Cấu trúc “no sooner…than” được sử dụng để diễn tả hai hành động xảy ra ngay lập tức, với hành động thứ hai xảy ra ngay sau hành động đầu tiên. Cấu trúc này thường được dùng trong các câu diễn tả sự nối tiếp nhau của hai sự kiện mà sự kiện thứ hai xảy ra ngay lập tức sau sự kiện đầu tiên.

Cấu trúc cơ bản

• No sooner + had + subject + past participle + than + subject + past simple verb

Chú ý:

• “No sooner” luôn được theo sau bởi động từ ở dạng quá khứ hoàn thành (had + past participle).
• “Than” được sử dụng để nối hai mệnh đề.

Cách sử dụng

1. Diễn tả sự nối tiếp nhanh chóng:
   • Ví dụ 1: No sooner had she finished her work than the phone rang.
     • (Vừa mới xong việc, thì điện thoại đã reo.)
   • Ví dụ 2: No sooner had we arrived at the station than the train left.
     • (Chúng tôi vừa mới đến ga thì tàu đã rời đi.)
2. Cấu trúc ngược lại (hành động xảy ra trước đó và được nhấn mạnh bởi “no sooner”):
   • Ví dụ 1: No sooner had he seen the news than he called his family.
     • (Vừa thấy tin tức, anh ấy đã gọi cho gia đình.)
   • Ví dụ 2: No sooner had they begun the presentation than the projector broke down.
     • (Họ vừa bắt đầu thuyết trình thì máy chiếu đã bị hỏng.)

Một số điểm cần lưu ý

• Cấu trúc này thường được dùng trong văn viết trang trọng hơn và ít được dùng trong giao tiếp hàng ngày.
• Thay vì sử dụng “no sooner…than,” bạn cũng có thể sử dụng các cấu trúc tương tự như “hardly…when” hoặc “scarcely…when” với cùng một nghĩa.

Bài tập

1. No sooner ______ his meal than the doorbell rang.
2. No sooner ______ at the hotel than they started exploring the city.
3. No sooner ______ the office than it started raining.
4. No sooner ______ the presentation than the projector broke down.
5. No sooner ______ the movie than the lights went out.
6. No sooner ______ home than I received a phone call.
7. No sooner ______ the concert than the singer lost her voice.
8. No sooner ______ the news than he called his friend.
9. No sooner ______ dinner than the guests arrived.
10. No sooner ______ at the airport than her flight was canceled.
11. No sooner ______ into the new house than the heater broke.
12. No sooner ______ the exam than students began to ask questions.
13. No sooner ______ off the TV than the power went out.
14. No sooner ______ her book than she started a new one.
15. No sooner ______ the project than they received new tasks.
16. No sooner ______ at the meeting than he was asked to speak.
17. No sooner ______ the rain than the sun came out.
18. No sooner ______ the restaurant than they realized they forgot their wallets.
19. No sooner ______ her friend than they went shopping.
20. No sooner ______ the match than the crowd started cheering.
21. No sooner ______ my work than I went for a walk.
22. No sooner ______ on his coat than it started snowing.
23. No sooner ______ asleep than the doorbell rang.
24. No sooner ______ our food than it arrived.
25. No sooner ______ the sun than the stars appeared.
26. No sooner ______ their vacation than they got sick.
27. No sooner ______ the car than it broke down again.
28. No sooner ______ the room than it started to get cold.
29. No sooner ______ his workout than he took a shower.
30. No sooner ______ the play than the audience was captivated.
31. No sooner ______ at the park than it started to rain.
32. No sooner ______ the song than the applause began.
33. No sooner ______ his assignment than he relaxed.
34. No sooner ______ her presentation than the meeting ended.
35. No sooner ______ the house than we noticed we forgot the keys.
36. No sooner ______ the storm than we went outside.
37. No sooner ______ the manager than he was given the project.
38. No sooner ______ on than the guests started dancing.
39. No sooner ______ her coffee than she went to work.
40. No sooner ______ to the beach than it started to rain.
41. No sooner ______ the lesson than the students began to take notes.
42. No sooner ______ drinks than the waiter brought them.
43. No sooner ______ the car than it began to sputter.
44. No sooner ______ out the forms than they were called.
45. No sooner ______ the doors than the crowd rushed in.
46. No sooner ______ her call than the meeting began.
47. No sooner ______ the campsite than we set up the tent.
48. No sooner ______ the announcement than everyone started cheering.
49. No sooner ______ the sun than the birds began singing.
50. No sooner ______ to the hotel than they went swimming.
51. No sooner ______ the alarm than she fell back asleep.
52. No sooner ______ the dress than she wore it to the party.
53. No sooner ______ the tour than they saw the famous landmark.
54. No sooner ______ the sink than it started leaking again.
55. No sooner ______ the meeting than the power went out.
56. No sooner ______ than the music started playing.
57. No sooner ______ the office than the mail arrived.
58. No sooner ______ the dress than she wore it to the party.
59. No sooner ______ the credits rolled.
60. No sooner ______ on the car than it started raining.
61. No sooner ______ into the hotel than we went out to dinner.
62. No sooner ______ than it started to rain.
63. No sooner ______ the invitation than they RSVP’d.
64. No sooner ______ the phone than she heard a strange noise.
65. No sooner ______ than the party started.
66. No sooner ______ the tank than he drove off.
67. No sooner ______ down for dinner than the doorbell rang.
68. No sooner ______ the package than she opened it.
69. No sooner ______ than the lights went out.
70. No sooner ______ the reservation than the restaurant was fully booked.
71. No sooner ______ the new job than she felt overwhelmed.
72. No sooner ______ the fireworks than we heard the thunder.
73. No sooner ______ the corner than he saw the store.
74. No sooner ______ than the crowd went wild.
75. No sooner ______ at the destination than they started exploring.
76. No sooner ______ her workout than she ate breakfast.
77. No sooner ______ the door than the dog ran out.
78. No sooner ______ than the kids went outside.
79. No sooner ______ the climb than they reached the summit.
80. No sooner ______ the damage than she called for help.
81. No sooner ______ his exam than he felt relieved.
82. No sooner ______ than the students left.
83. No sooner ______ the decision than we acted on it.
84. No sooner ______ than the weather changed.
85. No sooner ______ her work than she took a break.
86. No sooner ______ cooking than the guests arrived.
87. No sooner ______ the house than it started to flood.
88. No sooner ______ at the airport than the flight was delayed.
89. No sooner ______ than the passengers got out.
90. No sooner ______ the puzzle than she started another one.
91. No sooner ______ the test than they submitted it.
92. No sooner ______ the book than he finished it.
93. No sooner ______ than the movie began.
94. No sooner ______ the pool than the children jumped in.
95. No sooner ______ on the heater than it started to warm up.
96. No sooner ______ to the beach than the sun set.
97. No sooner ______ talking than the audience listened attentively.
98. No sooner ______ his report than he had to leave for a meeting.
99. No sooner ______ the party than the music began.
100. No sooner ______ their work than they went out for dinner.

Bài tập

1. had he finished
2. had they arrived
3. had she left
4. had we started
5. had the movie started
6. had I gotten
7. had the concert begun
8. had he seen
9. had they finished
10. had she arrived
11. had we moved
12. had the exam started
13. had he turned
14. had she finished
15. had they completed
16. had he arrived
17. had the rain stopped
18. had they left
19. had she met
20. had the match ended
21. had I finished
22. had he put
23. had the baby fallen
24. had we ordered
25. had the sun set
26. had they started
27. had she fixed
28. had we entered
29. had he finished
30. had the play begun
31. had they arrived
32. had the song ended
33. had he completed
34. had she finished
35. had we left
36. had the storm stopped
37. had he met
38. had the lights come
39. had she finished
40. had they gotten
41. had the lesson started
42. had we ordered
43. had he started
44. had they filled
45. had the doors opened
46. had she finished
47. had we arrived
48. had he made
49. had the sun risen
50. had they gotten
51. had she turned
52. had she bought
53. had they started
54. had she fixed
55. had we finished
56. had the lights flashed
57. had they left
58. had she bought
59. had the movie ended
60. had he started
61. had we checked
62. had the ceremony begun
63. had they received
64. had she answered
65. had the guests arrived
66. had he filled
67. had we sat
68. had the package arrived
69. had the play finished
70. had he made
71. had she started
72. had we seen
73. had he turned
74. had the game ended
75. had they arrived
76. had she finished
77. had he opened
78. had the snow fallen
79. had they started
80. had she seen
81. had he finished
82. had the class ended
83. had we made
84. had the event started
85. had she finished
86. had he started
87. had they left
88. had we arrived
89. had the car stopped
90. had she finished
91. had they completed
92. had he started
93. had the lights dimmed
94. had they filled
95. had she turned
96. had we gotten
97. had the speaker started
98. had he finished
99. had she arrived
100. had they finished