A. Write when or than in each gap.

 Hardly had we started ………………… the fire alarm went.

 No sooner had we set off ………………… my brother needed the toilet.

 No sooner were the animals caught ………………… the escaped again.

 Hardly had I closed my eyes ………………… I dropped off to sleep.

 No sooner do I do the washing ………………… there’s another pile to be done.

 Hardly were we in position ………………… the bomb went off.

Answer

1 when   2 than   3 than   4 when   5 than   6 when

B. Choose the correct answer.

 No sooner …………… down than the phone rang.

      A   I had sat      do I sit

      C   had I sat     D   was I sitting

 Never …………… a greater day in the history of mankind.

      A   did there be      was there

      C   there was     D   there has been

 At no time …………… that he was the killer.

      A   I didn’t suspect      was I suspect

      C   I had suspected     D   did I suspect

4   Little …………… that I knew his secret.

      A   did John know     B   John did know

      C   was John know     D   John knew

5   Not until …………… her did I realise how beautiful she was.

      A   I saw     B   did I see

      C   was I saw     D   saw I

6   Not only …………… my keys, I’ve lost my wallet, too.

      A   I have lost     B   are I lost

      C   I did lose     D   have I lost

 Rarely …………… about the environment enough to give up their car.

      A   do people care      people care

      C   are people care     D   care people

 Only when …………… may vehicles cross the train tracks.

      A   is the green light on

      B   the green light is on

      C   did the green light be on

      D   on is the green light

 Seldom …………… such a rude person!

      A   have I met      I have met

      C   did I met     D   am I meeting

10   Only after doing his chores …………… to go to meet his friends.

      A   Jason was allowed

      B   did Jason allow

      C   was allowed Jason

      D   was Jason allowed

Answer

1 C   2 B   3 D   4 A   5 A

6 D   7 A   8 B   9 A   10 D

C. If a word or phrase in bold is correct, put a tick (✓). If it is incorrect, rewrite it correctly.

1   Hardly Tom had opened the door when the dog ran out into the street.   …………………………………

2   Only when I read the book did I realise why it was so special.   …………………………………

3   Not only you passed the exam, but you also got an A!   …………………………………

4   Not until do I see Greg next week will I know whether he got the job.   …………………………………

5   No sooner had we found our seats than the film began.   …………………………………

6   At no point while the race is taking place members of the public are not allowed onto the track.   …………………………………

 Under no circumstances do the equipment to be used without supervision.   …………………………………

 Little I thought that one day my best friend would become prime minister.   …………………………………

 Never did I be so pleased to see someone else succeed.   …………………………………

10   Hardly I had put the baby to bed when she started crying.   …………………………………

Answer

1   had Tom opened

2   ✓

3   did you pass/have you passed

4   I see

5   ✓

6   are members of the public allowed

7   is the equipment to be used

8   did I think

9   was I/have I been

10   had I put

D. Complete using the correct form of the words in brackets.

Hacker!

No sooner (1) …………………………. (I / start) working at Taylforth Nielsen, the computer company, than I realised it was the perfect opportunity for my hobby: hacking! Don’t get me wrong. At no point (2) …………………………. (I / have) ever stolen anything. I do it for the challenge. Not only (3) …………………………. (I / like) proving I can do it, but sometimes (4) …………………………. (it / help) a company to build a better security system. Rarely (5) …………………………. (they / see) it like that, of course. I decided I would see if I could break into the Grand Bank system. Little (6) …………………………. (I / realise) what was waiting for me.

The second day of working there, hardly (7) …………………………. (everyone else / leave) when I started to try simple passwords. Seldom (8) …………………………. (this / is) enough, though. You usually have to work much harder than that. Not until midnight (9) …………………………. (I / get) access to the Grand Bank system. Hardly (10) …………………………. (I / have) time to look around the system when the door to my office flew open and three men rushed in. Only when (11) …………………………. (they / show) me their ID (12) …………………………. (I / realise) that it was the police. They had been expecting something like this and had traced my computer! Not only (13) …………………………. (I / be fired), but (14) …………………………. (they / keep) all my computer records, too. Maybe it’s time to find another hobby.

Answer

1 had I started   2 have I   3 do I like

4 it helps   5 do they see   6 did I realise

7 had everyone else left   8 is this

9 did I get   10 had I had   11 they showed

12 did I realise   13 was I fired   14 they kept

E. Complete the sentences so that the meaning remains the same.

 Photographs are not permitted under any circumstances.

     Under ……………………………………………………

 We’ve never faced such a serious problem as this.

     Never ……………………………………………………

 I only realised it was Vanessa when she removed her hat.

     Only ……………………………………………………

 The audience didn’t laugh at any point during the show.

     At ……………………………………………………

 As soon as Patrick had finished the e-mail, he sent it.

     No ……………………………………………………

 It wasn’t clear who was going to win the match until the last few minutes.

     Not ……………………………………………………

 Dennis passed his driving test and had an accident almost immediately afterwards.

     Hardly ……………………………………………………

 I didn’t learn the result of the match until I read the evening paper.

     Only ……………………………………………………

 The president will not resign under any circumstances.

     Under ……………………………………………………

10   The accused showed no emotion at any time during the trial.

       At ……………………………………………………

Answer

1   no circumstances are photographs permitted.

2   before have we faced such a serious problem as this.

3   only when Vanessa removed her hat did I realise it was her.

4   no point during the show did the audience laugh.

5   sooner had Patrick finished the e-mail than he sent it.

6   until the last few minutes was it clear who was going to win the match.

7   had Dennis passed his driving test when he had an accident.

8   when I read the evening paper did I learn the result of the match.

9   no circumstances will the president resign

10   no time during the trial did the accused show any emotion.

F. Complete the responses to these statements.

1   ‘I wish I had more money.’

     ‘So ……………………………’

2   ‘We never seem to spend much time together in my family.’

     ‘Neither ……………………………’

3   ‘I’m not going to Jacob’s party next Sunday.’

     ‘Nor ……………………………’

4   ‘I didn’t do my homework last night.’

     ‘Nor ……………………………’

5   ‘I’ll be on holiday this time next week.’

     ‘So ……………………………’

6   ‘I had no idea Chris was getting married.’

     ‘Neither ……………………………’

7   ‘I should really get more exercise.’

     ‘So ……………………………’

Answer

1 do I.   2 do we.   3 am I.   4 did I.

5 will I.   6 had I/did I.   7 should I.

G. Write one word in each gap.

1   Such a long way ……………… it that we decided to go by train.

2   So badly ……………… I play chess that I almost never agree to have a game.

3   Pupils are expected to behave politely, as ……………… members of staff.

4   So tired ……………… I that I decided to lie down for a while.

5   Such a threat to society ……………… you that I have no choice but to send you to prison.

6   So cold ……………… it last winter that all our pipes froze.

7   Calculators are banned from the examining room, as ……………… dictionaries and handheld computers.

8   I have been having very strange dreams lately, as ……………… my twin sister.

Answer

1 was   2 do   3 are   4 was

5 are   6 was   7 are   8 has

H. Form possessives from the nouns given.

 (Billy): ……………………… opinion

 (my mum): ……………………… cooking

 (our next door neighbours): ……………………… cat

 (George the Fifth): ……………………… daughter

 (people): ……………………… prejudices

 (the Greenes): ……………………… holiday home

 (women): ……………………… magazines

 (the boss): ……………………… car

 (Jack and Jill): ……………………… wedding

10   (students): ……………………… marks

11   (children): ……………………… shoes

12   (politicians): ……………………… promises

Answer

1 Billy’s   2 my mum’s   3 our next door neighbours’

4 George the Fifth’s   5 people’s   6 the Greenes’

7 women’s   8 the boss’s   9 Jack and Jill’s

10 student’s   11 children’s   12 politicians’

I. Complete using the words in the box. Use each word only once.

her • hers • it’s • its • mine • my • their • theirs

1   Tell Michelle that it’s my problem, not …………………… .

2   Are you sure this isn’t ……………………, because it looks just like the one I was given for Christmas?

3   Thanks for the offer, but I think I’ll use …………………… own money.

4   I saw a wallet on the floor next to a couple of tourists and asked them if it was …………………… .

5   Remind your sister to bring …………………… book to the lesson tomorrow.

6   I’m not sure, but I think …………………… Mark’s bag, isn’t it?

7   Could you make sure that your children don’t leave …………………… toys in my garden again, please?

8   What secrets do you think the Moon might be hiding within …………………… craters?

Answer

1 hers   2 mine   3 my   4 theirs

5 her   6 it’s    7 their   8 its

J. If a line is correct, put a tick () next to the number. If there is an extra word in a line, write it next to the number.

FIRST DAY AT WORK

(1) Well, Trisha, that’s my own first day at my new job out of the way. I wasn’t (2) sure what to expect, but it turned out okay. My manager was really nice, (3) much nicer than yours boss sounds from your letter. No sooner had I arrived (4) at work than did he made me a cup of tea! It was a really pleasant surprise. (5) Not only did he do that, but he was also kind enough to explain to me how (6) everything worked. The office is really modern and its comfortable. The other (7) people all have their own desks, but mine desk still hasn’t been delivered, so (8) I am sharing with someone else for now. Little did I not realise when I took (9) the job that I was going to enjoy it so much. I have finally found a job that I (10) am happy in, and so will you have, I’m sure. Hope tomorrow’s as much fun!

Answer

1 own   2 ✓   3 boss   4 did   5

6 its   7 desk   8 not   9 ✓   10 have

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