Have you ever started doing something, only to be immediately interrupted by a sudden, badly timed event? To express "no sooner had [something] happened than [something else] happened," Russian uses the не успел ... как construction.
The Formula
The structure connects two actions that happen in almost immediate sequence:
- Не успел (conjugated in the past tense to match the subject)
- Infinitive
- , как (acting here as "than" or "when")
- Past tense clause
Always place a comma before как.
| We had no sooner stepped over the threshold than a downpour struck. | Не успели мы выйти за порог, как грянул ливень. |
| He had no sooner opened the umbrella than lightning struck. | Не успел он открыть зонт, как ударила молния. |
Subject Agreement
While the English translation "had no sooner" remains the same regardless of the subject, the Russian verb успеть must agree in gender and number with the subject performing the first action (успел, успела, успели).
| He had no sooner arrived home than a downpour started. | Не успел он приехать домой, как пошёл ливень. |
| She had no sooner opened the file than the screen went out. | Не успела она открыть файл, как экран погас. |
Badly Timed Interruptions
This construction is highly expressive. Beyond abrupt weather changes, it is perfect for narrating everyday frustrations, like technology failing at the exact moment you try to use it.
| They had no sooner plugged in the iron than the lights went out. | Не успели они включить утюг, как погас свет. |
| We had no sooner put the movie on than the laptop died. | Не успели мы включить фильм, как разрядился ноутбук. |
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