I had scarcely reached the station when the train left. Scarcely had I reached th

[Untaught1988]

Hi teachers,

I had scarcely reached the station when the train left.
Scarcely had I reached the station when the train left. Are both correct and have the same meaning?
Can I use “hardly” here? If not, when it is used?

No sooner did I reach the station than the train left. Correct and does it have an alternate form as we can change “scarcely” position? Is it close to the above-mentioned sentences in meaning?

Many thanks.

[Dozy]

@Untaught1988

I had scarcely reached the station when the train left.
Scarcely had I reached the station when the train left. Are both correct and have the same meaning?

Yes. The second feels more literary or story-telling.

@Untaught1988

Can I use “hardly” here?

Yes, but I would say “scarcely” is a slightly better fit.

@Untaught1988

No sooner did I reach the station than the train left. Correct ?

Yes.

@Untaught1988

does it have an alternate form as we can change “scarcely” position?

You can also say “I had no sooner reached…”

@Untaught1988

Is it close to the above-mentioned sentences in meaning?

Yes, similar. One could debate hair-splitting distinctions between the three.

[Untaught1988]

Thank you very much.