Use the correct form of the Adverb to fill the blank.
__________ he say anything to his son.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Never did
Inversion after a negative adverb:
- When a negative adverb such as never, seldom, hardly, rarely begins a sentence, the word order changes as in a question:
- negative adverb first;
- then the helping verb (do/does/did, have, will ...);
- then the subject and the main verb.
- This sentence: the main verb "say" is in its base form, so the helping verb is did.
- Complete sentence: Never did he say anything to his son.
Example: Never did I imagine that I would win the prize.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: Did never — Incorrect. "Did never he say" puts the helping verb before the adverb; the negative adverb must come first.
Option 2: Never — Incorrect. "Never he say anything" has no helping verb; the base form "say" needs did, and a sentence opening with "never" needs inversion.
Option 4: Only never — Incorrect. "Only never" is not an English expression, and there is still no helping verb.
Contrast: after an opening negative adverb the helping verb comes before the subject (Never did he say); "Did never he" and "Never he say" break this order.