hardly
UK ['hɑ:d.li] US ['hɑ:rd-] adverb
ONLY JUST 仅仅
ESSENTIAL
■only just; almost not 仅仅；几乎不•I could hardly hear her at the back.我在后面几乎听不见她说甚么。 •The party had hardly started when she left.她离开的时候派对才刚刚开始。 •He hardly ate anything/He ate hardly anything.他几乎甚么都没吃。 •We hardly ever (= almost never) go to concerts.我们几乎从不去听音乐会。 •Hardly had a moment passed before the door creaked open.没过一会儿，门就吱扭一声打开了。
UK ['hɑ:d.li] US ['hɑ:rd-] adverb
CERTAINLY NOT 绝不
IMPROVER
■certainly not 绝不•You can hardly expect a pay rise when you've only been working for the company for two weeks!你才刚为公司工作两个星期，别指望能加薪。 •Well don't be angry with me - it's hardly my fault that it's raining!好啦，别再生我的气了——下雨又不是我的错！
UK ['hɑ:d.li] US ['hɑ:rd-] adverb
Common Learner Errors hardlyWarning: check your word order!Hardly usually goes directly before the main verb in a sentence.Don't say 'hardly could/can do something', say could/can hardly do something :
✗ I hardly could recognise him after so many years.I could hardly recognise him after so many years.But if the main verb is am/is/are/was or were , hardly usually goes directly after it:
✗ There hardly were any shops in the town.There were hardly any shops in the town. |