YOU SAID:

hardly had i eaten the candle when i stole a tv

INTO JAPANESE

テレビを盗んだとき、私はロウソクをほとんど食べていなかった

BACK INTO ENGLISH

I barely ate candles when I stole the TV

INTO JAPANESE

テレビを盗んだ時、私はほとんどロウソクを食べなかった

BACK INTO ENGLISH

I barely ate candles when I stole the TV