Hardly is an adverb that is commonly used to indicate the scarcity or rarity of something. It conveys the idea that something is almost non-existent or barely happening. It is often used to describe situations where there is very little of something or when something is happening with great difficulty or reluctance.
In quantitative terms, hardly implies that the amount of something is extremely small or negligible. For example, “There is hardly any water left in the tank” suggests that there is almost no water left. It is also used to convey a sense of insufficiency, like “He hardly earns enough to support himself” meaning that his earnings are barely sufficient for his needs.
Furthermore, hardly can be used to express difficulty or reluctance in performing an action. It implies that the action is almost impossible or done with great effort. For instance, “She can hardly walk after the marathon” suggests that walking is difficult for her due to fatigue. It can also express hesitation or doubt, such as “I can hardly believe what I just saw” indicating disbelief or astonishment.
In summary, hardly is an adverb used to convey scarcity, insufficiency, difficulty, or reluctance. It is widely used in both colloquial and formal contexts to describe situations where there is very little of something or when something is happening with great effort or doubt.
