scarcely able to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scarcely able to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is barely capable of doing something or has very limited ability to do it. Example: "After the long hike, I was scarcely able to keep my eyes open."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

Scarcely able to control herself upon Tichon's return, Katya publicly confesses her adultery.

The New York Times - Arts

The baby's lungs would be like small blobs of liver, unable or scarcely able to inflate.

The Economist

Private markets are effectively closed, and Italy and Spain are scarcely able to afford bailouts.

The New York Times

Scarcely able to rouse himself, he stumbled across the room, vomiting as he went.

The Guardian - Books

"Grown men, hardened football-watchers, are scarcely able to turn their eyes to this".

The Guardian - Sport

Harry was left grieving and burdened, scarcely able to look after himself.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

Since arriving on South Island I've scarcely been able to draw breath between the new vistas that I've met round every corner.

The Guardian - Travel

She'd been assured that the authorities would find the man and check the dog for rabies, but in her distressed state she'd scarcely been able to listen or to care.

The New Yorker

Since last year, oystermen have scarcely been able to scrape up several sacks of oysters a day from the bay, a far cry from the 40 they fill in the best of times.

The New York Times

Moreover, the UN's weapons inspection team in Damascus has scarcely been able to conduct a thorough investigation, let alone to draw up a measured indictment against those who should be held responsible.

The Guardian - Opinion

Even if their cameras can track the movements of every Serbian police truck, these unarmed planes will scarcely be able to adjudicate accurately when one side or the other stages a cunning provocation, let alone mete out the appropriate discipline.Other, horribly familiar, possibilities loom.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scarcely able to" when you want to emphasize that someone or something has very limited ability or capacity to do something. It often implies a situation where success is doubtful or achieved with great difficulty.

Common error

Avoid using "scarcely able to" when you mean 'completely unable' or 'easily able'. "Scarcely able to" implies a near inability, not a total lack of ability or ease.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scarcely able to" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a verb, indicating a limited capacity or ability to perform the action described by the verb. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Encyclopedias

11%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

5%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "scarcely able to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a minimal level of capability or difficulty in performing an action. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and its presence across diverse sources. Predominantly featured in News & Media, it also appears in Encyclopedias and Scientific literature, indicating its versatility. While it is commonly interchangeable with phrases like "barely able to" or "hardly able to", it's crucial to consider the context to accurately convey the intended meaning. The phrase emphasizes the struggle and near impossibility of the action, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely capable of

Emphasizes the minimal level of capability, similar to "scarcely able to".

hardly able to

Indicates a small chance or ability, closely related to "scarcely able to".

just barely able to

Highlights the narrow margin of ability.

with difficulty able to

Focuses on the effort required to perform the action.

almost unable to

Stresses the near impossibility of the action.

minimally equipped to

Highlights the lack of resources or skills.

ill-equipped to

Underscores the inadequacy in preparation or resources.

not quite able to

Suggests a slight deficiency in ability.

inadequate to

Emphasizes the insufficiency for the task.

struggling to

Highlights the effort and difficulty involved.

FAQs

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

You can use "scarcely able to" to describe a situation where someone has very limited ability to do something. For example, "After running the marathon, he was scarcely able to walk."

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

You can use alternatives like "barely able to", "hardly able to", or "almost unable to" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "scarcely able to" or "scarcely able"?

"Scarcely able to" is grammatically correct, but it's usually followed by "to" + verb (e.g. "scarcely able to see").

What's the difference between "scarcely able to" and "unable to"?

"Scarcely able to" implies a very limited ability, while "unable to" indicates a complete lack of ability. "Scarcely able to" suggests that the action is possible, but very difficult; "unable to" means the action cannot be performed.