use of the adverb 'hardly'

[Maggie]

Hi,guys

Change the sentences using hardly or hardly ever,keeping the same meaning.

Ex1.John doesn't buy many CDs.
John hardly buys any CDs.

May I say 'John hardly buys CDs' without adding 'any'?

Ex2. Lucy doesn't have many friends.
Lucy has hardly any friends.

May I say 'Lucky hardly has any friends'?

Ex3. I don't often think about him these days.
I hardly ever think about him these days.

May I say 'I hardly think about him these days'? When I need to add 'ever' and when I don't need to add it?

Thanks so much in advance.

Maggie
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[Mister Micawber]

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Ex1.John doesn't buy many CDs.
John buys hardly any CDs.

May I say 'John hardly buys CDs' without adding 'any'? -- No; this is the wrong structure; see my correction above.

Ex2. Lucy doesn't have many friends.
Lucy has hardly any friends.

May I say 'Lucy hardly has any friends'? -- Not really; as with your #1, people may say this, but the adverb is too far from its referent for the correct formal structure.

Ex3. I don't often think about him these days.
I hardly ever think about him these days.

May I say 'I hardly think about him these days'? When I need to add 'ever' and when I don't need to add it? -- The ever is optional, and is used when it modifies a verb; the ever is an intensifier.
.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Maggie]

Hi,MM

I have one more question.

May I say 'Lucy hardly has any friends'? -- Not really; as with your #1, people may say this, but the adverb is too far from its referent for the correct formal structure.

Here the referent is 'friends'. Am I right?

Thanks again.

Maggie^^
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In my view,the more mistakes someone else corrects me,the more I could learn.
And welcome to my blog: http://0rz.tw/793HL

[Mister Micawber]

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I think the referent is 'any'-- 'How many friends does she have?' - 'Hardly any.'
.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Maggie]

Hi,MM

Thanks very much.

Maggie ^^
_________________
In my view,the more mistakes someone else corrects me,the more I could learn.
And welcome to my blog: http://0rz.tw/793HL