In the question below, a part of the sentence has been underlined. Below are given the alternatives to the underlined part which may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative. If the sentence needs no improvement, choose ‘No Improvement’ as your answer. The old man felled some trees in the garden with hardly no effort at all.
hardly any effort
Analyzing the Sentence for Grammatical Improvement
The question asks us to find the best alternative to the underlined part, "with hardly no effort at all," in the sentence: "The old man felled some trees in the garden with hardly no effort at all." We need to determine if the underlined phrase is grammatically correct and, if not, which option provides a correct and meaningful replacement.
Identifying the Grammatical Issue: Double Negative
The underlined phrase contains the words "hardly" and "no".
- "Hardly" is an adverb that means 'scarcely', 'almost not', or 'with difficulty'. It carries a negative meaning itself.
- "No" is used to express negation.
Using "hardly" and "no" together creates a double negative. In standard English, double negatives are generally incorrect because they can cancel each other out, potentially implying the opposite meaning or simply being grammatically awkward. The intended meaning here is likely that the old man used very little effort, almost no effort, to fell the trees, suggesting it was easy for him.
Evaluating the Improvement Options
Let's look at the given alternatives:
Option 1: hard effort
Replacing "hardly no effort" with "hard effort" would mean the old man used a lot of effort to fell the trees. This completely changes the likely intended meaning of the original sentence, which implies the task was easy.
Option 2: hardly any effort
This phrase uses "hardly" followed by "any effort". "Hardly any" is a common and correct way to express that there was very little or almost no amount of something. "Hardly any effort" correctly conveys the meaning that the old man used very little effort, avoiding the double negative and fitting the context that felling the trees was easy for him.
Option 3: a hardly any effort
The inclusion of the article "a" before "hardly any effort" is grammatically incorrect in this context. "Hardly any effort" functions as a quantity phrase modifying the noun "effort", and it doesn't typically take the indefinite article "a" when used in this way.
Option 4: No improvement
As established, the original phrase "hardly no effort" contains a double negative and is grammatically incorrect in standard English. Therefore, the sentence does need improvement.
Conclusion
Based on the analysis, the phrase "hardly any effort" is the only option that correctly fixes the grammatical error (the double negative) and maintains the likely intended meaning of the sentence, which is that the old man used very little effort.
The improved sentence would be: "The old man felled some trees in the garden with hardly any effort at all."
| Phrase | Analysis | Grammatical Correctness | Meaning in Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| hardly no effort | Double negative (hardly + no) | Incorrect (standard English) | Intends 'very little effort', but grammatically flawed |
| hard effort | Changes meaning | Correct phrase, but wrong meaning | Means 'a lot of effort' |
| hardly any effort | Hardly + any (correct usage) | Correct | Means 'very little effort' or 'almost no effort' |
| a hardly any effort | Incorrect article usage | Incorrect | Grammatically flawed structure |
Revision Table: Key Grammar Points
| Grammar Point | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Double Negative | Using two negative words in the same clause; usually incorrect in standard English. | Incorrect: I don't have no money. Correct: I don't have any money. OR I have no money. |
| Usage of 'Hardly' | Means 'almost not' or 'scarcely'; is a negative adverb. | Correct: I could hardly see anything. |
| Usage of 'Hardly any' | Used to mean 'very little' or 'almost none' of something. | Correct: There was hardly any food left. |
Additional Information: Negation in English
Negation in English is primarily formed using 'not' or negative words like 'no', 'never', 'nothing', 'nobody', 'nowhere', 'hardly', 'scarcely', 'barely'. Standard English grammar typically avoids using two negative words in a way that creates a double negative, especially when intending a single negative meaning.
- Correct negation often pairs negative words with positive words like 'any', 'anyone', 'anything', 'anywhere'. For example, 'have no money' or 'don't have any money'.
- Words like 'hardly', 'scarcely', and 'barely' already have a negative sense. They should be followed by non-negative words or structures, such as 'any', 'ever', or positive verbs/adjectives, not 'no', 'nothing', 'never', etc., if a single negative meaning is intended.
- While double negatives exist in some non-standard dialects, they are considered incorrect in formal and standard written and spoken English.
Similar Questions
Directions : Each item in this section consists of a sentence with an underlined word followed by four words or group of words. Select the option that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word/words and mark your response in your Answer Sheet accordingly.
The Arabs who are not in the cities live in the desert throughout the year, shifting from one oasis to another.
In this section, look at underlined part of each sentence. There are three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of them (a), (b) or (c) is better than the underlined part, indicate your response on the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter (a), (b), or (c). If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (d) as your response on the Answer Sheet. Thus a 'No improvement' response will be signified by the letter (D).
He ought not to tell me your secret, but he did.
In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the underlined part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select “No improvement”.
Although India is still by far a poor country, it can become rich if its natural and human resources are fully utilized.
Direction: Look at the underlined part of each sentence. Below each sentence is given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of them, a), b) or c), is better than the underlined part, indicate your response on the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter a), b) or c). If none of the substitutions improve the sentence, indicate d) as your response on the Answer Sheet. Thus a ‘No improvement’ response will be signified by the letter d).
The more they earn, more they spend .
In the question below, a part of the sentence has been underlined. Below are given the alternatives to the underlined part which may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative. If the sentence needs no improvement, choose ‘No Improvement’ as your answer.
But in all these cases conversion from one scale to another is easy because scales have well-formulated .
In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the underlined part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select “No improvement”.
Five years ago on this date, I am sitting in a small Japanese car, driving across Poland towards Berlin.
In the question below, a part of the sentence has been underlined. Below are given the alternatives to the underlined part which may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative. If the sentence needs no improvement, choose ‘No Improvement’ as your answer.
She says she's already paid me back, but I can't remember, so I'll have to take her word .
In the question below, a part of the sentence has been underlined. Below are given the alternatives to the underlined part which may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative. If the sentence needs no improvement, choose ‘No Improvement’ as your answer.
The workers are hell-bent at getting what is due to them.
Direction: Look at the underlined part of each sentence. Below each sentence is given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of them, a), b) or c), is better than the underlined part, indicate your response on the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter a), b) or c). If none of the substitutions improve the sentence, indicate d) as your response on the Answer Sheet. Thus a ‘No improvement’ response will be signified by the letter d).
You are warned against committing the same mistake again.
In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the underlined part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select “No improvement”.
While we would like that all Indian children to go to school, we need to ponder why they do not.
Important Questions from Phrase Replacement
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, No substitution required.
Not knowing the language and having no acquaintances in the city, he found it hard getting work.
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select option No substitution required.
We had been almost halfway there when the left rear tyre blew out
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select option No substitution required.
The man spent a lot because he had so large amount of money.
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select ‘No improvement’.
In the past, promises have been made, kept, and broken, and they are being make yet again.
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select ‘No improvement’.
September is one of the busiest months of the year, with a range of different tasks at hand
