I only realized what I had missed when they told me about it later.
- A. Only after I had realized what I had missed did they tell me about it later.
- B. As soon as they told me about it I realized what I had missed.
- C. Only when they told me about it later did I realize what I had missed.
- D. They told me about it and I realized what I had missed.
The correct answer is C. Only when they told me about it later did I realize what I had missed.
Here’s why:
- A is incorrect: This sentence implies that you already knew what you had missed before they told you about it, which contradicts the original statement.
- B is incorrect: This sentence suggests that you understood what you had missed immediately upon being told about it, but the original statement emphasizes the delayed realization.
- D is incorrect: This sentence is too simple and does not capture the full meaning of the original statement, which implies a sense of regret or disappointment about missing something important.
- C accurately conveys the meaning of the original sentence: It emphasizes that you only became aware of what you had missed after someone else informed you about it.
Therefore, C is the most natural and grammatically correct way to express the intended meaning.