Spell Bee Word: hardly

Basic Details

Word: Hardly

Part of Speech: Adverb

Meaning: Barely; almost not at all.

Synonyms: Barely, scarcely, rarely

Antonyms: Completely, easily, thoroughly

Idioms and Phrases

1. Hardly ever: To indicate that something happens very rarely. Example: "He hardly ever goes to the cinema because he prefers reading."
2. Hardly a soul: To express that very few, if any, people are present. Example: "At the party, there was hardly a soul when we arrived."

Usage Examples

Example 1: After studying for hours, she hardly remembered anything for the test the next day.

Example 2: He hardly spoke during class, preferring to listen instead.

Example 3: It was so cold that we could hardly feel our fingers when we went outside.

Fun Fact

Did you know that the word "hardly" comes from the Old English "heard," which means "hard"? It has evolved to express a sense of difficulty or scarcity over time.

Famous Quote

"Hardly a day goes by without my thinking of you." - Unknown

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. What does "hardly" mean?

a) Completely
b) Barely
c) Very much
d) Clearly

Answer: b) Barely

2. Which of these is a synonym of "hardly"?

a) Always
b) Scarcely
c) Often
d) Generously

Answer: b) Scarcely

3. Which word is the opposite of "hardly"?

a) Completely
b) Rarely
c) Scarcely
d) Barely

Answer: a) Completely

4. Which example uses "hardly" correctly?

a) She hardly could understand the instructions.
b) There were hardly any cookies left in the jar.
c) He hardly went to bed early last night.
d) We hardly are going to the park today.

Answer: b) There were hardly any cookies left in the jar.

5. Which idiom means the same as "hardly"?

a) Hardly ever
b) As easy as pie
c) All in a day's work
d) The early bird catches the worm

Answer: a) Hardly ever