Casa ESL · C1 Advanced · Unit 14 of 20 · Step 2
Complex Sentence Patterns (Not only…but also, No sooner…than, Scarcely…when)
Name
Date
Vocabulary
neuroplasticity
nounThe brain's ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections.
"Research into neuroplasticity has challenged the belief that the adult brain is fixed."
synapse
nounA junction between two nerve cells where impulses pass by diffusion of a neurotransmitter.
"Learning strengthens synaptic connections in specific brain regions."
cognitive
adjectiveRelating to the mental processes of perception, memory, judgement, and reasoning.
"Cognitive decline is one of the greatest challenges of an ageing population."
hemisphere
nounEach of the two halves of the brain, controlling different functions.
"Language processing is predominantly located in the left hemisphere."
stimulus
nounA thing or event that evokes a specific reaction in an organ or tissue.
"The brain's response to a visual stimulus can be measured with imaging technology."
dopamine
nounA neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, motivation, and reward.
"Dopamine plays a crucial role in the brain's reward system."
degenerative
adjectiveResulting in or characterised by progressive deterioration, especially of tissue or organs.
"Degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's remain without a cure."
lateralisation
nounThe tendency for certain brain functions to be more dominant on one side than the other.
"Brain lateralisation is more nuanced than the popular left-brain/right-brain model suggests."
Grammar Focus
Complex sentence patterns: correlative and inverted
Correlative conjunctions and inverted patterns add emphasis and formality. 'Not only…but also': When 'not only' begins a clause, inversion follows: 'Not only did the study confirm X, but it also revealed Y.' 'No sooner…than': 'No sooner had the results been published than they were challenged.' 'Scarcely/Hardly…when/before': 'Scarcely had the experiment begun when the equipment failed.' These patterns are particularly effective in academic writing and formal presentations for creating rhetorical impact.
Not only did the research confirm the hypothesis, but it also opened entirely new avenues of inquiry.
No sooner had the drug been approved than reports of side effects began to emerge.
Scarcely had the team published their findings when a rival group claimed to have reached the same conclusions independently.
Hardly had the patient recovered from the first procedure before a second was deemed necessary.
Exercises
Exercise 1
Complete each sentence using the correct inverted pattern.
1. Not only the study reveal new findings, but it also challenged existing theory.
2. No sooner the results been published than they attracted controversy.
3. Scarcely the trial begun when funding was withdrawn.
4. Not only neuroplasticity real, but it continues throughout the entire lifespan.
5. Hardly the lecture finished before the audience erupted with questions.
Exercise 2
Choose the correct completion for each inverted pattern.
1. No sooner had the anaesthetic taken effect ___ the surgeon began the procedure.
2. Not only did the brain scan reveal the tumour, ___ it also indicated its precise location.
3. Scarcely had the patient been discharged ___ symptoms returned.
Reading
The Adaptable Brain
Not only has the study of neuroplasticity revolutionised our understanding of the brain, but it has also transformed approaches to rehabilitation after injury. For much of the twentieth century, it was assumed that the adult brain was essentially fixed — that damaged neurons could not be replaced and lost functions could not be recovered. No sooner had advanced imaging technologies become available than researchers began to observe something remarkable: the brain reorganises itself in response to experience, forming new synaptic connections and, in some cases, recruiting entirely different regions to compensate for damage. Scarcely had these findings been confirmed when their implications for treating degenerative diseases began to be explored. Not only does regular cognitive stimulation appear to slow the onset of conditions such as Alzheimer's, but physical exercise has also been shown to promote neurogenesis — the growth of new neurons — in the hippocampus, a region critical for memory. Hardly had the scientific community absorbed these findings before the commercial sector seized upon them, marketing 'brain training' applications with claims that far outstripped the evidence. The science of neuroplasticity is genuinely transformative, but it is also susceptible to oversimplification and exploitation.
1. What long-held assumption about the brain did neuroplasticity research challenge?
2. What criticism of the commercial application of neuroplasticity does the passage raise?
Speaking
Discuss these questions with a partner or your teacher.
Writing
Write a formal paragraph (6–8 sentences) about a scientific discovery or medical advance. Use at least one 'Not only…but also', one 'No sooner…than', and one 'Scarcely/Hardly…when/before' structure.
Example: Not only did the discovery of antibiotics save millions of lives, but it also fundamentally altered the practice of medicine. No sooner had penicillin been mass-produced than surgeons were able to perform procedures that had previously been too risky. Scarcely had the medical community celebrated this advance when the first antibiotic-resistant bacteria began to emerge, a problem that continues to threaten public health today.
Answer Key — For Teacher Use
Exercise 1
1. did · 2. had · 3. had · 4. is · 5. had
Exercise 2
1. than · 2. but · 3. when
Reading Comprehension
1. The assumption that the adult brain was fixed — that damaged neurons could not be replaced and lost functions could not be recovered. · 2. The commercial sector marketed 'brain training' applications with claims that far outstripped the scientific evidence, oversimplifying and exploiting the research.