English grammar – Spot the error (choose the segment with the mistake; if there is no mistake, choose ‘‘No error’’). Sentence: “Scarcely had I finished washing the car than the master came and asked me to clean the floor of the house.”

Introduction / Context:This item targets the correlative pair used with “scarcely” or “hardly”. The idiomatic construction is “Scarcely/Hardly … when …”, not “than”. Parallel correlative accuracy is a common test point in competitive exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Inverted past perfect clause: “Scarcely had I finished …”.
• Consequence clause incorrectly introduced by “than”.
• Meaning: one action immediately followed another.

Concept / Approach:

• Correct pairs: “No sooner … than …” and “Scarcely/Hardly … when …”.
• Mixing the pairs (e.g., “Scarcely … than …”) is incorrect.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Common Pitfalls:

Final Answer: