Fill in the blank with the appropriate adverb from those given below :
I can _______ believe it. You are quite wrong.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → hardly
An adverb is a word that tells how, when, where or how much something happens. It can also describe an adjective or another adverb, for example she sings sweetly, very hot.
Complete sentence: I can hardly believe it. You are quite wrong. The speaker almost cannot believe what he hears, and "You are quite wrong" confirms the doubt.
| Option | What it tells | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) hard | Hard is both an adjective and an adverb. As an adverb it means with great effort (work hard). "I can hard believe it" makes no sense. | She worked hard for the examination. |
| (2) hardly (answer) | Hardly is a different adverb with a negative sense: almost not, scarcely. | It was so dark that I could hardly see the road. |
| (3) harded | There is no such word. "Hard" is not a verb and takes no -ed ending. | – |
| (4) hardlier | There is no such word. "Hardly" has no comparative form. | – |