Question

0167 4 She almost couldn't breathe. She [[almost couldn't]] breathe. could hardly Almost is used with a negative verb when something does actually happen although, at the time, there is a strong possibility that it will not happen: 'I was feeling so tired that I almost didn't come.' 'The traffic was so heavy that she almost didn't get here in time.'When you mean 'only a little' or 'only with great difficulty', use hardly: 'We hardly know each other.' 'She was so tired that she could hardly keep her eyes open.' 'I can hardly hear myself think.'

Accepted Answer

almost ✗ She could hardly breathe. She [[could hardly]] breathe. could hardly | almost couldn't

Idx	0167
Keyword	almost
Sub Entry Number	4
Type of Sentence	✗
Error Sentence	She almost couldn't breathe.
Correct Sentence	She could hardly breathe.
Cloze Error Sentence	She [[almost couldn't]] breathe.
Cloze Sentence	She [[could hardly]] breathe.
Cloze Answer	could hardly
Choices	could hardly \| almost couldn't
Explanation	Almost is used with a negative verb when something does actually happen although, at the time, there is a strong possibility that it will not happen: 'I was feeling so tired that I almost didn't come.' 'The traffic was so heavy that she almost didn't get here in time.' When you mean 'only a little' or 'only with great difficulty', use hardly: 'We hardly know each other.' 'She was so tired that she could hardly keep her eyes open.' 'I can hardly hear myself think.'

Breathe I Tired Negative Verb Happen Time Strong