English grammar – Almost, Nearly and Hardly

In this English grammar lesson you will learn how to use Almost, Nearly and Hardly in English.

Almost, hardly and nearly are three words that some English grammar learners have trouble to use correctly.

Basically, we use almost in positive and negative forms and nearly can only be used in negative forms.

Here are some examples:

• It’s 8.45am. Nearly/Almost time to start work.

• Don’t stop writing now. You have almost/nearly finished your essay.

• Almost/nearly all my friends are married.

• I nearly didn’t make it to work on time today.

• Almost everyone I know goes abroad on holiday.

We use them to show progress if we are counting or measuring something.

Another definition of almost is ‘similar to’.

Example:

• My cousin has been in England for so long that he is almost English.

People think that he is English even though he is Australian.

Negative forms

We can use almost with the following negative forms – no, none, never, nothing, nobody

Examples:

• I almost never visit my family any more. They live too far away.
• Almost nobody was at the concert. The place was empty.
• I didn’t feel like working today. Almost nothing got done.

Hardly

We use hardly with positive forms. It means ‘almost not’.

Take a look at these examples:

• I hardly ever go to the cinema these days. (I almost never go to the cinema)

• Hardly anyone smokes cigarettes in Australia nowadays. (Almost nobody smokes anymore.)

So there you go. That’s how you can use almost, nearly and hardly in English grammar.

Remember to practice writing and speaking these words as soon and often as possible to improve your fluency.

Take a look at this English lesson and other lessons on the site if you’ve got time.

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