Same rule applies. Scarcely and barely are also negative in meaning, so they pair with can , not can’t .
✅ Hardly had I sat down when the phone rang. (Not: Hardly I had sat down... )
Logically, two negatives cancel each other out. If you say, "I can’t hardly wait," you are technically saying you cannot wait hardly (not much), which implies you can wait quite a lot. While listeners usually understand your intent, the phrasing is redundant and technically flips the meaning of the sentence. The Correct Form: "Can Hardly"
The correct phrasing is
Same rule applies. Scarcely and barely are also negative in meaning, so they pair with can , not can’t .
✅ Hardly had I sat down when the phone rang. (Not: Hardly I had sat down... ) is it can hardly or cant hardly free
Logically, two negatives cancel each other out. If you say, "I can’t hardly wait," you are technically saying you cannot wait hardly (not much), which implies you can wait quite a lot. While listeners usually understand your intent, the phrasing is redundant and technically flips the meaning of the sentence. The Correct Form: "Can Hardly" Same rule applies
The correct phrasing is