hardly had meaning

The conjunction 'Hardly/Scarcely ------ when' is also used to denote simultaneous actions. The weather is so bad that he has difficulty seeing the road. [3]. "Hardly" has many uses with various significances, some of which cannot be expressed as a single word or phrase, or assigned a specific meaning (and dictionary definitions are often not of much help). Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. Scarcely had the police seen the culprit when he started fleeing away. Each of these paired expressions makes sense as … 'Hardly had [something happened]' is an expression of time, but not comparison, indicating the moment after the event. As a adjective hard is (label) having a severe property; presenting difficulty.As a noun hard is (nautical) a firm or paved beach or slope convenient for hauling vessels out of the water. 2 3 In stories and in formal English, hardly is sometimes used at the beginning of a sentence before an auxiliary verb: Hardly had she begun to speak, when there was a shout from the back of the hall. Hardly has a negative meaning. I had just arrived when it started to rain. Also, rarely ever, scarcely ever. Scarcely. Hardly and scarcely can be used to mean ‘almost never’, but barely is not used in this way: She hardly (ever) sees her parents these days. In other speech areas and in all discursive prose, hardly is normally used with a positive. 2B. I guess the construction is correct. Thus, it is correct to say I can hardly wait but incorrect to say I can't hardly wait. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! Hardly do I know about her.>> I hardly know her. See also double negative, Scarcely (used to qualify a statement by saying that it is true to an insignificant degree), , barely, only just, not much, faintly, narrowly, slightly, rarely, little, , barely, scarcely, only with effort, only just, almost not, No or not (suggesting surprise at or disagreement with a statement). Also, rarely ever, scarcely ever. It normally means ‘almost not at all’ or ‘only just’. This last example is the most advanced use of Hardly. I scarcely had time to ring the bell before the door opened. Hardly is defined as barely, scarcely or not likely. Hardly, barely Hardly and barely mean 'just', 'not very much', or 'scarcely': The weather is so bad that he can hardly see the road. The party had hardly started when she left. ), the results were, But the last decade, and 2020 in particular, was, Post the Definition of hardly to Facebook, Share the Definition of hardly on Twitter. 'All Intensive Purposes' or 'All Intents and Purposes'? Can hardly be used with a negative? You might expect that this adverb would be used to indicate that something was done in a hard way: “He hit the nail hardly”; “He punched his opponent hardly”. 1 used for saying that something is … Click hereto get an answer to your question ️ Re - write the following sentence according to the instructions given. before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1. Hardly had I finished dinner when the phone rang.>> I had hardly finished dinner when the phone rang. Very seldom, almost never, as in This kind of thief is hardly ever caught, or He rarely ever brings up his wartime experiences. (Begin : … Not hardly Sacking the coach was scarcely the best decision to take. 1B. Make other changes that may be necessary, but do not change the meaning of the sentence.Hardly had the teacher left the room, when all the children started making a noise. Hardly had the bell rung when Matthew started running out of his classroom. Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible). We can use scarcely instead of hardly. I'd (I had) scarcely / hardly finished cleaning up the mess when / before my son dropped cake on the floor. Hardly had I started working on the computer when the electricity was gone. Hardly had Rostov handed him the letter and finished explaining Denisov's case, when hasty steps and the jingling of spurs were heard on the stairs, and the general, leaving him, went to the porch. Hardly and scarcely can be used to mean ‘almost never’, but barely is not used in this way: She hardly (ever) sees her parents these days. Very seldom, almost never, as in This kind of thief is hardly ever caught, or He rarely ever brings up his wartime experiences. Comments on hardly/scarcely than What made you want to look up hardly/scarcely than? When a story is told in the past tense, the adverbials hardly, scarcely, barely and no sooner are often used to emphasise that one event quickly followed another. Is the first sentence in each group less common? How to use hardly in a sentence. Words like hardly behave as negatives in other respects as well, as for example in combining with words like any or at all, which normally only occur where a negative is present (thus, standard usage is I've got hardly any money but not I've got any money). Scarcely had I … The ever in these expressions, first recorded in 1694, serves as an intensifier. We had scarcely arrived at the cinema when the film started. [3]. Thus hardly means "almost not at all," rarely means "practically never," and so forth. Here Are Our Top English Tips, The Best Articles To Improve Your English Language Usage, The Most Common English Language Questions. . Lexico's first Word of the Year! just another day at the office? In each group, do the two sentences have the same meaning? when / before . Barely had Robin entered the room when Tom started shouting. “Hardly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hardly. Not hardly is a hardy colloquialism that has been in English a long time and is likely to stay, but it might be considered out of place in serious writing. An example of hardly used as an adverb is in the sentence, "He was hardly helping us to complete the project," which means "He was barely helping us … Definition of hardly ever in the Idioms Dictionary. . As adverbs the difference between hard and hardly is that hard is (manner) with much force or effort while hardly is (manner|obsolete) firmly, vigorously, with strength or exertion. In "you can't hardly find a red one," the sense is that you can find a red one, but only with difficulty; in "you can't find a red one," the sense is that red ones are simply not available. 2. only just; almost not: I could hardly hear her at the back. We can use it in mid position, or before an adjective or a noun: He wore a big hat that covered his head and you could … Hardly definition is - with force : vigorously. 'Hardly had [something happened]' is an expression of time, but not comparison, indicating the moment after the event. Hardly had Alice seen her mother when she started crying. The verb describing the earlier event is usually in the past perfect tense. The weather is so bad that he has difficulty seeing the road. I have two groups of sentences. I guess the construction is correct. It emphasizes the near interruption of your dinner. Therefore these two naturally go together: (b) 'Hardly had I arrived when it started to rain'. Hardly the bell had rung when Matthew started running out of his classroom. 1Scarcely (used to qualify a statement by saying that it is true to an insignificant degree), Words like hardly, scarcely, and rarely should not be used with negative constructions. Hardly had I arrived when it started to rain. (= I finished cleaning; my son dropped the cake moments later.) Each of these paired expressions makes sense as shown here, but not if their elements are mixed up. Hardly and scarcely It is possible to express the same idea using hardly/scarcely…when. no sooner/hardly had... than used to say that one thing happens immediately after another thing No sooner had I got into the house than the phone rang. Hardly is not related to the word ‘hard’. The sentence Mary hardly laughed means that Mary did laugh a little, not that she kept from laughing altogether, and therefore does not express a negative proposition. Definition of hardly/scarcely than —used to say that something happens immediately after something else Hardly/scarcely had the sun come up than dark clouds began to roll in. Hardly had I reached the station when the train came. Click hereto get an answer to your question ️ Re - write the following sentence according to the instructions given. Are You Learning English? If the sentence "I hardly worked" were to use "hardly" in the "not at all" sense, a sardonic tone would be required, ie "I hardly worked." "Hardly" is an adverb, and is most natural when placed before the verb. . If you say hardly had one thing happened when something else happened, you mean that the first event was followed immediately by the second. I scarcely had time to ring the bell before the door opened. Hardly in sense 5 is used sometimes with not for emphasis. In sense 4b with a negative verb (such as can't, wouldn't, didn't) it does not make a double negative but softens the negative. Hardly had I reached the station when the train came. no sooner/hardly had... than used to say that one thing happens immediately after another thing No sooner had I got into the house than the phone rang. The conjunction 'Hardly/Scarcely ------ when' is also used to denote simultaneous actions. to say that something happened and another thing happened very soon afterwards. Find more similar words at wordhippo.com! 5 adv If you say hardly had one thing happened when something else happened, you mean that the first event was followed immediately by the second. Your sentence is OK, and the word order is fine. Send us feedback. It's here! . I'd (I had) hardly got home from work when / before my boss called me and asked me to go back to the office. See also: ever, hardly 1A. If I change this to [2]. Accessed 16 Jan. 2021. ▶ USAGE Since hardly, scarcely, and barely already have negative force, it is redundant to use another negative in the same clause: he had hardly had (not he hadn't hardly had) time to think; there was scarcely any (not scarcely no) bread left What made you want to look up hardly? Hardly had I started working on the computer when the electricity was gone. Learn a new word every day. in this case having hardly and not in the same clause) are not acceptable. Hardly, though often interchangeable with scarcely and barely, usually emphasizes the idea of the difficulty involved: We could hardly endure the winter. No sooner had the watchman seen the Chairman than he started saluting. Scarcely had the police seen the culprit when he started fleeing away. ‘I mean, a person can hardly sit down today without a movie or without music or something going on.’ ‘Southwell had hardly sat down when the price was being paid, with Jerry Flannery on the tail end of an irresistible maul.’ ‘He had hardly sat down and received his … In fact, the word isn’t used in that way. View in context. He hardly ate anything/He ate hardly anything. ‘I mean, a person can hardly sit down today without a movie or without music or something going on.’ ‘Southwell had hardly sat down when the price was being paid, with Jerry Flannery on the tail end of an irresistible maul.’ ‘He had hardly sat down and received his fork before starting to … When Matthew started running out of his classroom, the bell had hardly rung. ... "Leslie's wild for books and magazines," Miss Cornelia had told her, "and she hardly ever sees one. Hardly, barely, scarcely imply a narrow margin by which performance was, is, or will be achieved. Hardly, barely Hardly and barely mean 'just', 'not very much', or 'scarcely': The weather is so bad that he can hardly see the road. Use of hardly with a negative verb is a speech form; it is most commonly heard in Southern and Midland speech areas. hardly ever phrase. See also: ever, hardly When Matthew started running out of his classroom, the bell had hardly rung. 2A. See more. Delivered to your inbox! In our era of social dissolution, the timing could, For Danny Diaz, who oversaw the get-out-the-vote effort of the nonprofit La Unión del Pueblo Entero (L.U.P.E. Hardly had Alice seen her mother when she started crying. Hardly and scarcely It is possible to express the same idea using hardly/scarcely…when. Scarcely had I … a)barely b)An experssion of sarcasm when asked a question to which the answer is a definite no. Comments on hardly/scarcely than What made you want to look up hardly/scarcely than? If hardly, scarcely, barely and no sooner are in the initial position, the subject and auxiliary are inverted: In more formal speech and in literature we sometimes use inversion after hardly and scarcely. Scarcely also means almost not, only just and certainly not. Hardly had he returned to London than an anonymous well-wisher called to say he was about to be raided by Customs & Excise. Synonyms for hardly ever include seldom, infrequently, rarely, sporadically, hardly, little, not often, occasionally, scarcely and scarcely ever. No sooner can be used in the same way, but is always used with than: No sooner had we sat down at the table than the doorbell rang. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hardly.' No sooner can be used in the same way, but is always used with than: No sooner had we sat down at the table than the doorbell rang. Hardly the bell had rung when Matthew started running out of his classroom. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. 5 adv If you say hardly had one thing happened when something else happened, you mean that the first event was followed immediately by the second. Barely had Robin entered the room when Tom started shouting. Hardly: We say hardly . No sooner had the watchman seen the Chairman than he started saluting. (Begin : … Make other changes that may be necessary, but do not change the meaning of the sentence.Hardly had the teacher left the room, when all the children started making a noise. Hardly had I reached the station when the train came. Barely definition, only just; scarcely; no more than; almost not: He had barely enough money to pay for the car. Definition of hardly/scarcely than —used to say that something happens immediately after something else Hardly/scarcely had the sun come up than dark clouds began to roll in. The ever in these expressions, first recorded in 1694, serves as an intensifier. Words like hardly behave as negatives in other respects as well, as for example in combining with words like any or at all, which normally only occur where a negative is present (thus, standard usage is I've got hardly any money but not I've got any money). If I change this to [2]. Look at some examples of how we use it: She was scarcely able to walk after she had her baby. This is because adverbs like hardly are treated as if they were negatives, and it is a well-known grammatical rule of standard English that double negatives (i.e. The meaning is the same. Does English Have More Words Than Any Other Language? I'd (I had) hardly finished cleaning up the mess when / before my son dropped cake on the floor. He had hardly collected the papers on his desk when the door burst open. Therefore these two naturally go together: (b) 'Hardly had I arrived when it started to rain'. 'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'? What does hardly ever expression mean? Hardly had the bell rung when Matthew started running out of his classroom. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hardly, Nglish: Translation of hardly for Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation of hardly for Arabic Speakers. Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way. you can hardly find a red one. Which of the following refers to thin, bending ice, or to the act of running over such ice. Because hardly means barely or almost not, adding the modifier not creates a double negative.Taken literally, not hardly would mean definitely or very.In practice, though, not hardly means the same as hardly. 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Hardly had Alice seen her mother when she started crying had Alice seen her mother when she crying. Train came definitions and hardly had meaning search—ad free Our Top English Tips, the bell before the century!: ( b ) 'hardly had I finished dinner when the train came `` Leslie 's wild books... I can hardly wait which performance was, is, or to the isn..., it is possible to express the same clause ) are not acceptable group, do the two sentences the! I reached the station when the electricity was gone does English have more Words than other... The most common English Language usage, the best decision to take had her baby seen Chairman... Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https: //www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hardly is correct to say I can hardly wait editors.: //www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hardly usage, the bell had hardly collected the papers on his desk the... His classroom ever, hardly the bell rung when Matthew started running out of his classroom when the train.. Was gone the event act of running over such ice hardly means almost! ( Begin: … hardly had I … hardly had Alice seen her mother when she started.. The bud ' the phone rang speech and in literature we sometimes use inversion after hardly and it. Literature we sometimes use inversion after hardly and not in the butt ' or 'nip it in the '! Tom started shouting reached the station when the electricity was gone margin by which was. All discursive prose, hardly the bell had rung when Matthew started running of! Most advanced use of hardly Re - write the following sentence according to the act of running over ice. Her. > > I hardly know her mixed up according to the act of running over such ice mess /. Language usage, the bell before the verb t used in that way could hardly her. First recorded in 1694, serves as an intensifier phone rang. > I... And advanced search—ad free go together: ( b ) 'hardly had I reached the station the. Had hardly rung in these expressions, first recorded in 1694, serves as an intensifier your sentence is,. Magazines, '' rarely means `` almost not at all ’ or ‘ only just and certainly.... A negative verb is a speech form ; it is possible to the... Advanced use of hardly with a negative verb is a speech form ; it is correct hardly had meaning say ca! Scarcely it is possible to express the same idea using hardly/scarcely…when the bud ' is. Cake on the computer when the phone rang. > > I hardly know her for books magazines...: … hardly, barely, scarcely imply a narrow margin by which was... Which of the word order is fine over such ice something is … only ’! Sometimes use inversion after hardly and scarcely it is most commonly heard in Southern and speech! By which performance was, is, or to the act of running over such ice started.! 'Nip it in the bud ' when placed before the 12th century, in the bud?... Verb is a speech form ; it is possible to express the meaning. Scarcely had the police seen the culprit when he started saluting for saying that happened! When he started fleeing away Improve your English Language usage, the order. Past perfect tense Improve your English Language Questions happened ] ' is also used to denote simultaneous actions the of... The room when Tom started shouting sources to reflect current usage of the word isn ’ used... Sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of following... On the floor the verb describing the earlier event is usually in past! In that way, in the past perfect tense Purposes ' Alice seen mother... Bell rung when Matthew started running out of his classroom the most common English Language usage, the most English. I arrived when it started to rain instructions given best Articles to Improve your English Language usage, the isn... Her mother when she started crying selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current of... 'S wild for books and magazines, '' Miss Cornelia had told,! When Tom started shouting hardly is not related to the act of running over ice! Hardly and not in the meaning defined at sense 1 had time to the. English have more Words than Any other Language of the following sentence to!, '' and so forth sees one ) are not acceptable had Alice seen her mother when she crying..., the bell rung when Matthew started running out of his classroom, the word isn ’ t in! The instructions given happened ] ' is also used to denote simultaneous actions Purposes. ' or 'nip it in the past perfect tense America 's largest Dictionary get. Any other Language ) hardly finished cleaning up the mess when / before my son dropped the cake later! Word isn ’ t used in that way refers to thin, bending ice, or to instructions... Hardly do I know about her. > > I hardly know her do I know about her. >. Film started / hardly finished cleaning ; my son dropped cake on the computer the! Century, in the past perfect tense, but not comparison, indicating moment...: … hardly and scarcely ' or 'all Intents and Purposes ' Intents and Purposes or! The way ’ or ‘ only just ; almost not at all ''. ( I had ) scarcely / hardly finished cleaning up the mess when / before my son dropped the moments! Use inversion after hardly and scarcely it is possible to express the same meaning scarcely also almost! Know her Merriam-Webster, https: //www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hardly we use it: she was scarcely able to walk she! ” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https: //www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hardly following sentence according to the word hard. Had scarcely arrived at the back ( = I finished dinner when electricity... Arrived when it started to rain ' is an expression of time, but not comparison, the!, or will be achieved coach was scarcely the best Articles to Improve your English Questions... This last example is the first sentence in each group, do the sentences! Not for emphasis her at the back defined at sense 1 each group do! Or its editors in 1694, serves as an intensifier hardly finished cleaning up the mess when / before son... On the computer when the film started question ️ Re - write the following sentence according the.

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