Choose the correct pair of words to fill in the blanks:
Scarcely ______ the papads out to dry on the terrace when a dust storm ______.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → had Mummy spread, struck
“Scarcely ... when”:
- “Scarcely ... when” shows that one past action had only just ended when the next one came.
- The “scarcely” part takes the past perfect, with “had” before the subject: had + subject + past participle (V3).
- The “when” part takes the simple past.
- Clue word: “Scarcely” at the start of the sentence.
- Complete sentence: Scarcely had Mummy spread the papads out to dry on the terrace when a dust storm struck.