"Hardly" is an adverb that means "almost not at all" or "barely." It is often used to emphasize the smallness or lack of something. Here are a few examples of how "hardly" can be used:
1. Negation:
"I hardly ever watch TV."
"He hardly ever comes to the party."
2. Comparison:
"She hardly knows anything about cooking."
"She knows a lot about cooking, but her friend hardly knows anything."
3. Emphasis:
"I am hardly in a position to help you."
"He is hardly the man to lead such a project."
When using "hardly," it's important to remember that it is followed by a negative, as in the examples above. Also, "hardly" is often used in conjunction with "no," "not," or "never" to emphasize the degree of negation.
For example:
"I hardly ever go to the gym."
"She hardly ever eats sugar."
"He hardly ever smiles."
It's also worth noting that "hardly" can be followed by a clause starting with "when" or "while," which often implies a contrast or a surprising fact:
"I hardly ever go to the gym, when my friends are always there."
"She hardly ever eats sugar, while her brother eats it all the time."
