Select the correct option:
Hardly had the meeting begun ___ the auditors demanded additional documentation.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is option 1 i.e. when.
Context: The sentence uses an inverted structure beginning with “Hardly.”
Meaning of the options:
- When: Used with “No sooner,” not “Hardly.”
- Than: Correctly pairs with “Hardly.”
- Before: Incorrect pairing in this structure.
- As: Does not fit the structure.
Correct word: when
Reason:
After “Hardly had”, the conjunction “when” is used, not “than”, “before”, or “as”.
The structure is:
-
Hardly/Scarcely + had + subject + past participle + when + another action
This structure shows that one action happened immediately after another.
-
“Than” is generally used with No sooner … than.
-
“Before” and “as” do not fit the required grammatical pattern here.
Final Sentence: Hardly had the meeting begun when the auditors demanded additional documentation.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.