Select the most appropriate option to improve the bold part of the sentence.
Hardly I had entered the room when the phone rang.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The most appropriate option to improve the bold part of the sentence is Hardly had I entered.
Explanation
The original sentence ('Hardly I had entered...') is grammatically incorrect because of the placement of the adverb 'Hardly' at the beginning.
Rule of Inversion: When a sentence begins with a negative or restrictive adverb like Hardly, Scarcely, Barely, or No sooner, the subject and the auxiliary verb must be inverted. This means the auxiliary verb comes before the subject.
Correct Structure: The standard formula for this type of sentence is:
Hardly + had (auxiliary verb) + I (subject) + entered (past participle) ... when ...