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
CrystalMaiden
Kwiziq community member
17 May 2018
3 replies
I heard about ne guère de monde, what's the distinction there?
Cécile
Kwiziq language super star
21/05/18
Hi CrystalMaiden,
Do you mean:
"Il n'y a guère de monde" ="There's hardly anyone here". ?
CrystalMaiden
Kwiziq community member
21/05/18
Cécile
Kwiziq language super star
22/05/18
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...
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
8/02/17
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 !
Laura
Kwiziq language super star
10/11/15
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.
Johnny
Kwiziq community member
12/04/17
Donald
Kwiziq community member
3 July 2018
2 replies
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
Cécile
Kwiziq language super star
9 July 2018
9/07/18
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
Kwiziq community member
10 July 2018
10/07/18