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Question

Difficulty: MediumVerbs, Tenses, and Aspect

Complete the sentence below by supplying the grammatically correct auxiliary verb in the blank.

Answer:Scarcely 【had】 the chief registrar published the official examination guidelines when several candidates submitted their petitions.

Answer

had
The correct verb is 'had'. When a sentence begins with a restrictive adverb such as 'Scarcely', 'Hardly', or 'Barely', the subject and auxiliary verb invert. Because the main verb in the second clause ('submitted') is in the Simple Past, the prior action in the first clause must take the Past Perfect form ('had ... published').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence structure and time markers.
The sentence begins with the restrictive adverb 'Scarcely' and connects two past events using 'when'.
When a restrictive negative or limiting adverb opens a sentence, subject-auxiliary inversion is required.
2
Determine the correct tense and aspect required for inverted initial clauses with 'scarcely ... when'.
The event in the first clause occurred prior to the past action ('submitted'). Thus, the Past Perfect tense is required.
'Scarcely ... when' structures express an action completed just before another past action, demanding the past perfect auxiliary 'had'.
3
Formulate the inverted auxiliary verb.
Inverting the subject 'the chief registrar' and auxiliary verb yields 'had the chief registrar published'.
The inverted structure places the auxiliary 'had' directly after 'Scarcely'.

Key Concept

Inverted Past Perfect Tense with Restrictive Adverbs (Scarcely ... when)
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Verbs, Tenses, and Aspect

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