WBCS.LIVE practice question

Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underline word in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select ‘No substitution’. Hardly had he disappeared that his mother clomped down the steps, looking for him.

Solve this multiple-choice question and check the correct answer with its explanation below.

Answer options

  1. Hardly did he disappeared that his mother
  2. Hardly had he disappear that his mother
  3. No substitution
  4. Hardly had he disappeared when his mother

Correct answer and explanation

Correct answer: Hardly had he disappeared when his mother

Explanation: The correct answer is D.✅ After expressions like "Hardly", "Scarcely", or "No sooner", we use an inverted sentence structure, and they are usually followed by "when" or "before", not "that". Correct sentence: Hardly had he disappeared when his mother clomped down the steps, looking for him. ❌Option A is incorrect because "did he disappeared" is wrong (should be "did he disappear"). ❌Option B is incorrect because "disappear" (base form) is used instead of "disappeared" (past participle). ❌Option C is incorrect due to the use of "that" instead of "when".