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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

no sooner - when Past Simple when Past Perfect ?

What's the difference between these two sentences, can we use Past Simple and Past Perfect interchangeably without any changes in meaning ?

No sooner had I done something than...

No sooner did I done something than...

thanks in advance!
  

Top answer

Hi, What's the difference between these two sentences, can we use Past Simple and Past Perfect interchangeably without any changes in meaning ? No sooner had I done something than... No sooner did I do something than...

— Clive

  • Hi, What's the difference between these two sentences, can we use Past Simple and Past Perfect interchangeably without any changes in meaning ?
  • No sooner had I done something than...
  • No sooner did I do something than...
  • No sooner had I put the phone down than the door bell rang.
  • No sooner did I put the phone down than the door bell rang.
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10 Answers
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Hi,

What's the difference between these two sentences, can we use Past Simple and Past Perfect interchangeably without any changes in meaning ?

No sooner had I done something than...

No sooner did I do something than...

No sooner had I put the pho
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The past simple one sounds more formal to me. More literary.
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"Than" is used incorrectly here. It should be "then."
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Hi,
I fear you are mistaken.
Clive
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No sooner did I put the phone down than the door bell rang.

Clive, Which action comes first? The structure is complicated to me.
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Hi,

Think of it this way.
I put the phone down.
The door bell did not ring sooner than that action.

In other words, it rang at the same time or later.

But not very much later at all, otherwise I wouldn't use this particular expression.

Clive
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hi

i've got a very difficult exe,plz help me with this Emotion: big smile

As soon as i got into the bath,someone knocked on t
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Hi,

i've got a very difficult exe,plz help me with this Emotion: big smile

As soon as i got into the bath,someone knocked on
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