hardly can

USAGE SUMMARY

'hardly can' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to say that something is nearly impossible. For example: "I hardly can believe that it's already been a year since we last saw each other."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I hardly can sleep.

The New York Times

The thin film shows strong characteristic anisotropy that the solid one hardly can attain.

European Journal of Mechanics - A-Solids

"The Kremlin hardly can, or should, comment on this matter," Mr. Peskov told journalists on Wednesday.

The New York Times

I hardly can cope with my six kids daily basic demands.

The Guardian

I hardly can cover my expenses but can give nothing to my family.

The Guardian

You hardly can expect that I can answer this for you in an hour, a day, or a week.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Moreover that cause hardly can proceed to final decision without clarification of the charge, or making clarification unnecessary.

Cornell University

Due to lack of fuel, you hardly can find a car in the street, and the Internet is down.

The Guardian

But hardly can the country start to recover than reports of pro-Russian protests emerge from the country's south-east.

The Guardian

She hardly can sustain her fears; The roaring waterfall she hears, And cannot find her idiot boy.

The Guardian - Books

Practice before its adoption, therefore, hardly can raise a presumption as to practice afterwards, even on the liberal assumption that it properly could be considered in evidence.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hardly can" when you want to express that something is close to impossible or very difficult to achieve. It suggests a low probability or limited ability.

Common error

While grammatically sound, "hardly can" might sound slightly informal in very formal or academic writing. Consider alternatives like "is unlikely to" or "rarely can" for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly can" functions as an auxiliary construction to express a low degree of possibility or ability. It modifies a verb to indicate that an action is difficult or unlikely to occur. Ludwig confirms the phrase's validity and provides examples of its usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

41%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hardly can" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express near impossibility or significant difficulty. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples across various domains. While "hardly can" is acceptable, it may sound slightly less common than alternatives like "can hardly". Its usage is prevalent in News & Media and Science sources, indicating a neutral register. For more formal contexts, alternatives such as "scarcely can" or "is unlikely to" might be preferred. When using "hardly can", ensure the context aligns with expressing a low probability or limited ability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scarcely can

Replaces 'hardly' with 'scarcely', offering a slightly more formal alternative that maintains the same sense of near impossibility.

barely can

Uses 'barely' instead of 'hardly', suggesting a minimal ability or chance, very close in meaning and impact.

almost cannot

Rephrases the expression to emphasize the near absence of possibility, using a more explicit negative construction.

nearly impossible to

Shifts from a modal verb construction to a direct statement of near impossibility, changing the sentence structure.

with great difficulty can

Emphasizes the effort required to achieve something, highlighting the difficulty more explicitly than the original phrase.

unlikely to be able to

Expresses a low probability of being able to do something, focusing on the likelihood rather than the ability.

remotely possible to

Suggests a slight chance of something happening, emphasizing the improbability through 'remotely'.

infrequently can

Focuses on the rare occurrence of an action, differing from the original phrase's emphasis on difficulty.

seldom able to

Indicates that something is rarely possible, similar to 'hardly can' but with a focus on frequency.

rarely can

Focuses on the infrequency of an event or action, shifting the emphasis from the difficulty to the rarity.

FAQs

How can I use "hardly can" in a sentence?

You can use "hardly can" to express that something is nearly impossible or very difficult. For example, "I "hardly can" believe it's been a year since we met" or "He "hardly can" restrain his nerves any longer".

What are some alternatives to "hardly can"?

Alternatives to "hardly can" include "scarcely can", "barely can", or "almost cannot", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "hardly can" grammatically correct?

Yes, "hardly can" is grammatically correct. It is used to express a low probability or near impossibility of something.

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

While both convey a similar meaning, "can hardly" is more common and generally preferred. "Hardly can" is less frequent but still grammatically correct. Example: "I "can hardly" believe it" (more common) versus "I "hardly can" believe it" (less common).