Learn to use "Hardly/Scarcely ------- when" correctly

Hardly/Scarcely ------ when

The conjunction 'Hardly/Scarcely ------ when' is also used to denote simultaneous actions.

Example:

1) Hardly had I called my mother when my bell rang.
2) scarcely had she finished eating when she got a stomach ache.

Provided below is a simple trick to remember the usage of this conjunction:

Hardly/scarcely	Had	Subject	1st Action	when	Subject	2nd Action
Hardly	Had	I	called my mother	when	my bell	rang.
scarcely	Had	she	finished eating	when	she	got a stomach ache.

The given sentence can also be written as:

Subject	had	Hardly/scarcely	1stAction	when	Subject	2ndAction
I	had	hardly	called my mother	when	my bell	rang.
She	had	scarcely	finished eating	when	she	got a stomach ache.

From the above example we deduce that:

1) Hardly/Scarcely is always followed by the word 'when' and not 'than'
2) The word 'had' is followed by 'the 3^rd form of the verb'

Here are some common mistakes we commit in the usage of this conjunction. Read and see if you commit them too!

Incorrect: My son had hardly seen me so he came to me running.
Correct: My son had hardly seen me when he came running to me.

Incorrect: Scarcely he had entered the room, everyone got quiet.
Correct: Scarcely had he entered the room when everyone got quiet.