there were barely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "there were barely" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, you could write "There were barely enough chairs for everyone at the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In the audience there were barely 100 people, mostly friends and acquaintances of the performers.

Independent

"In 2004, there were barely any carriers," said Bianca Fehn, an owner of Metro Minis.

The New York Times

THERE were barely used Manolo Blahnik shoes, some selling for as little as $50.

The New York Times - Style

Compared with the reefs at the other end of the island there were barely any fish here at all.

The Guardian - Travel

When the winning runs were hit with 13 balls to spare there were barely any celebrations from the batsmen – beating Australia is becoming so routine.

The Guardian - Sport

But to torture a baking analogy, by the time one separated the wheat from the chaff among the new models here, there were barely enough ingredients left to make a decent loaf of bread.

The New York Times

The second, rewritten version: Most of the enormous seaside locations were shut now and there were barely any beams except the faint, transitory radiance of a ferryboat across the Sound.

The New York Times

When her husband ran for President in 2008, there were barely veiled insinuations about whether the role of First Lady was really right for her — whether she was too angry, or could really feel comfortable.

The New Yorker

New York Magazine has a very informative and detailed article about this, but the take-home message is that before the 1960s there were barely any examples of humans being described as alpha males, the term was restricted to fields like primatology research.

The Guardian

Frankel's popularity has reached such heights there were barely any vantage points left in the paddock before the exercise.

BBC

Many of the kids there were barely younger than me, and like most of them, I was born and raised in Louisiana, a place where I think it's fair to say that physics is not exactly the most popular hobby.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "there were barely" to indicate a quantity that is smaller than expected or insufficient for a particular purpose. It effectively conveys a sense of scarcity.

Common error

Avoid using the singular form "there was barely" when referring to plural nouns. The correct form is "there were barely" to maintain grammatical agreement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there were barely" functions as an existential clause indicating a very small quantity or number of something. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "there were barely" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote scarcity or a significantly small quantity. As Ludwig confirms, it's correct and versatile, appearing most often in News & Media sources. Its usage is appropriate for neutral contexts, indicating that something is present in a quantity that is less than expected or needed. To enhance clarity, ensure subject-verb agreement by using "there was barely" for singular nouns and "there were barely" for plural nouns.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there were scarcely any

Replaces "barely" with "scarcely", maintaining a similar level of formality and meaning.

there were hardly any

Substitutes "barely" with "hardly", resulting in a phrase with nearly identical meaning.

there were just a few

Offers a more direct way of expressing a small quantity, simplifying the original phrase.

there were only a few

Emphasizes the limited number by using "only", keeping the core meaning intact.

there were few

Condenses the expression for brevity, suitable for less formal contexts.

there weren't many

Changes the structure to a negative form while retaining the idea of a small quantity.

few existed

Significantly shortens the phrase, focusing on the existence of only a small number.

almost none were present

Uses a more emphatic "almost none" to convey a near-total absence.

a negligible number were there

Replaces the original with a more formal and descriptive phrase.

the number was minimal

Abstracts the idea of scarcity by focusing on the minimal quantity.

FAQs

How can I use "there were barely" in a sentence?

You can use "there were barely" to indicate that something exists in a very small amount or number. For example, "there were barely any seats left in the theater" means that the theater was almost full.

What are some alternatives to "there were barely"?

Alternatives include "there were hardly any", "there were scarcely any", or "there were only a few". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it ever appropriate to use "there was barely" instead of "there were barely"?

"There was barely" is used with singular nouns, while "there were barely" is used with plural nouns. For example, "there was barely enough time" (singular) versus "there were barely enough apples" (plural).

What's the difference between "there were barely" and "there were almost no"?

Both phrases indicate a small quantity, but "there were barely" often implies that the small quantity is insufficient, while "there were almost no" simply states the scarcity.