In this sentence can't we use des amis Why d'amis
These sentences use the negative expression ne... guère (hardly):
Il n'y avait guère de nourriture en ce temps-là.
There wasn't much food in those times.
Je n'ai guère le temps.
I hardly have time.
Note that the negation ne... guère means not much / not very or hardly depending on context.
It is quite an old-fashioned expression, rarely used nowadays, but you could find it in older novels or articles.
As with other negative expressions, the verb is placed between ne and guère.
ATTENTION:
Guère can never be used on its own to express hardly.
Instead, you would use the expression à peine:
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
Q&A Forum 6 questions, 10 answers
Hi Sumesh,
No, you can't say des amis because of the negative ne...guère which works as ne ....pas, ne...plus, etc.
Take a look at the following Kwiziq lesson if you have forgotten that rule -
https://french.kwiziq.com/revision/grammar/the-partitive-article-in-negative-sentences
Hope this helps!
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DeveshKwiziq community member
How to use on ose à peine
Hi can you pls explain how to use " on ose à peine dire/ énoncer"
Asked 2 months ago
Hi Devesh,
The expression 'oser à peine + faire', means to hardly /scarcely dare to do something, so you might say -
J'ose à peine espérer qu'ils viendront pour mon anniversaire = I can hardly dare hope that they will come for my birthday
J'ose à peine vous dire ce qu'ils m'ont révélé = I can hardly dare tell you what they revealed to me
Hope this helps!
Devesh asked:View original
How to use on ose à peine
Hi can you pls explain how to use " on ose à peine dire/ énoncer"
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DonaldKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Je ne pense guère
N'aurait-on pas besoin d'utiliser le mot <en> avec cette phrase? Sinon, la phrase n'a pas de sens. Je n'en pense guère ou j'en pense à peine. J'ai à peine le temps de le faire... I hardly have time to do it. Merci, Don
Asked 1 year ago
Hi Donald,
As the verb penser is followed by 'à' , it would be,
'Je n'y pense guère' or 'je n'y pense à peine'...
Hope this answers your question...
Donald asked:View original
Je ne pense guère
N'aurait-on pas besoin d'utiliser le mot <en> avec cette phrase? Sinon, la phrase n'a pas de sens. Je n'en pense guère ou j'en pense à peine. J'ai à peine le temps de le faire... I hardly have time to do it. Merci, Don
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CrystalMaidenKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
I heard about ne guère de monde, what's the distinction there?
Asked 1 year ago
Hi CrystalMaiden,
Do you mean:
"Il n'y a guère de monde" ="There's hardly anyone here". ?
You would use 'guère' in an answer (without the ne).
e.g.
Aimez-vous l' art moderne? - Guère (meaning not really).
But it does sound a bit stilted...
CrystalMaidenKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Yes, what makes it different from guère, since it can be used in the same situations?
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SueKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
"Hardly" eg can you swim? answer "hardly"
English can respond to a question by saying hardly can it be used in the same way in french. thank you
Asked 2 years ago
AurélieKwiziq team member
Bonjour Sue !
This is an interesting question: in this case "guère" can never be used on its own.
If you wanted to express "hardly" in the mentioned context, you would use the expression "à peine":
"Sais-tu nager ? - À peine."
I've now added a note to the lesson.
Merci beaucoup et à bientôt !
Sue asked:View original
"Hardly" eg can you swim? answer "hardly"
English can respond to a question by saying hardly can it be used in the same way in french. thank you
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MikeKwiziq community member
So if it is an old fashion expression, how do you express this in modern French?
Asked 4 years ago
LauraKwiziq team member
Bonjour Mike,
There are a few different ways.
Il n'y avait guère de nourriture > Il n'y avait pas beaucoup de nourriture, Il y avait très peu de nourriture.
Je n'ai guère le temps > J'ai à peine le temps, j'ai à peine assez de temps.
Nous ne nous en soucions guère > Nous nous en soucions très peu, Nous ne nous en soucions presque pas.
JohnnyKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
What is the difference in usage between à peine and peu or pas beaucoup? Can you use à peine in all three of your examples above? Thanks.
Mike asked:View original
So if it is an old fashion expression, how do you express this in modern French?
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