Hard vs. Hardly
Do you study HARD or you HARDLY study?
HARD can be an adjective and here we won’t have any problems. It goes before a noun and it’s always HARD.
But there are TWO adverbs: HARD and HARDLY. Let’s find out how to use them correctly.
HARD
HARD (some meanings):
1.
With great effort; with difficulty; force:
You should WORK HARD to prepare for this competition.
He got angry and PUSHED HARD his brother.
2.
In a deeply emotional manner:
He took that news HARD.
3.
A lot or for a long time:
It was RAINING HARD when we saw a little puppy.
I THOUGHT HARD before applying for that job.
HARDLY
Some meanings:
1. Almost not:
They HARDLY KNEW German when they moved to Berlin.
2. With CAN/COULD = it’s difficult:
Cutting onions made me cry, so I COULD HARDLY cook.
3. Just now:
I had HARDLY fallen asleep when I heard somebody singing outside my house.
Check out the difference in meanings:
I HARDLY study (I almost don’t study).
I study HARD (I study a lot, making a lot of effort).
What about this Minion? Does he
1. work hard?
2. hardly work?
