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barely did i have vs barely had i

Both "Barely did I have" and "Barely had I" are correct constructions, but they are used in different contexts. "Barely did I have" is used to emphasize the timing of having something, while "Barely had I" is used to emphasize the action or state that follows.

Last updated: March 24, 2024 • 4284 views

barely did i have

This phrase is correct and is used to emphasize the timing of having something.

This phrase is used to emphasize the timing of an action or possession. It is often used in formal or literary contexts.

Examples:

Barely did I have time to finish my homework before the deadline.
Barely did I have enough money to pay for the concert tickets.
Barely did I have a chance to say goodbye before she left.
Barely did I have a moment to myself all day.
Barely did I have any idea what was going on.

Show examples from the web [+]

The admitting intern shipped him to Psych. Barely did a physical.
It barely did a figure one.
You barely did half the work.
I... I barely did anything.
No, because we barely did anything to that kid.
For two hours before that, Edward Everett spoke on a topic that, frankly, cannot engage us today and barely did then.
It barely did a figure one.
It was a team effort. I barely did anything.
He's right, I barely did.
And for me, that's just going to work, and I still barely did it.
I barely remember anything before you.
But physically, we barely touched.
Reception is terrible.I can barely hear you.
My fingers were barely touching it.
Barely had time to change clothes.
She barely recognizes me when I visit.
I can barely afford these Kentish Town rooms.
You barely have anyone to hang out with at all.
Stargate Command could barely defeat the human form Replicators.
I can barely afford 24-hour electricity.

Alternatives:

Scarcely did I have
Hardly did I have
Rarely did I have
Seldom did I have
Only just did I have

barely had i

This phrase is correct and is used to emphasize the action or state that follows.

This phrase is used to emphasize the action or state that follows the introductory phrase. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.

Examples:

Barely had I finished my breakfast when the phone rang.
Barely had I arrived home when it started raining.
Barely had I begun my speech when the fire alarm went off.
Barely had I closed my eyes when the doorbell rang.
Barely had I started reading the book when I realized it was midnight.

Show examples from the web [+]

In joe's case, I barely had to organize anything.
I barely had a chance to go inside.
I barely had time to escape before they incinerated our Marauder Transport.
It was fast. I barely had time to scream.
I mean, I barely had to speak...
I barely had a chance to process...
I barely had enough thread - to suture the wound.
I was so stressed out tonight, I barely had a bite.
I barely had time to get pants on Shania.
But I barely had to say anything.
But I barely had to say anything.
You know, I barely had any time to myself.
I barely had a chance to turn around before it bit me.
I barely had time to react and kill those ones over there...
I ordered it the day before and I barely had any recollection.
Well, I barely had any contact with Claudia.
I barely had enough time to ditch the cruiser when I got out of that diner.
Between doing the laundry and vacuuming, I barely had time to put on a nice sweater and clasp a cup of tea with two hands.
I barely had a moment to process what he was saying or how I felt about it.
I barely had the manpower to stop one of those vectors from infecting half the base.

Alternatives:

Scarcely had I
Hardly had I
Rarely had I
Seldom had I
Only just had I

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