In the following sentence, a part of the sentence is underlined. Below are given alternatives to the underlined part, which may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative. In case no improvement is needed, choose the alternative that indicates 'No improvement.'
Hardly has the doorkeeper gone out when the doorbell rang again mysteriously.
A. As soon as the
B. No sooner had the
C. Hardly had the
The sentence uses conjunction phrases that show activities happening immediately after one another. The correct phrases are:
As soon as e.g. As soon as I heard the bell, I went out.
No sooner..than. e.g. No sooner did the bell ring than I went out.
Hardly had..when e.g. Hardly had the bell rung when I went out.
This suggests that only C shows the correct form and improves the sentence.
Therefore, the correct answer is option 3.