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PETby Matifmarin. Unit 30 Hard or hardly?

hard (adjective or adverb) = DIFFICULT / with EFFORT e.g.: The exercise was hard; the student worked hard to understand it.

hard (adjective) = SOLID

e.g.: The ground was so hard that is was impossible to dig.

How was the exercise? How did the student work?

How was the ground?

hardly (adverb) = ONLY, JUST, OLMOST NOT, BARELY [not gradable]

1. Hard

2. Hardly

EXAMPLES:□ The children are so excited about the Christmas present, the can hardly sleep.□ We hardly ever go to the cinema; we watch most of the films on TV.

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PETby Matifmarin. Unit 30 Hard or hardly?

It’s hard to be an uncommon child

because adults hardly ever call me pretty.

We like having dinner on the terrace, so we hardly ever (=almost never) go to a restaurant.

Are you ready for a little activity?

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PETby Matifmarin. Unit 30 Hard or hardly?

Use ‘hard’ or ‘hardly’ in the following activity

1. It’s _______ to say which of the boys is more attractive.

2. There were some really _______ questions in the exam.

3. My neighbours were celebrating again, I could _____ sleep last night.

4. The air is so polluted in this city that I can ______ breathe.

5. This student has such bad handwriting that it’s ______ to read.

6. There were some really _______ questions in the last exam.

7. I could _______ answer half of the exam questions, it was very difficult.

8. The football match had ______ started when it began to rain.

9. Can you speak louder? I can ______ hear what you are saying.

10. After three whiskies, he could ______ stand up.

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PETby Matifmarin. Unit 30 Hard or hardly?

ANSWERS

1. It’s hard to say which of the boys is more attractive. 2. There were some really hard questions in the exam. 3. My neighbours were celebrating again, I could hardly sleep last night.4. The air is so polluted in this city that I can hardly breathe.5. This student has such bad handwriting that it’s hard to read. 6. There were some really hard questions in the last exam.7. I could hardly answer half of the exam questions, it was very difficult. 8. The football match had hardly started when it began to rain.9. Can you speak louder? I can hardly hear what you are saying. 10. After three whiskies, he could hardly stand up.

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