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Using never, hardly, scarcely, barely, seldom, rarely and similar adverbs.
Practice: build the sentences →Negative and near-negative adverbs express absence, frequency close to zero, or a very low degree.
Common examples include never, hardly, scarcely, barely, seldom, and rarely.
I never drink coffee.
Я никогда не пью кофе.
"Never" expresses zero frequency.
She hardly spoke at the meeting.
Она почти не говорила на встрече.
"Hardly" means almost not.
They rarely go out.
Они редко выходят.
"Rarely" indicates low frequency.
He scarcely had time to eat.
У него едва было время поесть.
"Scarcely" means almost not and is more formal.
We barely finished on time.
Мы едва закончили вовремя.
"Barely" emphasizes only just.
Never means at no time or on no occasion.
For example, I never drink coffee and She has never visited London.
I never drink coffee.
Я никогда не пью кофе.
"Never" means at no time.
She has never visited London.
Она никогда не была в Лондоне.
"Never" with present perfect.
They never go to the cinema.
Они никогда не ходят в кино.
"Never" before the main verb "go".
He is never late.
Он никогда не опаздывает.
"Never" follows the verb "be".
We will never forget this.
Мы никогда этого не забудем.
"Never" after the auxiliary "will".
Never can occur with different tenses depending on the time reference and aspect of the statement.
For example, I never went there, I have never been there, and I will never do that.
I never went there.
Я никогда туда не ходил.
"Never" with past simple.
I have never been there.
Я никогда там не был.
"Never" with present perfect.
I will never do that.
Я никогда этого не сделаю.
"Never" with future simple.
She never eats meat.
Она никогда не ест мясо.
"Never" with present simple.
They had never seen such a thing.
Они никогда не видели такого.
"Never" with past perfect.
Never normally follows a finite form of be in an ordinary clause.
For example, She is never late and They were never ready.
She is never late.
Она никогда не опаздывает.
"Never" follows "is".
They were never ready.
Они никогда не были готовы.
"Never" follows "were".
He is never happy.
Он никогда не счастлив.
"Never" follows "is".
We are never at home.
Нас никогда нет дома.
"Never" follows "are".
It was never a problem.
Это никогда не было проблемой.
"Never" follows "was".
Never normally occurs before the main lexical verb in simple tenses.
For example, I never smoke and He never complains.
I never smoke.
Я никогда не курю.
"Never" before the main verb "smoke".
He never complains.
Он никогда не жалуется.
"Never" before the main verb "complains".
She never calls me.
Она никогда мне не звонит.
"Never" before the main verb "calls".
They never eat out.
Они никогда не едят вне дома.
"Never" before the main verb "eat".
We never watch TV.
Мы никогда не смотрим телевизор.
"Never" before the main verb "watch".
When an auxiliary is present, never normally occurs after the first auxiliary and before the main verb or participle.
For example, She has never seen it and They will never agree.
She has never seen it.
Она никогда этого не видела.
"Never" after the auxiliary "has".
They will never agree.
Они никогда не согласятся.
"Never" after the auxiliary "will".
I have never been there.
Я никогда там не был.
"Never" after the auxiliary "have".
He can never remember my name.
Он никогда не может запомнить моё имя.
"Never" after the modal "can".
We should never give up.
Нам никогда не следует сдаваться.
"Never" after the modal "should".
Never already expresses negative meaning and normally does not require an additional not in standard English.
For example, I never go there, not I do not never go there when simple negation is intended.
I never go there.
Я никогда туда не хожу.
"Never" already expresses negation; no "not" is needed.
She never said that.
Она никогда этого не говорила.
"Never" provides the negative meaning.
They never call.
Они никогда не звонят.
"Never" is sufficient for negation.
He never studies.
Он никогда не учится.
"Never" does not require an additional "not".
We never see them.
Мы никогда их не видим.
"Never" is negative without "not".
Never ever adds emphasis to the meaning of never and is common in informal speech.
For example, I never ever want to see that movie again.
I never ever want to see that movie again.
Я никогда больше не хочу видеть этот фильм.
"Never ever" adds emphasis in informal speech.
She never ever complains.
Она никогда-никогда не жалуется.
"Never ever" intensifies "never".
They never ever listen to me.
Они никогда-никогда меня не слушают.
"Never ever" is emphatic.
He never ever eats fast food.
Он никогда-никогда не ест фастфуд.
"Never ever" is common in speech.
We never ever go there.
Мы никогда-никогда туда не ходим.
"Never ever" emphasizes zero frequency.
Hardly means almost not or only to a very small degree.
For example, I could hardly hear her and She hardly knows him.
I could hardly hear her.
Я едва мог её слышать.
"Hardly" means almost not.
She hardly knows him.
Она почти его не знает.
"Hardly" means only to a very small degree.
We hardly ever see them.
Мы почти никогда их не видим.
"Hardly ever" means almost never.
He hardly spoke during the meeting.
Он почти не говорил во время встречи.
"Hardly" modifies the verb "spoke".
There is hardly any time left.
Осталось почти никакого времени.
"Hardly any" means almost none.
Hardly has negative or near-negative meaning and normally does not combine with another negative element when simple negation is intended.
For example, I could hardly see anything means I could almost not see anything.
I could hardly see anything.
Я почти ничего не видел.
"Hardly" has negative meaning; no additional "not" is needed.
She hardly said a word.
Она почти не сказала ни слова.
"Hardly" provides negative meaning.
They hardly ever go out.
Они почти никогда не выходят.
"Hardly ever" is negative.
He hardly noticed.
Он почти не заметил.
"Hardly" is negative without "not".
We hardly have any money.
У нас почти нет денег.
"Hardly any" is negative.
Scarcely means almost not or barely and is generally more formal than hardly.
For example, There was scarcely enough time to finish.
There was scarcely enough time to finish.
Было едва достаточно времени, чтобы закончить.
"Scarcely" means almost not, more formal than "hardly".
Scarcely had we arrived when it started raining.
Едва мы прибыли, как начался дождь.
"Scarcely" in inversion construction.
She scarcely spoke to anyone.
Она почти ни с кем не разговаривала.
"Scarcely" means almost not.
There is scarcely any evidence.
Есть почти никаких доказательств.
"Scarcely any" means almost none.
I scarcely know him.
Я почти его не знаю.
"Scarcely" is more formal.
Barely means only just or by a very small margin and often suggests that something was almost impossible.
For example, We barely had enough time to finish.
We barely had enough time to finish.
У нас едва хватило времени, чтобы закончить.
"Barely" means only just.
She barely passed the exam.
Она едва сдала экзамен.
"Barely" suggests it was almost impossible.
He barely touched his food.
Он едва притронулся к еде.
"Barely" emphasizes a very small margin.
I could barely hear you.
Я едва мог тебя слышать.
"Barely" means only with difficulty.
They barely noticed.
Они едва заметили.
"Barely" modifies the verb.
Hardly, scarcely, and barely all indicate very low degree, but their emphasis and register can differ.
Hardly and scarcely often mean almost not at all, while barely can emphasize that something happened only just.
I could hardly see anything.
Я почти ничего не видел.
"Hardly" means almost not at all.
There was scarcely any evidence.
Было почти никаких доказательств.
"Scarcely" is more formal than "hardly".
We barely had enough time.
У нас едва хватило времени.
"Barely" emphasizes only just.
She hardly spoke.
Она почти не говорила.
"Hardly" means almost not.
He barely passed.
Он едва сдал.
"Barely" means by a very small margin.
Seldom means not often and is generally more formal or literary than rarely or not often.
For example, She seldom complains about her workload.
She seldom complains about her workload.
Она редко жалуется на свою нагрузку.
"Seldom" means not often, more formal.
He seldom goes to the theatre.
Он редко ходит в театр.
"Seldom" indicates low frequency.
We seldom see each other.
Мы редко видимся.
"Seldom" is more literary.
They seldom travel abroad.
Они редко путешествуют за границу.
"Seldom" before the main verb.
I seldom eat out.
Я редко ем вне дома.
"Seldom" is formal.
Rarely means not often and indicates low frequency.
For example, We rarely see him these days.
We rarely see him these days.
Мы редко его видим в последнее время.
"Rarely" means not often.
She rarely drinks coffee.
Она редко пьёт кофе.
"Rarely" indicates low frequency.
They rarely go on holiday.
Они редко ездят в отпуск.
"Rarely" before the main verb.
He is rarely late.
Он редко опаздывает.
"Rarely" follows "is".
I rarely watch TV.
Я редко смотрю телевизор.
"Rarely" is common.
Seldom and rarely have similar meanings, but seldom can sound somewhat more formal or literary.
For example, She rarely travels abroad and She seldom travels abroad.
She rarely travels abroad.
Она редко путешествует за границу.
"Rarely" is common in everyday English.
She seldom travels abroad.
Она редко путешествует за границу.
"Seldom" sounds more formal or literary.
He rarely complains.
Он редко жалуется.
"Rarely" is neutral.
He seldom complains.
Он редко жалуется.
"Seldom" is more formal.
We rarely eat out.
Мы редко едим вне дома.
"Rarely" is more common in speech.
Negative-frequency adverbs express different positions on a scale from zero frequency to occasional frequency.
Never means zero frequency, while rarely and seldom indicate low but non-zero frequency.
I never drink alcohol.
Я никогда не пью алкоголь.
"Never" means zero frequency.
I rarely drink alcohol.
Я редко пью алкоголь.
"Rarely" means low frequency.
I seldom drink alcohol.
Я редко пью алкоголь.
"Seldom" also means low frequency.
I hardly ever drink alcohol.
Я почти никогда не пью алкоголь.
"Hardly ever" means almost never.
I sometimes drink alcohol.
Я иногда пью алкоголь.
This shows occasional frequency, contrasting with negative adverbs.
Negative-frequency adverbs normally occur before a lexical verb in simple tenses.
For example, He rarely visits us and She never calls.
He rarely visits us.
Он редко нас навещает.
"Rarely" before the main verb "visits".
She never calls.
Она никогда не звонит.
"Never" before the main verb "calls".
They seldom go out.
Они редко выходят.
"Seldom" before the main verb "go".
I hardly ever eat meat.
Я почти никогда не ем мясо.
"Hardly ever" before the main verb "eat".
We rarely watch films.
Мы редко смотрим фильмы.
"Rarely" before the main verb "watch".
Negative-frequency adverbs normally occur after a finite form of be.
For example, He is rarely late and They were seldom angry.
He is rarely late.
Он редко опаздывает.
"Rarely" follows "is".
They were seldom angry.
Они редко сердились.
"Seldom" follows "were".
She is never happy.
Она никогда не счастлива.
"Never" follows "is".
We are hardly ever at home.
Нас почти никогда нет дома.
"Hardly ever" follows "are".
It is scarcely possible.
Это едва возможно.
"Scarcely" follows "is".
Negative-frequency adverbs normally occur after a modal and before the main verb.
For example, You will rarely see this and She can hardly hear you.
You will rarely see this.
Вы редко это увидите.
"Rarely" after the modal "will".
She can hardly hear you.
Она едва может тебя слышать.
"Hardly" after the modal "can".
They should never agree.
Они никогда не должны соглашаться.
"Never" after the modal "should".
We might scarcely notice.
Мы можем едва заметить.
"Scarcely" after the modal "might".
He will seldom complain.
Он редко будет жаловаться.
"Seldom" after the modal "will".
Negative or restrictive adverbs placed at the beginning of a clause can trigger subject-auxiliary inversion in formal or emphatic English.
For example, Never have I seen such a thing and Rarely does he complain.
Never have I seen such a thing.
Никогда я не видел такого.
Initial "Never" triggers inversion.
Rarely does he complain.
Редко он жалуется.
Initial "Rarely" triggers inversion.
Hardly had we arrived when the meeting started.
Едва мы прибыли, как началась встреча.
Initial "Hardly" triggers inversion.
Scarcely had she spoken when he interrupted.
Едва она заговорила, как он перебил.
Initial "Scarcely" triggers inversion.
Seldom do we see such results.
Редко мы видим такие результаты.
Initial "Seldom" triggers inversion.
When never begins a clause for emphasis, auxiliary inversion normally follows.
For example, Never have I experienced anything like it.
Never have I experienced anything like it.
Никогда я не испытывал ничего подобного.
Initial "Never" with inversion.
Never had she felt so happy.
Никогда она не чувствовала себя такой счастливой.
Initial "Never" with past perfect inversion.
Never will I forget this.
Никогда я этого не забуду.
Initial "Never" with modal inversion.
Never did he say a word.
Никогда он не сказал ни слова.
Initial "Never" with "did" inversion.
Never have we seen such a sight.
Никогда мы не видели такого зрелища.
Initial "Never" triggers inversion.
Rarely can be fronted for emphasis, with inversion commonly following in formal English.
For example, Rarely do we see such a result.
Rarely do we see such a result.
Редко мы видим такой результат.
Initial "Rarely" triggers inversion.
Rarely have I been so surprised.
Редко я был так удивлён.
Initial "Rarely" with present perfect inversion.
Rarely does she make mistakes.
Редко она делает ошибки.
Initial "Rarely" with "does" inversion.
Rarely had they seen such beauty.
Редко они видели такую красоту.
Initial "Rarely" with past perfect inversion.
Rarely will you find such kindness.
Редко вы найдёте такую доброту.
Initial "Rarely" with modal inversion.
Hardly can be fronted in emphatic constructions and commonly triggers inversion.
For example, Hardly had we arrived when the meeting started.
Hardly had we arrived when the meeting started.
Едва мы прибыли, как началась встреча.
Initial "Hardly" triggers inversion.
Hardly had she finished when the phone rang.
Едва она закончила, как зазвонил телефон.
Initial "Hardly" with past perfect inversion.
Hardly does he ever complain.
Он почти никогда не жалуется.
Initial "Hardly" with "does" inversion.
Hardly had I sat down when someone knocked.
Едва я сел, как кто-то постучал.
Initial "Hardly" triggers inversion.
Hardly had they left when it started raining.
Едва они ушли, как начался дождь.
Initial "Hardly" with inversion.
No sooner ... than and hardly/scarcely ... when are formal structures describing two events occurring in rapid succession.
For example, No sooner had we arrived than it started raining and Hardly had we arrived when it started raining.
No sooner had we arrived than it started raining.
Едва мы прибыли, как начался дождь.
"No sooner ... than" describes rapid succession.
Hardly had we arrived when it started raining.
Едва мы прибыли, как начался дождь.
"Hardly ... when" describes rapid succession.
No sooner had she spoken than he interrupted.
Едва она заговорила, как он перебил.
"No sooner ... than" with inversion.
Scarcely had they left when the storm began.
Едва они ушли, как началась буря.
"Scarcely ... when" also describes rapid succession.
No sooner had I closed the door than the phone rang.
Едва я закрыл дверь, как зазвонил телефон.
"No sooner ... than" formal structure.
Hardly can function as an adverb, while hardly any acts as a quantifier before a noun phrase.
For example, I hardly slept versus I have hardly any time.
I hardly slept.
Я почти не спал.
"Hardly" is an adverb modifying the verb "slept".
I have hardly any time.
У меня почти нет времени.
"Hardly any" is a quantifier before the noun "time".
She hardly spoke.
Она почти не говорила.
"Hardly" modifies the verb "spoke".
There is hardly any food.
Еды почти нет.
"Hardly any" modifies the noun "food".
We hardly know them.
Мы почти их не знаем.
"Hardly" modifies the verb "know".
Barely can modify a verb phrase or adjective, while barely any modifies a noun phrase to indicate a very small amount or number.
For example, We barely noticed versus We had barely any time.
We barely noticed.
Мы едва заметили.
"Barely" modifies the verb "noticed".
We had barely any time.
У нас было почти нет времени.
"Barely any" modifies the noun "time".
She barely spoke.
Она едва говорила.
"Barely" modifies the verb "spoke".
There is barely any water.
Воды почти нет.
"Barely any" modifies the noun "water".
I barely slept.
Я почти не спал.
"Barely" modifies the verb "slept".
Scarcely can function as an adverb, while scarcely any modifies a noun phrase.
For example, We could scarcely believe it versus There was scarcely any evidence.
We could scarcely believe it.
Мы едва могли в это поверить.
"Scarcely" modifies the verb "believe".
There was scarcely any evidence.
Было почти никаких доказательств.
"Scarcely any" modifies the noun "evidence".
She scarcely spoke.
Она почти не говорила.
"Scarcely" modifies the verb "spoke".
There is scarcely any time.
Почти нет времени.
"Scarcely any" modifies the noun "time".
I scarcely know him.
Я почти его не знаю.
"Scarcely" modifies the verb "know".
Using not together with a negative-meaning adverb can create unintended double negation or a meaning different from simple negation.
For example, I could hardly hear is standard, while I could not hardly hear may be nonstandard or dialectal depending on context.
I could hardly hear.
Я едва мог слышать.
"Hardly" is standard negative meaning.
I could not hardly hear.
Я едва мог слышать.
Double negation with "not hardly" is nonstandard.
She hardly ever calls.
Она почти никогда не звонит.
"Hardly ever" is standard.
She does not hardly ever call.
Она почти никогда не звонит.
Double negation is nonstandard.
We barely had time.
У нас едва было время.
"Barely" is standard negative meaning.
Negative adverbs can combine with ever in contexts describing experience or frequency.
For example, I rarely ever watch television and She hardly ever complains.
I rarely ever watch television.
Я редко когда смотрю телевизор.
"Rarely ever" intensifies "rarely".
She hardly ever complains.
Она почти никогда не жалуется.
"Hardly ever" means almost never.
He seldom ever goes out.
Он редко когда выходит.
"Seldom ever" intensifies "seldom".
We scarcely ever see them.
Мы почти никогда их не видим.
"Scarcely ever" is formal.
They never ever call.
Они никогда-никогда не звонят.
"Never ever" is emphatic.
Hardly ever means almost never and is common in everyday English.
For example, I hardly ever watch television.
I hardly ever watch television.
Я почти никогда не смотрю телевизор.
"Hardly ever" means almost never.
She hardly ever eats meat.
Она почти никогда не ест мясо.
"Hardly ever" is common in everyday English.
They hardly ever go out.
Они почти никогда не выходят.
"Hardly ever" modifies the verb "go".
He hardly ever calls me.
Он почти никогда мне не звонит.
"Hardly ever" indicates very low frequency.
We hardly ever see each other.
Мы почти никогда не видимся.
"Hardly ever" is common.
Rarely ever and seldom ever intensify the meaning of rarely or seldom, although never and hardly ever are often more natural.
For example, She rarely ever complains can emphasize that complaining is extremely unusual.
She rarely ever complains.
Она редко когда жалуется.
"Rarely ever" emphasizes that complaining is extremely unusual.
He seldom ever goes to the cinema.
Он редко когда ходит в кино.
"Seldom ever" intensifies "seldom".
They rarely ever travel abroad.
Они редко когда путешествуют за границу.
"Rarely ever" is emphatic.
We seldom ever eat out.
Мы редко когда едим вне дома.
"Seldom ever" is formal.
I rarely ever drink coffee.
Я редко когда пью кофе.
"Rarely ever" is less common than "hardly ever".
Negative adverbs differ in frequency and register, with hardly and never common across styles and seldom, scarcely, and formal inversion more associated with formal writing.
Choose the form according to context rather than treating all negative adverbs as interchangeable.
I never drink coffee.
Я никогда не пью кофе.
"Never" is common across styles.
I hardly ever drink coffee.
Я почти никогда не пью кофе.
"Hardly ever" is common in speech.
I seldom drink coffee.
Я редко пью кофе.
"Seldom" is more formal or literary.
I scarcely drink coffee.
Я почти не пью кофе.
"Scarcely" is formal.
I rarely drink coffee.
Я редко пью кофе.
"Rarely" is neutral.
Place negative adverbs correctly, avoid unnecessary additional negation, and distinguish adverbial use from quantifier constructions.
Common mistakes include using not with never, placing frequency adverbs incorrectly around auxiliaries, confusing hardly with hardly any, and omitting inversion after an initial negative expression.
I never go there.
Я никогда туда не хожу.
Correct: "never" does not take "not".
I do not never go there.
Я никогда туда не хожу.
Incorrect: double negative with "never".
She hardly ever calls.
Она почти никогда не звонит.
Correct: "hardly ever" is standard.
She hardly calls.
Она почти не звонит.
Correct: "hardly" modifies the verb.
There is hardly any time.
Почти нет времени.
Correct: "hardly any" modifies the noun.