---
title: hardly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «hardly» in the school dictionary: Hardly means almost not, or only just. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# hardly

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** You, I, We, milk, She, bell · **What happens:** not mean, mean, not be, blame, see, go · **To what, where:** him, fog, cinema, milk, anything, match · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«hardly» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [hardly in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/hardly.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hardly means almost not, or only just.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hardly:m1:1
# text = Hardly means almost not, or only just.
1	Hardly	hardly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	almost	almost	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	only	only	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	just	just	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | hardly *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hardly ever means almost never.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hardly:m2:1
# text = Hardly ever means almost never.
1	Hardly	hardly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	3	advmod	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	almost	almost	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **mean** | present |  |  |  |  | ever | hardly *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hardly can mean it is not reasonable: «You can hardly blame him.».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hardly:m3:1
# text = Hardly can mean it is not reasonable: «You can hardly blame him.».
1	Hardly	hardly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	expl	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	reasonable	reasonable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
11	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
12	hardly	hardly	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	blame	blame	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	parataxis	_	_
14	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can |  |  |  |  |  | hardly *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | reasonable *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **blame** *in a quote* | can | You | him *= he* |  |  |  | hardly *property* | vn judgment-33.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I could hardly see in the fog.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hardly:x1:1
# text = I could hardly see in the fog.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	hardly	hardly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	fog	fog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | could | I |  |  | the fog |  | hardly *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We hardly ever go to the cinema.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hardly:x2:1
# text = We hardly ever go to the cinema.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	hardly	hardly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
3	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	4	advmod	_	_
4	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	cinema	cinema	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | infinitive | We |  |  | the cinema | ever | hardly *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to cinema=Initial\_Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There is hardly any milk left.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hardly:x3:1
# text = There is hardly any milk left.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	hardly	hardly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	det	_	_
5	milk	milk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
6	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | any milk |  |  | there |  | hardly *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **leave** | participle |  | any milk *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She had hardly started when the bell rang.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hardly:x4:1
# text = She had hardly started when the bell rang.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	hardly	hardly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	started	start	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	bell	bell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	rang	ring	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | past · perfect | She |  |  |  |  | hardly *property* | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 2 | **ring** | past | the bell |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He hardly ate anything.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hardly:x5:1
# text = He hardly ate anything.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	hardly	hardly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	ate	eat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | past | He | anything |  |  |  | hardly *property* | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent anything=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hardly anyone came to the match.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hardly:x6:1
# text = Hardly anyone came to the match.
1	Hardly	hardly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	nsubj	_	_
3	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | anyone |  |  | the match |  | hardly *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to match=Initial\_Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I can hardly believe it!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hardly:x7:1
# text = I can hardly believe it!
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	hardly	hardly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	believe	believe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | can | I | it |  |  |  | hardly *property* | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer it=Stimulus |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He hardly knew himself, so changed was he.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:hardly:x8:1
# text = He hardly knew himself, so changed was he.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	hardly	hardly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	knew	know	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	changed	change	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	ccomp	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **know** | past | He | himself *= he* |  |  |  | hardly *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **change** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is a** | past |  | he |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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