2026 · Q29
Directions : In the following items, a pair of words is provided. You are required to select the option that most appropriately describes the meaning of both the words and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.
Hard and Hardly
EnglishUsage of Paired Words
- AHard means difficult to a great degree and Hardly means scarcely
- BHard means difficult and Hardly means very difficult
- CHard means with great force and Hardly means ever so often
- DHard means to a great degree and Hardly means never
Explanation
"Hard" as an adverb means with great force, and as an adjective difficult — to a great degree; "hardly" is a negative adverb meaning scarcely or almost not. Option (A) is correct. The traps treat "hardly" as an intensifier of "hard" ("very difficult", "never"), which reverses its meaning.