Which sentence correctly uses subject-auxiliary inversion after the negative expression ‘hardly…when’?
AHardly he had reached the station when the train left.
BHardly had he reached the station when the train left.
CHardly he reached the station when the train left.
DHardly did he reached the station when the train left.
Explanation
Similar to ‘no sooner…than,’ the expression ‘hardly…when’ requires subject-auxiliary inversion when ‘hardly’ begins the sentence, giving ‘Hardly had he reached the station,’ with the auxiliary ‘had’ placed before the subject ‘he.’ This inversion pattern applies to a small group of negative or restrictive adverbials placed at the start of a sentence for emphasis. Explore more English MCQs on mcqstutor to keep practicing.
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