が早いか - Grammar Discussion

Grammar Points
#1

As soon as, No sooner than, The instant that, No sooner had

Structure
Verb[る/た] + が早いか、Phrase[た]

(A) が早いか (B) is a formal written expression that is not often used in speech, meaning that as soon as (A) happens, (B). In other words, (B) happens directly after (A).
(B) is often surprising, spontaneous, or habitual and usually expresses someone’s actions (行く、駆け出す）. Due to this, it is uncommon with expressions that are beyond human control, like 雨が降った.
The following phrase is always in the past tense, so it cannot be used to express future intentions with volitional form or expressions like つもり.
It is also not used when talking about speaker/writer, however, the subjects of (A) and (B) might differ.

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#2

In the end of the grammar explanation, the paragraph about 終わる is a bit confusing. Could you add an example to explain this?

“(A) will tend to be actions that happen momentarily, or having a clearly defined finish point. For actions that don’t have a clearly defined finish point, 終おわる ‘to finish’ will often be linked to the stem form, in order to specify the end. Additionally, while the (B) action will often be unexpected, it will also usually be volitional, that is to say something done intentionally.”