[常与can, could连用]
The wind was so strong that I could hardly breathe.
风很大，我几乎喘不过气来
Lying in a hardly noticeable street corner, the restaurant still attracts many customers.
这家餐馆虽然位于不太引人注意的街角，但仍然吸引了很多顾客。
— Sometimes I think you watch too much TV.
有时我觉得你看电视太多了。
— Oh I hardly ever watch TV.
哦，我很少看电视
The girl had hardly rung the bell before the door was opened suddenly.
女孩刚要按门铃，门突然开了。
Hardly had Mike picked up the ball when another player took it from him.
麦克刚接到球，另一名球员就把球抢走了。
I had hardly started to look at the paintings, when the teacher said it was time to leave the museum.
我刚开始欣赏画，老师就说离开博物馆的时间到了。