hardly

hard|ly [ `hardli ] adverb ***

Hardly is a negative word and is often used with words like any and ever, but it should not be used with other negative words:

We hardly ever do anything interesting.

Hardly comes before the main verb of a sentence, but when there is a modal or auxiliary verb, hardly usually comes after it:

I can hardly breathe.

You have hardly done any work.

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 is not related to the word hard.

1. ) used for saying that something is almost not true or almost does not happen at all:

He hardly spoke except to say hello.

Alice was so busy she hardly noticed the days pass by.

can hardly do something: We could hardly afford to pay the rent.

hardly...at all: My old high school has hardly changed at all.

a ) used before words such as ever, any, anyone, or anything to mean almost never, almost none, almost no one, etc.:

There was hardly any wind, just a slight breeze.

You've hardly eaten anything.

Hardly anyone believed the fugitives' story.

It hardly ever rains here in the summer.

b ) hardly a day goes by/passes without something (doing something) used for saying that something happens almost every day:

Hardly a day goes by without some company reporting losses.

c ) used for saying that something is very little more or less than something:

The region's wine industry is hardly more than 40 years old.

New Haven is hardly an hour by train.

2. ) used for saying that something had only just happened when something else happened:

She had hardly arrived when she started talking about leaving again.

hardly had...than/when: Hardly had the men started training than they were sent into battle.

3. ) used when you think it is obvious that something is not true, not possible, not surprising, etc.:

It's hardly surprising that people are starting to complain.

David's almost twenty-four hardly a child.

This is hardly the time to start discussing finances.

you can hardly expect/blame etc. (=it would not be reasonable to expect, blame, etc.): You can hardly expect Myra to welcome you back after the way you've treated her.

4. ) BRITISH SPOKEN used for answering no, when you think someone has suggested something that is impossible