Search results
- When you use hardly, the negative is already included in that word, so you don’t need to add another negative—in this case, the can’t—in order to make it a negative. Doing so cancels the negative. The bottom line is that when using hardly, use can hardly, not can’t hardly.
languageandgrammar.com/2019/03/07/i-can-hardly-stand-it/
Jun 15, 2020 · In our professional writing, we should say “can hardly” (or “could hardly,” if appropriate) when we wish to suggest that an action (such as waiting, in sentence 1) is difficult. Think of “can’t hardly” as a double negative, and drop either the “not” or the “hardly.”
The correct version here in "can hardly". This is what anyone who uses either phrase likely means, at least. While "cannot hardly" is grammatically correct, it is effectively a double negative, and thus its meaning is confusing at best, plain wrong at worst.
Mar 7, 2019 · Hardly means scarcely or barely, as in almost never or almost not capable of, so to say I can hardly understand grammar rules means that for the most part, I don’t understand grammar rules.
There is, however, a clear semantic difference between the two cases in question: in I COULD do it, 'could' means 'MIGHT be able to', whereas to apply this same meaning to 'I COULD hardly wait' would produce nonsense, indicating that 'could' here must be a simple past tense (=WAS...able to).
Jul 31, 2014 · Short Answer. Hardly is an adverb that means barely, scarcely, or almost not. I can hardly wait means that you almost can’t wait—in other words, you are very excited about something and don’t want to wait for it.
Oct 28, 2021 · Avoid an embarrassing grammar mistake by learning when to use can vs. could in different situations. While both can and could are forms of the same verb, they actually mean different things depending on the context. Keep these guidelines and examples in mind.
People also ask
When should we say 'can hardly' or 'could hardly?
Should I use hardly or Can't Hardly?
What is the correct way to say can hardly?
What does can hardly mean?
Is 'cannot hardly' grammatically correct?
What does it mean if you can hardly understand grammar rules?
Feb 14, 2021 · Many people would hear "we can hardly say" as equivalent to "we can't say." What's interesting is that negatives are weakened when combined with "hardly." Consider the difference between "I can't see the sign" and "I can't hardly see the sign."
