1
had scarce + past participle + when + clause
表示两个动作紧接着发生，相当于“刚…就…”。
He had scarce finished his meal when the phone rang.
他刚吃完饭，电话就响了。
刚刚；才
scarcer — comparative of scarce
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
刚刚；才
only a very short time before
He had scarce finished his meal when the phone rang.
他刚吃完饭，电话就响了。
就在不久之前
only a very short time before; ; ; ; ; - W.B.Yeats
She had scarce closed the door when the phone rang.
她刚关上门，电话就响了。
AI contextual example
I had scarce finished my coffee before the taxi arrived.
我刚刚喝完咖啡，出租车就到了。
AI contextual example
They had scarce left the house when it started to rain.
他们刚离开家，天就开始下雨了。
AI contextual example
would have scarce arrived before she would have found some excuse to leave
她几乎还没到达就会找个借口离开。
WordNet
表示两个动作紧接着发生，相当于“刚…就…”。
He had scarce finished his meal when the phone rang.
他刚吃完饭，电话就响了。
“scarce had”是倒装结构，常见于正式语境。
Scarce had she entered the room when the lights went out.
她刚走进房间，灯就熄灭了。
Not this
I can't scarce believe it.
Use this
I can scarce believe it.
‘scarce’作为副词已含否定意义，不能再与‘not’连用。应去掉‘not’，或用‘hardly’替换‘scarce’（如‘I can hardly believe it.’）。
Not this
I believe it scarce.
Use this
I scarce believe it.
副词‘scarce’应置于所修饰动词之前，而非句末。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
刚……就……
Scarce had the guests arrived when the fire broke out.
客人们刚到，火灾就发生了。
就在……之前
Scarce a month ago, the two countries were at peace.
就在一个月前，两国还处于和平状态。
Use scarcer naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
联想：scarce 含 scar（伤疤），伤疤刚留下，所以副词 scarce 表示“刚刚”。
语域：formal 常见场景：literary/poetic writing、older formal texts scarce 作副词表示“刚刚；才”时，通常用于较老的文学作品或诗歌中，现代日常英语很少用；比较常见于正式、书面或带文学色彩的语境。
作为副词，表示‘刚刚，几乎不’，常置于动词前或助动词后。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.