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(DIR) Return to: Questions about Language Rules
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#Post#: 17785--------------------------------------------------
Oops, did I make a mistake?
By: Nikola Date: July 11, 2019, 5:59 am
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It seems that I used the word "hardly" incorrectly in my post
about the word "village":
[quote author=Nikola link=topic=1216.msg17773#msg17773
date=1562833948]
But seriously, if we have charming little places, smaller than
towns, ones that don't have a town hall or a shop, and have not
changed hardly at all in the past centuries, ones that have an
old church people go to, and are surrounded by woods where
people pick wild blueberries, hoping the will-o'-the-wisp won't
lead them into the swamp, should we really avoid calling them a
village?
[/quote]
I'm aware that "hardly" itself has a negative meaning, therefore
doesn't require the additional "not" in the sentence but I am
used to hearing it in such sentences. I wonder if people use it
wrongly instead of "almost". Is it ever correct to use "hardly"
with a negative form of a verb or does it count as a double
negative?
#Post#: 17787--------------------------------------------------
Re: Oops, did I make a mistake?
By: SuKi Date: July 11, 2019, 6:08 am
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It should be 'has hardly changed at all'.
#Post#: 17789--------------------------------------------------
Re: Oops, did I make a mistake?
By: NealC Date: July 11, 2019, 6:17 am
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Suki, shouldn't it be "have not changed at all"?
Because places and towns are plural?
It is an awkward construction but I have heard people say it
(doesn't make it correct of course). After all you are saying
slightly different things when you say something has hardly
changed at all and has not hardly changed at all.
#Post#: 17796--------------------------------------------------
Re: Oops, did I make a mistake?
By: Alharacas Date: July 11, 2019, 6:48 am
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Please enlighten me, Neal - what's the difference in meaning?
#Post#: 17800--------------------------------------------------
Re: Oops, did I make a mistake?
By: SHL Date: July 11, 2019, 7:10 am
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I was wondering the same as Neal, why the singular „has hardly
changed“ when the sentence is referring to a plural (charming
little places)?
Yeah, and I don’t see the difference either between something
has hardly changed vs. has not hardly changed. What’s that all
about?
#Post#: 17802--------------------------------------------------
Re: Oops, did I make a mistake?
By: SuKi Date: July 11, 2019, 7:15 am
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Sorry, folks, yes...have hardly changed at all I was so busy
thinking about the 'hardly' and the 'at all' and the double
negatives that I forgot to check what the subject was.
Mea culpa.
Just keeping you on your toes...
#Post#: 17803--------------------------------------------------
Re: Oops, did I make a mistake?
By: Truman Overby Date: July 11, 2019, 7:17 am
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Nikola's construction is colloquial and fine for everyday usage.
Of course it's not something she'd want to teach in the
classroom, as she knows.
#Post#: 17805--------------------------------------------------
Re: Oops, did I make a mistake?
By: SHL Date: July 11, 2019, 7:24 am
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[quote author=The Artist formerly known as Truman Overby
link=topic=1217.msg17803#msg17803 date=1562847454]
Nikola's construction is colloquial and fine for everyday usage.
Of course it's not something she'd want to teach in the
classroom, as she knows.
[/quote]
Jerry, I‘d like to know when you suddenly became an English
language expert? You‘re about as much an English language and
grammar expert as I am.
You‘re a Trump-supporting flag waving guy from hick-town,
Indiana I thought? ;D
#Post#: 17806--------------------------------------------------
Re: Oops, did I make a mistake?
By: Irena Date: July 11, 2019, 7:24 am
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[quote author=The Artist formerly known as Truman Overby
link=topic=1217.msg17803#msg17803 date=1562847454]
Nikola's construction is colloquial and fine for everyday usage.
Of course it's not something she'd want to teach in the
classroom, as she knows.
[/quote]
Really? ??? ??? Fascinating. To my ears, it sounds wrong. But I
suppose it might be okay-ish is you interpret it as "and have
not changed, hardly at all, in the past centuries" (notice the
commas). I guess. ;)
#Post#: 17808--------------------------------------------------
Re: Oops, did I make a mistake?
By: Irena Date: July 11, 2019, 7:26 am
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Now, now, now, gentlemen. (You know who you are!) Please think
of your cardiovascular health!
ETA: Although I suppose that, for the time being, only one
gentleman (singular) has participated in the spat. I sure hope
it stays that way. 8)
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