Select the correct sentence.
(a) Hardly had I arrived at the airport than the plane departed.
(b) Scarcely had I arrived at the airport when the plane departed.
(c) Hardly I had arrived at the airport when the plane departed.
(d) Scarcely had I arrived at the airport then the plane departed.
आपने शायद यह सोचाWhat you probably thought'Hardly had I arrived … than' में inversion सही है, अतः शुद्ध लगा। परंतु 'hardly' के साथ 'when' आता है; 'than' 'no sooner' का है।'Hardly had I arrived … than' has the right inversion, so it looked correct. But 'hardly' takes 'when'; 'than' belongs to 'no sooner'.
आपने शायद यह सोचाWhat you probably thought'Hardly I had arrived … when' में 'when' सही है, अतः शुद्ध लगा। परंतु आरंभ में 'Hardly' हो तो inversion आवश्यक है: 'had I', 'I had' नहीं।'Hardly I had arrived … when' has the right 'when', so it looked correct. But 'Hardly' at the start needs inversion: 'had I', not 'I had'.
आपने शायद यह सोचाWhat you probably thought'Scarcely had I arrived … then' में inversion सही है और 'then' स्वाभाविक लगा। परंतु 'then' संयोजक नहीं है; 'scarcely' को 'when' चाहिए।'Scarcely had I arrived … then' has the right inversion, and 'then' sounds natural. But 'then' is not a conjunction; 'scarcely' needs 'when'.
Answer और ExplanationAnswer and explanation
Answer: (B) Scarcely had I arrived at the airport when the plane departed.
दोनों शुरुआती शब्दों को inversion और साथी when चाहिए।
Concept: Hardly / scarcely + had + subject (कर्ता) + V3 … when + past indefinite; इन्हें कभी than या then के साथ नहीं जोड़ा जाता।
✓
Scarcely had I arrived at the airport when the plane departed.
विकल्प (a) सही लगता है, परंतु वह hardly को than के साथ जोड़ता है, जो no sooner का साथी है।
सरल अर्थ: मैं हवाई अड्डे पर पहुँचा ही था कि विमान उड़ गया।
Both openers need inversion and the partner when.
Concept: Hardly / scarcely + had + subject + V3 … when + past indefinite; never cross them with than or then.
✓
Scarcely had I arrived at the airport when the plane departed.
Option (a) looks right but pairs hardly with than, which belongs to no sooner.
बाकी Options उत्तर क्यों नहीं हैंWhy the other options are not the answer
A'Hardly had I arrived … than' में inversion सही है, अतः शुद्ध लगा। परंतु 'hardly' के साथ 'when' आता है; 'than' 'no sooner' का है।'Hardly had I arrived … than' has the right inversion, so it looked correct. But 'hardly' takes 'when'; 'than' belongs to 'no sooner'.
C'Hardly I had arrived … when' में 'when' सही है, अतः शुद्ध लगा। परंतु आरंभ में 'Hardly' हो तो inversion आवश्यक है: 'had I', 'I had' नहीं।'Hardly I had arrived … when' has the right 'when', so it looked correct. But 'Hardly' at the start needs inversion: 'had I', not 'I had'.
D'Scarcely had I arrived … then' में inversion सही है और 'then' स्वाभाविक लगा। परंतु 'then' संयोजक नहीं है; 'scarcely' को 'when' चाहिए।'Scarcely had I arrived … then' has the right inversion, and 'then' sounds natural. But 'then' is not a conjunction; 'scarcely' needs 'when'.
Source: NDA I 2026। Solution: Prashant Sir, Ramban।Source: NDA I 2026. Solution by Prashant Sir, from Ramban.