hardly drive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hardly drive" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone is unable to drive well or that they rarely drive. Example: "After the accident, she could hardly drive without feeling anxious."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"You can hardly drive along a river in New England and not see some remnants of the mills," he said.

The New York Times

I'll never forget leaving the hotel; I could hardly drive the car for tears and sobbed all the way to Munich airport.

Independent

You could hardly drive your Smart car from the lesbian bed-and-breakfast to the organic farm stand without running over an adaptation of a literary property.

The New Yorker

I used to drive to the tube station or into town; now I get the bus and hardly drive the car in the week at all.

The Guardian

There's the aliases of his colourful business past, and the shopworn gags ("Ed Balls... who can hardly drive a car without crashing it, let alone the economy. Literally, the hit-and-run shadow Chancellor!").

Independent

It's very harsh, the weather is cruel, you can hardly drive for a mile without having a moose get in your way… " Equally importantly, she also explained that her story could only have happened in a place "where people are kind".

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Early voting has hardly driven all eligible citizens to vote.

The New York Times

But over the three days, I was surprised to find that I hardly drove, except to get back and forth to the airport and to change hotels.

The New York Times - Travel

Yet the revelations of the falsehoods that propelled the leave campaign to victory have hardly driven people back into the arms of experts.

The Guardian - Business

It's like how I hardly ever drive and therefore don't give a damn about cars, their appearance, pricing and so on.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And she said she hardly ever drives by that Tudor any more.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hardly drive", ensure the context clearly indicates the reason for infrequent driving, whether it's due to choice, ability, or circumstance.

Common error

Avoid using "hardly drive" when you mean to say "occasionally drive". "Hardly" implies a very low frequency, close to never, while "occasionally" suggests it happens sometimes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly drive" functions as a modifier, specifically describing the infrequency or difficulty with which someone operates a vehicle. It combines an adverb of degree ("hardly") with a verb of action ("drive"). Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hardly drive" is a grammatically sound way to express that someone drives infrequently or with difficulty. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is valid and usable in written English. Its neutral register makes it versatile for various contexts, though it's most commonly found in news and media. When using "hardly drive", be mindful of the degree of infrequency you wish to convey and choose synonyms like "rarely drive" or "barely drive" if they better suit your intended meaning. Remember, "hardly" suggests a near-absence of driving or significant challenges in doing so.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rarely drive

Indicates infrequent driving, similar to "hardly drive" but with a focus on frequency.

scarcely drive

Implies a very low frequency of driving, nearly not at all.

barely drive

Suggests driving with difficulty or at a minimal level.

infrequently drive

A more formal way to express that driving is not a common occurrence.

seldom drive

Similar to rarely drive, but can imply a more conscious choice not to drive.

drive minimally

Focuses on the minimal amount of driving done.

almost never drive

Emphasizes the near absence of driving.

drive very little

Highlights the small amount of driving that is done.

find it hard to drive

Focuses on the difficulty experienced when driving.

struggle to drive

Indicates difficulty or challenge in driving.

FAQs

What does "hardly drive" mean?

"Hardly drive" means that someone drives very infrequently or with great difficulty. It suggests that the act of driving is rare or challenging for the person in question.

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

You can use "hardly drive" in sentences like, "After the accident, she could "hardly drive" without feeling anxious", or "He lives in the city and "hardly drives" since public transportation is readily available".

What can I say instead of "hardly drive"?

You can use alternatives like "rarely drive", "scarcely drive", or "barely drive" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "hardly drive" and "rarely drive"?

While both phrases indicate infrequent driving, "hardly drive" often implies a greater degree of infrequency or difficulty compared to "rarely drive". "Rarely" suggests it's uncommon, whereas "hardly" suggests it's almost nonexistent or very challenging.