have a hard time in vs have a hard time doing

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Have a hard time in' is used when referring to a specific situation or environment where someone is having difficulty, while 'have a hard time doing' is used when talking about the action or task that is causing difficulty.

Last updated: March 23, 2024 • 863 views

have a hard time in

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when referring to a specific situation or environment where someone is having difficulty.

This phrase is used to describe a challenging situation or environment that someone is experiencing difficulty in. It is followed by a specific place, context, or situation.

Examples:

I have a hard time in noisy environments.
She has a hard time in math class.
He has a hard time in crowded spaces.

Show examples from the web [+]

- Come on, you know they have a hard time in New York.
Since you are a foreigner and foreigners have a hard time in Germany... 75,000!
I have a hard time letting people in because of my high profile.
Practices such as this mean that the Indians have a hard time of it in their reservations.
They will have a hard time of it in any case, because things are about to get worse.
Folks have a hard enough time in the dark without booze making it worse.
Folks have a hard enough time in the dark without booze making it worse.
Did you have a hard time fitting in at Colonial Times Junior High?
Unfortunately, what we are seeing is that Christians have a particularly hard time in many countries where the faith of Islam dominates.
We'll have a hard time finding common sense in municipal decisions.
A normal person would really have a hard time being remorseful in that situation.
One is that we have a really hard time thinking in absolute terms.
We have a very hard time keeping trucks in the Flint area.
Covert operatives have a hard time dating.
A lot of times, families have a hard time understanding love.
See, I have a hard time believing that...
You do have a hard time getting real with people.
I know you have a hard time with that.
Because I always have a hard time with those two.
I have a hard time reminding myself.

Alternatives:

struggle in
find it difficult in
face challenges in
encounter difficulties in
have difficulty in

have a hard time doing

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when talking about the action or task that is causing difficulty.

This phrase is used to describe a specific action or task that someone is finding challenging. It is followed by a verb or gerund to indicate the activity causing difficulty.

Examples:

She has a hard time doing her homework.
He has a hard time doing public speaking.
They have a hard time doing the project.

Show examples from the web [+]

If he's trying to track oliver down, he won't have a hard time doing it tonight.
Lily and Marshall's best friend for almost 20 years - will have a hard time doing it.
Even I - Lily and Marshall's best friend for almost 20 years - will have a hard time doing it.
Truth be told, I was having a hard time doing that.
But they're having a hard time doing it because they're still trying to use demographics in order to understand them, because that's how ad rates are still determined.
Covert operatives have a hard time dating.
I shouldn't have given you such a hard time about doing it for Paige.
He's having a hard enough time doing what he came here to do.
He's having a hard enough time doing what he came here to do.
Before everyone was giving us a hard time about not doing it every night, we were happy just hanging out in front of the TV.
You gave him a hard time about not doing his job.
See, I have a hard time believing that...
You do have a hard time getting real with people.
I know you have a hard time with that.
Because I always have a hard time with those two.
I have a hard time reminding myself.
We never have a hard time passing.
But I always have a hard time sleeping.
Forgive me if I have a hard time taking you at your word.
You have a hard time with Velcro sometimes.

Alternatives:

struggle with
find it difficult to do
face challenges in doing
encounter difficulties in doing
have difficulty doing

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have a hard time in vs have a hard time doing