English · Chapter 13
Inversion PYQs
When the helping verb jumps in front of the subject, and when it must stay behind.
No sooner: inversion and the verb form 1 PYQs
No sooner … than: the right partner 2 PYQs
- (a) No sooner than he reached the station the train left. (b) No sooner had he reached the station than the train left. (c) No sooner he had reached…Other exams 2026
- The judge said, “No sooner did the witness enter the courtroom when the proceedings began.”DSSSB 2026 · 9 Oct 2026
Hardly / scarcely / barely … when 7 PYQs
- (a) Hardly had I arrived at the airport than the plane departed. (b) Scarcely had I arrived at the airport when the plane departed. (c) Hardly I had…Other exams 2026
- He complained that the meeting had hardly started when the power went out.SSC Stenographer 2026 · 12 Sep 2026
- Hardly / did she finish the report / when / the manager called her.SSC Selection Post 2026 · 16 Sep 2026
- Scarcely / had he entered the room / than / the lights went out.SSC Selection Post 2026 · 22 Sep 2026
- (A) Hardly he had / (B) entered the hall / (C) when the lights / (D) went off suddenly.DSSSB 2026 · 22 Sep 2026
- He had hardly finished his work then the manager asked for another report, which took another two hours.DSSSB 2026 · 29 Sep 2026
- Scarcely ________ the morning train when I realized that, if I had left my house five minutes later, I ________ the crucial interview.SSC CGL 2026 · 13 Oct 2026
Never, seldom, rarely, little 6 PYQs
- Seldom the panel encounters / a situation in which the evidence / and the testimony contradict so directly / that a unanimous ruling becomes…SSC Selection Post 2026 · 25 Sep 2026
- Little did the CEO realise that the proposed restructuring / would be met with such vehemence by the labour unions / as to force a complete…SSC Stenographer 2026 · 12 Sep 2026
- Seldom he expresses regret for his decisions.SSC CGL 2026 · 27 Oct 2026
- Rarely ____ such blatant disregard for protocol, nor ____ it so openly tolerated.SSC CGL 2026 · 01 Oct 2026
- Seldom have we encountered a theory ______ intriguing ______ this one.SSC CGL 2026 · 23 Oct 2026
- Rarely the department issues such open calls for proposals without internal approvals from the steering committee.SSC CGL 2026 · 13 Oct 2026
Not only … but also, neither and nor 4 PYQs
- Not only ________ the hypotheses questioned, but also ________ by leading experts in the field.SSC Selection Post 2026 · 25 Sep 2026
- Not only did he complete the project on time, but he also submitted a detailed report and presented his findings.DSSSB 2026 · 23 Sep 2026
- Not only the minister has denied the allegations, but also filed a counter-suit.SSC CGL 2026 · 16 Oct 2026
- Not only ____ the funding, but he also offered strategic guidance.SSC CGL 2026 · 01 Oct 2026
Only + adverb, phrase or clause 2 PYQs
- Only in the final manuscript / did the theorist / acknowledges the limitations / of his earlier hypothesis.SSC Stenographer 2026 · 15 Sep 2026
- Only when the panel had concluded its year-long investigation ________ the depth of regulatory oversight failures become apparent.SSC Stenographer 2026 · 10 Sep 2026