can barely get

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can barely get" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express difficulty in achieving or obtaining something. Example: "I can barely get through the day without my morning coffee."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

We can barely get look books printed".

The New York Times

"I can barely get it together to decorate my own".

The New York Times

You can barely get your mouth around them.

The Guardian - Sport

She's hyperventilating with emotion; she can barely get the words out.

The Guardian - Film

This over's a bit of a stalemate as McKay can barely get an edge on these.

The Guardian - Sport

Knight is laughing so much she can barely get the words out.

The Guardian

Those of less well-off age contemporaries can barely get into the success game at all.

The Guardian

The next morning, however, I'm so stiff I can barely get out of my sleeping bag.

The New York Times - Travel

All of a sudden, the Spaniard can barely get a first ball into the box.

The Guardian - Sport

Sports teams can barely get through kick-off without having a tender, lingering embrace.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Now it sometimes feels they can barely get a plant in edgeways.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger verbs or adverbs to emphasize the level of difficulty. For example, "can scarcely get" or "can hardly manage to get" might better convey the intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "can barely get" when the situation involves moderate ease. Overusing this phrase can dilute its impact and credibility. Choose vocabulary which is more representative of the difficulty the subject experiences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can barely get" functions as a modal phrase indicating a limited ability or significant difficulty in achieving something. Ludwig provides numerous examples where this phrase is used to express near-impossibility or great effort required to accomplish a task. Ludwig AI has verified the grammatical correctness of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "can barely get" is a common and grammatically sound way to express significant difficulty or near-impossibility in achieving something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used in various contexts, particularly in news and media, with a neutral register suitable for general communication. When using the phrase, make sure the context clearly demonstrates the struggle or difficulty experienced by the subject. Consider stronger verbs or adverbs to improve the intended meaning. Furthermore, avoid overusing the phrase when the situation involves moderate ease.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can only just manage to get

Emphasizes the narrow margin of success in getting something, adding "only just manage".

hardly able to obtain

Emphasizes the difficulty in obtaining something, replacing "barely" with "hardly" and using "obtain" instead of "get".

struggle to acquire

Highlights the effort required to acquire something, using stronger verbs like "struggle" and "acquire".

find it difficult to secure

Focuses on the difficulty in securing something, using a more formal tone with "secure".

have trouble accessing

Specifies the difficulty in accessing something, indicating a barrier to access.

scarcely manage to reach

Implies a near failure in reaching something, using "scarcely" to emphasize the narrow margin.

barely able to scrape together

Suggests managing to gather a small amount with difficulty, adding the nuance of limited resources.

find it challenging to attain

Emphasizes the challenge in attaining something, using a more sophisticated vocabulary.

have a hard time gaining

Highlights the difficulty experienced in gaining something, offering a more conversational tone.

scarcely have enough to achieve

Indicates a lack of sufficient resources to achieve something, focusing on inadequacy.

FAQs

How can I use "can barely get" in a sentence?

You can use "can barely get" to describe a situation where someone or something is having significant difficulty achieving a goal or obtaining something. For example, "I "can barely get" through the day without coffee."

What are some alternatives to "can barely get"?

Alternatives include phrases like "hardly able to obtain", "struggle to acquire", or "find it difficult to secure" depending on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "could barely get" instead of "can barely get"?

Yes, "could barely get" is correct and indicates a past inability or difficulty. The choice between "can" and "could" depends on whether you're referring to a present or past situation.

What's the difference between "can barely get" and "can hardly get"?

"Can barely get" and "can hardly get" are very similar in meaning and often interchangeable. Both indicate a significant degree of difficulty, with a subtle difference where "hardly" may emphasize a slightly higher degree of improbability.