participle form of the principal verb.
Third conditional structures strictly pair past perfect condition clauses with 'would have + past participle' to reflect past unfulfilled hypotheticals.
3
Conjugate the target verb 'dismiss' into the correct result clause form.
The correct form is 'would have dismissed'.
'Dismissed' is the past participle of 'dismiss', yielding 'would have dismissed'.

Key Concept

Inverted Third Conditional and Past Perfect Aspect
Question 412Question →

What is the correct form of the verb to complete the sentence below?

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Mr. Okeke has been living in Lagos since he from university.
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Answer

graduated
When 'since' is used to connect a main clause in the present perfect tense to a time clause defining a specific starting point in the past, the verb in the 'since' clause must be in the simple past tense ('graduated').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence structure and time indicators.
The main clause uses the present perfect continuous tense ('has been living'), while the subordinate clause is introduced by the time conjunction 'since'.
The conjunction 'since' indicates the starting point of an action that began in the past and continues into the present.
2
Apply the rule of sequence of tenses for time clauses introduced by 'since'.
The verb in the time clause specifying the starting point must be in the simple past tense.
A completed action acting as a point of origin in time requires the simple past tense form 'graduated'.

Key Concept

Sequence of tenses with 'since' (Present Perfect Main Clause + Simple Past Time Clause)
Question 413Question →

Consider the sentence: 'The commission affirmed that _______ the lead researcher presented valid empirical data, the committee declined to approve the proposal.' Which word or phrase appropriately completes the subordinate clause to express concession?

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Answer: even though

Answer

The subordinating conjunction 'even though' is the correct choice because it properly introduces a finite dependent clause.
The correct option 'even though' is a subordinating conjunction that properly introduces the finite subordinate clause 'the lead researcher presented valid empirical data' to express contrast or concession.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the structural nature of the element following the blank.
The phrase 'the lead researcher presented valid empirical data' contains a explicit subject ('the lead researcher') and a finite verb ('presented'), making it a finite clause.
Identifying whether the segment is a clause or a noun phrase dictates whether a conjunction or a preposition is needed.
2
Determine the grammatical category required to connect the clause.
A subordinating conjunction of concession is required to link the finite subordinate clause to the main sentence.
Prepositions cannot directly introduce finite clauses without a nominalizing element.
3
Evaluate the option choices against grammatical rules.
'Even though' is a subordinating conjunction, whereas 'despite', 'in spite of', and 'regardless of' are prepositional forms requiring noun phrases.
Selecting 'even though' maintains structural grammatical accuracy.

Key Concept

Distinction Between Concessive Conjunctions and Prepositional Connectives
Question 414Question →

During a parliamentary session on environmental legislation, a rapporteur drafted a statement regarding new pollution limits. Which sentence uses modifiers correctly to convey the statement without grammatical error or ambiguity?

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Answer: Having carefully reviewed the environmental report, the committee introduced considerably stricter regulations on industrial emissions.

Answer

The sentence that correctly structures the introductory participial phrase to modify 'the committee' while using the adverb 'considerably' to modify the adjective 'stricter'.
The correct formulation ensures that the introductory participial phrase 'Having carefully reviewed the environmental report' logically and syntactically attaches to 'the committee', which is the entity doing the reviewing. Furthermore, it accurately employs the adverb 'considerably' to intensify the comparative adjective 'stricter'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the introductory participial phrase 'Having carefully reviewed the environmental report'.
Identified that the subject performing the review action must immediately follow the comma.
Participial phrases must modify the agent performing the action to avoid dangling modifiers.
2
Evaluate the head noun following the comma across options.
'The committee' is the logical agent that reviewed the report, whereas 'considerably stricter regulations' cannot review a report.
Attaching the participial phrase to 'regulations' creates a dangling modifier.
3
Examine adverbial vs adjectival modification and word choice.
The word modifying the comparative adjective 'stricter' must be the adverb 'considerably', not the adjective 'considerable'. Additionally, 'complementary' (completing) is required rather than 'complimentary' (praising/free).
Adjectives are modified by adverbs, and paronyms/homophones must be distinguished precisely.

Key Concept

Modifiers: Dangling participial phrases, degree adverbs, and paronym precision
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 415Question →

Which word correctly completes the sentence below?

"Following a thorough review of the evidence, the tribunal acquitted the officer ______ all allegations of gross misconduct."

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Answer: of

Answer

The preposition 'of' correctly completes the sentence to yield 'acquitted of all allegations'.
In standard English grammar, certain verbs take specific dependent prepositions. The verb 'acquit' always pairs with 'of' when mentioning the criminal or administrative charges being cleared (e.g., 'acquitted of theft'). Thus, the option containing 'of' is correct.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the head verb in the sentence requiring a dependent preposition.
The main verb is 'acquitted'.
Prepositions following verbs of judicial outcome (e.g., acquit, convict, accuse) follow strict dependent preposition rules.
2
Apply the standard prepositional rule for 'acquit'.
The correct complement structure is 'acquit someone OF a crime/charge'.
'Acquit' takes 'of' to designate the charge or allegation from which a person is cleared.

Key Concept

Dependent prepositions following judicial verbs (acquit of)
Question 416Question →

Complete the sentence below by supplying the correct subordinating conjunction to fill in the blank.

Fill in the blanks below

the managing director tried to reconcile the conflicting board members, the rift between them continued to widen.
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Answer

Much as
The conjunction 'Much as' introduces an adverbial clause of concession, functioning equivalently to 'although' or 'even though'. It establishes the contrast between the effort expended to reconcile the members and the persistent widening of the rift.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the relationship between the subordinate clause and the main clause
The subordinate clause describes an effort ('tried to reconcile'), while the main clause states an unexpected contrasting outcome ('the rift continued to widen').
The sentence requires a conjunction of concession to express contrast between the effort made and the negative result.
2
Identify the standard formal English subordinator that expresses concession in this structural position
'Much as' acts as a concessive conjunction meaning 'although' or 'even though'.
'Much as' correctly subordinating a finite clause is the precise formal structure called for in standard grammar assessments.

Key Concept

Subordinating Conjunctions of Concession
Question 417Question →

The lead counsel emphasized during the tribunal session that the minister's personal directives were completely conversant ______ the statutory provisions governing public procurement. Which preposition correctly completes the sentence?

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Answer: with

Answer

The preposition 'with' correctly completes the sentence because the standard grammatical collocation for the adjective 'conversant' is 'conversant with'.
The adjective 'conversant' requires the preposition 'with' to form the standard prepositional phrase structure 'conversant with', meaning familiar with or knowledgeable about a subject.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the target adjective requiring a dependent preposition in the sentence.
The target adjective is 'conversant'.
Dependent prepositions in English are fixed by standard lexical collocations with specific adjectives.
2
Determine the standard preposition that complements 'conversant'.
'conversant' takes the preposition 'with' (meaning well-informed about or familiar with).
Substituting other prepositions such as 'about', 'to', or 'of' creates non-standard prepositional structures.

Key Concept

Dependent Prepositions and Adjective-Preposition Collocations
Question 418Question →

In the sentence, "The university senate granted the research team, a group of dedicated conservationists, substantial funding for their ecosystem restoration project," what is the grammatical function of the bolded noun phrase?

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Answer: Appositive modifying the indirect object

Answer

The bolded noun phrase functions as an appositive modifying the indirect object.
An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames another noun phrase placed beside it. In this sentence, 'a group of dedicated conservationists' directly renames 'the research team'. Because 'the research team' functions as the indirect object of the verb 'granted', the bolded phrase acts as an appositive modifying the indirect object.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the main clause structure of the sentence.
Subject: 'The university senate'; Verb: 'granted'; Indirect Object: 'the research team'; Direct Object: 'substantial funding'.
Identifying the primary clause elements establishes the baseline syntactic slots in a ditransitive structure.
2
Determine the relationship between 'the research team' and 'a group of dedicated conservationists'.
The bolded phrase is placed adjacent to 'the research team' between commas to rename and clarify who the team consists of.
A noun phrase that stands next to another noun phrase to rename or describe it operates as an appositive.
3
Identify the element being renamed.
'The research team' is the indirect object of 'granted', making the modifying phrase an appositive to the indirect object.
Appositives share the grammatical case and functional context of the noun phrases they clarify.

Key Concept

Syntactic Functions of Noun Phrases: Appositives
Question 419Question →

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

Fill in the blanks below

Active sentence: The security officers inspect all vehicles at the border checkpoint.
Passive sentence: All vehicles by the security officers at the border checkpoint.
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Answer

are inspected
The correct passive construction requires the simple present plural auxiliary verb 'are' combined with the past participle 'inspected' to agree with the new plural subject 'All vehicles' while preserving the simple present tense of the active verb ('inspect').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the tense and main verb of the active sentence.
The verb 'inspect' is in the Simple Present tense, and the subject performing the action is 'the security officers'.
Transforming from active to passive voice requires retaining the original tense of the active sentence.
2
Determine the new subject and select the corresponding simple present auxiliary verb and past participle.
The new subject is 'All vehicles' (plural), requiring the present tense plural auxiliary 'are' plus the past participle 'inspected'.
Subject-verb agreement must be maintained between the new plural subject ('All vehicles') and the auxiliary verb.

Key Concept

Simple Present Active to Passive Voice Transformation
Question 420Question →

Complete the sentence below by supplying the correct correlative conjunction phrase in the blank.

Fill in the blanks below

had the new policy been announced than a wave of public protest swept across the state.
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Answer

The correct phrase to complete the sentence is 'No sooner'.
The correct response is 'No sooner'. In formal English, placing 'No sooner' at the sentence head mandates subject-auxiliary inversion ('had the new policy...') and strictly requires 'than' to connect the subsequent dependent clause.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Examine the subordinate and main clause structures in the given sentence.
The initial clause shows subject-auxiliary inversion ('had the new policy been announced'), and the following main clause is introduced by the conjunction 'than'.
Correlative adverbial structures that express immediate sequence require specific paired conjunctions.
2
Determine which negative or limitative connective pairs strictly with 'than'.
'No sooner' is the specific correlative conjunction that triggers fronted inversion and pairs with 'than'.
Connectives such as 'Hardly', 'Scarcely', or 'Barely' require 'when' or 'before' rather than 'than'.

Key Concept

Inverted Correlative Conjunctions (No sooner... than)
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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