hard to adapt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard to adapt" is a valid English phrase.
You could use it to describe something that is challengingly difficult to adjust to. For example: "The new software was hard to adapt to, but I eventually got the hang of it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Kafka is hard to adapt to any visual medium.

The New Yorker

Some find it hard to adapt to India.

The New York Times

He's had to work really hard to adapt.

The Guardian - Sport

Labour, in particular, is finding it extremely hard to adapt.

The Guardian - Opinion

But there is a reason for this: it is devilishly hard to adapt.

The Guardian - Film

By Joan Acocella Kafka is hard to adapt to any visual medium.

The New Yorker

The '60s took more effort, but he worked hard to adapt.

The New York Times - Books

Some banks will thrive and others will find it hard to adapt.

The Guardian

It was really hard to adapt, to face all of those spectators.

The Guardian - Sport

He said Walmart customers "are working hard to adapt to the 'new normal,' but their confidence is still very fragile.

The New York Times

He has worked incredibly hard to adapt to his condition so that he can continue doing what he loves.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hard to adapt", ensure the context clearly specifies what is causing the difficulty. For example, "The new software was hard to adapt to because of its unintuitive interface."

Common error

Avoid using "hard to adapt" without specifying what needs adaptation. Vague statements like "It's hard to adapt" lack clarity. Always clarify the subject and the circumstances requiring adaptation to provide a complete understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to adapt" functions as an adjective phrase modifying an implied or stated subject, indicating the level of difficulty associated with the process of adaptation. As Ludwig AI validates, this construction is grammatically sound and serves to express a challenge or obstacle in adjusting to new conditions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

25%

Science

23%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hard to adapt" is a common and grammatically sound way to express difficulty in adjusting to new conditions. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is versatile, appearing in diverse contexts ranging from news and media to academia and science. Its neutral register makes it suitable for both formal and informal communication. When using "hard to adapt", clarity is key; always specify what is proving difficult to adapt and why. Consider alternatives such as "difficult to adjust" or "challenging to get used to" to subtly alter the tone or emphasis. Remember that accurate usage enhances clarity and effectiveness in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to adjust

Replaces "adapt" with "adjust", maintaining the core meaning of changing to fit new conditions but slightly changing the tone.

finds it difficult to change

Directly states the difficulty in changing, simplifying the language while maintaining a similar meaning.

challenging to get used to

Substitutes "hard" with "challenging" and "adapt" with "get used to", which softens the statement while conveying similar difficulty.

tough to become accustomed to

Uses "tough" instead of "hard" and "become accustomed to" in place of "adapt", increasing the formality of the phrase.

not easy to acclimate

Replaces "hard" with "not easy" and "adapt" with "acclimate", providing a more sophisticated and slightly less common phrasing.

requires significant adjustment

Shifts from describing the difficulty to emphasizing the amount of adjustment needed, changing the perspective.

presents adaptation challenges

Transforms the phrase into a more formal and abstract expression, focusing on the challenges inherent in adaptation.

demands considerable modification

Replaces "adapt" with "modification", highlighting the need for changes, particularly in a technical or structural context.

struggles to conform

Focuses on the act of conforming, suggesting an active effort to meet specific standards or expectations.

poses considerable difficulty for integration

Highlights the struggles regarding integration, implying effort to meet specific standards or expectations.

FAQs

How can I use "hard to adapt" in a sentence?

Use "hard to adapt" to describe something that is challenging to adjust to. For example, "The new curriculum was "difficult to adjust to", requiring teachers to learn new methods."

What's a more formal way to say "hard to adapt"?

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases like "presents adaptation challenges" or "requires significant adjustment" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "hard to adapt" or "hard to adapting"?

"Hard to adapt" is the correct form. The infinitive form "to adapt" is used after "hard" to express the difficulty in the action. "Hard to adapting" is grammatically incorrect.

What does it mean when something is "hard to adapt"?

When something is "hard to adapt", it means that it is difficult to change or modify something to suit new conditions or purposes. This might be due to complexity, resistance to change, or other inherent challenges.