I could hardly speak vs I couldn't hardly speak

The correct sentence is "I could hardly speak." This indicates that speaking was very difficult, but not impossible.

Explained by Michele A.
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: December 03, 2024 • 9646 views

I could hardly speak

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used to express that speaking was difficult but not impossible.

Examples:

After the accident, I could hardly speak due to shock.
I could hardly speak when I saw my favorite singer in person.
She could hardly speak because she was so emotional.
He could hardly speak after running a marathon.
They could hardly speak during the intense meeting.

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: November 19, 2024

Dec 7, 2023 ... My notoriety meant no one noticed I could hardly speak ... With his autobiography out now, former rugby international Mark Jones gives us a ...
Sep 9, 2018 ... From the archives: 'Ich, Ich, Ich, Ich,/ I could hardly speak.' german in review. If you look at Sylvia Plath's copy of German in Review held ...
Sep 28, 2024 ... Happy heavenly birthday to the Queen of the Blues, Koko Taylor! I was 15 in this photo and so nervous I could hardly speak, but she was kind and gracious.
Even total strangers would oftentimes go out of their way to make my day better, even though I could hardly speak their language. One of the more memorable ...
Jul 20, 2018 ... 483 likes, 22 comments - samlamott on July 20, 2018: "There was a time where Jax's mom and I could hardly speak to each other.
Dec 2, 2019 ... Had a big over-stim panic attack and autistic burnout at school I could hardly speak, got sent home and thus ensued my nest.
I miss the way you would smile when I looked at you, even though you could barely speak English and I could hardly speak Korean. I miss your laugh when it ...
... I could hardly speak at all and every word of the poem suddenly took on so ... I don't know how I did it as his emotive and breathtaking guitar filled the church ...
I could hardly speak and was weeping for joy and gladness. All I could utter was “Thank you, thank you Lord.” Tuesday, July 22, 2008: We went from having no ...
Aug 1, 2021 ... I could hardly speak. When a voice told me, “The tests indicate you have a blockage in the bowel,” I could hardly understand the meaning of ...

I couldn't hardly speak

This phrase is not commonly used in English and is considered incorrect.

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: November 19, 2024

Mar 23, 2024 ... I couldn't hardly speak because my jaw muscles were seizing as well. It was a nightmare. I spent hours whimpering and crying. Eventually it ...
I couldn't hardly speak to people or look them in the eye. Now that shy little girl was endued with such a power and boldness! I somehow had to let the ...
Oct 24, 2022 ... I couldn't hardly speak a lick of Spanish!!! But babyyy, I could salsa, merengue, and bachata my behind offfff!!! I was in there!!! I miss ...
Aug 22, 2022 ... I couldn't hardly speak and when I turned around, Allen was on one knee and asked me to marry him. It is important to note that my Dad ...
Jul 17, 2018 ... As I said earlier, God gave me Isaiah 58:8 as a promise. There were days that I was so sick I couldn't hardly speak much less do anything else.
Aug 27, 2017 ... I won't lie, he was a real jerk to everybody else – but he was just as kind as could be to me, even though I couldn't hardly speak to him.
Jun 26, 2013 ... “I was so nervous I couldn't hardly speak,” he said. “I just had to take a deep breath and settle down and just go let it happen, try not to ...
Oct 26, 2024 ... ... I couldn't hardly speak but I'm okay now. Why? Because worship change the atmosphere. It will do the same thing for you. Can you share daily ...
Mar 23, 2019 ... I won't lie, he was a real jerk to everybody else – but he was just as kind as could be to me, even though I couldn't hardly speak to him.
Mar 27, 2014 ... Holding John in my arms, so distraught, I couldn't hardly speak, and I coughed out, “The accident was bad enough in itself,” I blurted. “But ...

Alternatives:

I couldn't speak properly.
I could barely speak.
I could hardly get the words out.
I struggled to speak.
I found it hard to speak.

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I could hardly speak vs I couldn't hardly speak

I could hardly speak

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