(DIR) Return Create A Forum - Home --------------------------------------------------------- Even Greener Pastures (HTM) https://evengreener.createaforum.com --------------------------------------------------------- ***************************************************** (DIR) Return to: Questions about Language Rules ***************************************************** #Post#: 17785-------------------------------------------------- Oops, did I make a mistake? By: Nikola Date: July 11, 2019, 5:59 am --------------------------------------------------------- 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 --------------------------------------------------------- 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 --------------------------------------------------------- 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 --------------------------------------------------------- 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 --------------------------------------------------------- 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 --------------------------------------------------------- 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 --------------------------------------------------------- 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 --------------------------------------------------------- [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 --------------------------------------------------------- [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 --------------------------------------------------------- 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) ***************************************************** (DIR) Next Page