hardly able to

USAGE SUMMARY

"hardly able to" is correct and perfectly usable in written English.
It is an idiomatic expression which means "just barely able to" or "so weak that it is almost impossible to". For example, "I was so tired that I was hardly able to stay awake."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I was hardly able to walk.

The Guardian - Travel

At 7 days after stimulation, we were hardly able to detect IL-1β expression.

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology

Two young men were helping an old man who seemed hardly able to walk.

The New Yorker

Mr. Obama's advisers slinked out late, hardly able to contain their gloom.

The New York Times

"I'm not sure," he said, hardly able to hide his skepticism.

The New York Times

But the drugs also left him severely sedated, hardly able to talk, his mother said.

The New York Times

At night, hardly able to speak, they can only hold each other.

The New York Times - Books

He began to be hardly able to look at his mother.

The Guardian - Books

Mr. Faber said that he was so worried he was hardly able to eat.

The New Yorker

The dancers, though game, seemed hardly able to take it seriously.

The New York Times

"I left school with no qualifications, hardly able to read and write.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hardly able to", ensure the sentence clearly conveys the struggle or near impossibility of performing the action. This phrase adds emphasis to the difficulty involved.

Common error

Avoid using "hardly able to" when the action is merely inconvenient or requires moderate effort. Reserve it for situations where the difficulty is significant and verges on impossibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly able to" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a verb, indicating a severe limitation or near-impossibility in performing the action. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

41%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hardly able to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that effectively conveys a significant limitation or near-impossibility in performing an action. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage spans across various contexts, primarily in news and media and scientific writing. While versatile, it's crucial to reserve it for situations where the difficulty is genuine and substantial. Remember to use alternatives, like "scarcely in a position to", when appropriate to fine-tune the level of difficulty you wish to express.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely capable of

Replaces "able" with "capable", emphasizing a minimal level of competence.

scarcely in a position to

Indicates a lack of suitable circumstances or resources to do something.

just barely managing to

Highlights the effort involved in accomplishing something despite limitations.

almost incapable of

Emphasizes a near complete inability.

with great difficulty able to

Focuses on the significant effort required.

having trouble to

Using 'having trouble' provides a less formal way of expressing difficulty.

finding it difficult to

This alternative emphasizes the experience of difficulty.

not really in a condition to

Indicates that someone's state prevents them from doing something.

fighting to

Implies struggling against difficulties to achieve something.

struggling to

Highlights the effort and difficulty involved.

FAQs

How to use "hardly able to" in a sentence?

Use "hardly able to" to describe a situation where someone is experiencing great difficulty or is nearly incapable of performing an action. For example, "After the marathon, I was "hardly able to walk"".

What can I say instead of "hardly able to"?

You can use alternatives like "barely capable of", "scarcely in a position to", or "almost incapable of" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "hardly able to" or "barely able to"?

Both "hardly able to" and "barely able to" are correct and have similar meanings, indicating a minimal level of capability. The choice between them often depends on personal preference or the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "hardly able to" and "not able to"?

"Hardly able to" suggests a very low level of capability, close to zero, while "not able to" simply indicates a lack of ability without specifying the degree. "Hardly able to" implies a struggle or significant difficulty, whereas "not able to" can be a more neutral statement.