English grammar – Spot the error (choose the part with an error or “No error”). Inversion pattern: No sooner did / the chairman begin speaking / some participants started / shouting slogans.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: some participants started

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The correlative structure is “No sooner … than …”. After the introductory clause with inversion, “than” must immediately introduce the next clause. The sentence omits “than.”



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Segment A uses “No sooner did …” correctly with auxiliary inversion.
  • Segment B keeps the main verb in base form after “did.”
  • Segment C should begin with “than,” but it does not.


Concept / Approach:
Recognize the fixed correlative pair: “No sooner … than …”. The absence of “than” is an error in C, because that is the position where it should occur: “than some participants started …”.



Step-by-Step Solution:

Confirm A: Inversion with “did” is correct.Confirm B: Base verb “begin” after “did” is correct.Correct C: Insert “than” → “than some participants started …”.D is fine as a participial object complement.


Verification / Alternative check:

Full correction: “No sooner did the chairman begin speaking than some participants started shouting slogans.”


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A, B, D are grammatical; only the missing correlative “than” in C causes the error.


Common Pitfalls:

Forgetting the required pair “no sooner … than …”; using “when” instead of “than” in this structure.


Final Answer:
some participants started

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