English grammar error-spotting (‘‘hardly … when …’’ correlative and past simple sequencing): Read the sentence split into four parts (A–D) and choose the part that contains an error; select ‘‘No error’’ if the sentence is fully correct: ‘‘The President had hardly spoken / a few words / when the microphone stopped functioning. / No error.’’

Difficulty: Easy

The President had hardly spoken
a few words
when the microphone stopped functioning.
No error.

Correct Answer: No error.

Explanation:

Given data

A: Past perfect with ‘‘hardly’’ → ‘‘had hardly spoken’’
B: Object phrase ‘‘a few words’’
C: Correlative ‘‘when’’ + past simple
D: ‘‘No error’’

Concept / Approach
The correlative pair ‘‘hardly … when …’’ is correctly formed with the earlier action in past perfect and the subsequent interrupting event in past simple. This is a textbook sequence-of-tenses pattern.

Checks
A: correct aspect; B: grammatical object; C: correct use of ‘‘when’’ (not ‘‘than’’).

More Questions from Spotting Errors

Discussion & Comments