In grammar, hardly is a "negative adverb." It carries a meaning similar to "not" or "almost not."
If you find yourself reaching for "can't hardly," try these standard alternatives instead: Incorrect (Non-standard) Correct (Standard) I breathe. I can hardly breathe. It is very difficult to breathe. He couldn’t hardly walk. He could hardly walk. Walking was nearly impossible for him. We can’t hardly wait! We can hardly wait! We are extremely excited. Other Tricky "Hardly" Pairs is it can hardly or cant hardly free
Here is a deep dive into why this confuses so many people, the "double negative" trap, and how to use these phrases correctly in your writing. The Grammar Breakdown: Why "Can Hardly" Wins In grammar, hardly is a "negative adverb
To understand why one is right and the other is wrong, we have to look at the word . He couldn’t hardly walk
If you want to sound polished and clear, follow this one rule: