Hardly, Barely or Almost?

by Vocafy Patvirtinta

Anglų (JAV) B2 Klausimai (12) Gramatika

Explore how hardly, barely, almost, and nearly describe timing, progress, and close calls.

1. 1. Pasirinkite teisingą atsakymą.

   What does this say about dinner?

   Dinner is almost ready.

   • Preparation has only just begun.
   • It is close to being ready, but not ready yet.
   • It is already completely ready.

   Think about how close dinner is to being ready.

   Show solution

   • It is close to being ready, but not ready yet.

   “Almost” often goes with an endpoint, as in “almost ready,” “almost done,” or “almost finished.”

2. 2. Užpildykite tuščią vietą.

   I've ___ started the report. I've written one sentence, and there's still a lot to do.

   • hardly
   • almost
   • nearly

   The writing has begun, but very little progress has been made.

   Show solution

   I've hardly started the report. I've written one sentence, and there's still a lot to do.

   “Hardly started” means started only a little. “Almost started” would place the action before its beginning.

3. 3. Užpildykite tuščią vietą.

   The upload took nine minutes, and we had ten minutes before the deadline. We had ___ enough time to finish it.

   • nearly
   • almost
   • barely

   The upload finished before the deadline, with little time to spare.

   Show solution

   The upload took nine minutes, and we had ten minutes before the deadline. We had barely enough time to finish it.

   “Barely enough” means enough, but only just. “Almost enough” and “nearly enough” mean less than you need.

4. 4. Užpildykite tuščią vietą.

   The page opened ___ immediately: there was a tiny delay after I clicked the link.

   • hardly
   • almost
   • barely

   The opening was very close to instant, but not quite instant.

   Show solution

   The page opened almost immediately: there was a tiny delay after I clicked the link.

   “Almost immediately” allows for a very short delay. It describes timing, not how much of the page opened.

5. 5. Pasirinkite teisingą atsakymą.

   How often does Jenna fall behind schedule?

   Jenna hardly ever falls behind schedule.

   • Very rarely.
   • Almost every time.
   • Never, without exception.

   The sentence allows exceptions, but suggests they are unusual.

   Show solution

   • Very rarely.

   “Hardly ever” means “almost never.” It describes frequency, rather than how far behind schedule someone gets.

6. 6. Pasirinkite teisingą atsakymą.

   How much preparation remains?

   The event starts tomorrow, but we're not nearly ready.

   • None; the preparation is complete.
   • Only a few finishing touches.
   • A lot; they are still far from ready.

   Notice that “not” comes before “nearly.”

   Show solution

   • A lot; they are still far from ready.

   “Not nearly” creates a strong contrast: “not nearly ready” means far from ready, not just slightly unprepared.

7. 7. Pasirinkite teisingą atsakymą.

   What does the speaker mean?

   Nearly all the meetings ran late.

   • Every meeting came close to running late, but none did.
   • Most meetings ran late, but not all.
   • Very few meetings ran late.

   “Nearly” describes “all,” not how late the meetings were.

   Show solution

   • Most meetings ran late, but not all.

   The position matters: “nearly all” describes the proportion of meetings. It does not mean each meeting nearly ran late.

8. 8. Pasirinkite teisingą atsakymą.

   What was the result of the editing?

   After an hour of editing, the draft had barely changed.

   • Only small changes had been made.
   • The draft was close to being completely rewritten.
   • The editing had not begun.

   Separate the time spent working from the amount of change.

   Show solution

   • Only small changes had been made.

   “Barely” can describe a very small degree of change. A long effort does not necessarily produce much progress.

9. 9. Užpildykite tuščią vietą.

   With ___ no time left before the deadline, Maya had to skip her final check.

   • barely
   • hardly
   • almost

   The phrase means that a little time remained, but close to none.

   Show solution

   With almost no time left before the deadline, Maya had to skip her final check.

   “Almost no time” means very little time. “Almost” can come before a negative quantity, such as “no time” or “nothing.”

10. 10. Pasirinkite teisingą atsakymą.

    When did the fire alarm ring?

    Hardly had the meeting started when the fire alarm rang.

    • Shortly before the meeting began.
    • Just after the meeting began.
    • As the meeting was ending.

    Look at how “hardly ... when” connects the two events.

    Show solution

    • Just after the meeting began.

    “Hardly had ... when” emphasizes that one event followed another almost immediately. The word order changes when “hardly” starts this pattern.

11. 11. Pasirinkite teisingą atsakymą.

    What happened to the form?

    I almost didn't submit the form on time.

    • It was submitted on time, but that nearly did not happen.
    • It was submitted after the deadline.
    • It was never submitted.

    “Almost” applies to the whole negative phrase that follows it.

    Show solution

    • It was submitted on time, but that nearly did not happen.

    “Almost didn't” describes a negative outcome that was avoided. Here, the speaker succeeded despite coming close to failing.

12. 12. Pasirinkite teisingą atsakymą.

    Which description matches the later reviews?

    The first review took an hour. The second took nearly twice as long, while the third took barely longer than the first.

    • Both later reviews took close to two hours.
    • The second took slightly over an hour; the third took close to two hours.
    • The second took close to two hours; the third took just over an hour.

    Compare each later review with the first review.

    Show solution

    • The second took close to two hours; the third took just over an hour.

    “Nearly twice as long” approaches double the original time. “Barely longer” means the increase was very small.