Some amounts or degrees are close to zero.
The idea
Hardly means almost not or only just. It normally precedes a main verb and follows an auxiliary.
Examples
- There is hardly any milk left.
- I could hardly hear the announcement.
- The child hardly touched the cake.
- We hardly know our new neighbours.
- The old clock hardly makes a sound.
- After the storm, the path was hardly visible.
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Watch out
Do not confuse hardly with hard: the latter can mean with effort. Avoid another negative with hardly.
Try it yourself
Choose the word meaning almost not. There is ___ any time before the bus leaves. (hardly / hard)
Show answer or example answer
hardly
hardly: Very little time remains.
Choose the word meaning almost not. In the fog I can ___ see the sign. (hardly / hard)
Show answer or example answer
hardly
hardly: The speaker can only just see the sign.
Choose the word meaning almost not. The drawer has ___ any space left. (hardly / hard)
Show answer or example answer
hardly
hardly: The drawer contains almost no space.
Practice round
Answer questions and rebuild English sentences to practise. Your score is shown.
Choose the word meaning almost not. There is ___ any time before the bus leaves. (hardly / hard)
Choose the word meaning almost not. In the fog I can ___ see the sign. (hardly / hard)
Choose the word meaning almost not. The drawer has ___ any space left. (hardly / hard)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Describe something you can barely see or hear.