Lesson 32 Three Effective Sentence Devices Joseph C. Blumenthal

1.The “no sooner…than” device: a.When we sat down to eat, company arrived. b.No sooner had we sat down to eat than company arrived. Which sentence shows more effectively that one event followed the other almost immediately? _

1.The “no sooner…than” device: a.When we sat down to eat, company arrived. b.No sooner had we sat down to eat than company arrived. Which sentence shows more effectively that one event followed the other almost immediately? b

No sooner had we sat down to eat than company arrived. The words no sooner must be followed later in the sentence by the word.

No sooner had we sat down to eat than company arrived. The words no sooner must be followed later in the sentence by the word than.

a. When I last saw Ben, he was looking for a job. b. When the picnic table was set, it began to rain. Which of the above sentences could best be put into the “no sooner…than” arrangement because the two events occurred at about the same time? _

a. When I last saw Ben, he was looking for a job. b. When the picnic table was set, it began to rain. Which of the above sentences could best be put into the “no sooner…than” arrangement because the two events occurred at about the same time? b

a.When the picnic table was set, it began to rain. b.No sooner was the picnic table set than it began to rain. Which sentence is more novel and forceful? _

a.When the picnic table was set, it began to rain. b.No sooner was the picnic table set than it began to rain. Which sentence is more novel and forceful? b

a.No sooner was the picnic table set than it began to rain. b.The picnic table was no sooner set than it began to rain. In which arrangement does the subject table come between the two parts of the verb? _

a.No sooner was the picnic table set than it began to rain. b.The picnic table was no sooner set than it began to rain. In which arrangement does the subject table come between the two parts of the verb? a

In a “no sooner…than” sentence, we usually need a helping verb such as was, did, or had with the main verb. a. The two boys met, and they began to argue. b. No sooner had the two boys met than they began to argue. The verb met in sentence a becomes in b.

In a “no sooner…than” sentence, we usually need a helping verb such as was, did, or had with the main verb. a. The two boys met, and they began to argue. b. No sooner had the two boys met than they began to argue. The verb met in sentence a becomes had met in b.

a.When I sit down to study, someone usually disturbs me. b.No sooner do I sit down to study than someone usually disturbs me. The verb sit in sentence a becomes in sentence b.

a.When I sit down to study, someone usually disturbs me. b.No sooner do I sit down to study than someone usually disturbs me. The verb sit in sentence a becomes do sit in sentence b.