Question:
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence:
“She was so tired that she could ......... keep her eyes open.”
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence:
“She was so tired that she could ......... keep her eyes open.”
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Use “hardly” to express very limited ability or action due to tiredness, confusion, or weakness.
Updated On: Apr 14, 2026
- hardly
- hard
- barely
- clearly
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Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understand the sentence
The sentence implies extreme tiredness, making it difficult to keep eyes open. We need an adverb that conveys “almost not” or “with great difficulty.”
Step 2: Analyze each option
- Hardly: An adverb meaning “almost not” or “scarcely.”
Sentence: “She was so tired that she could hardly keep her eyes open.”
This means she could barely manage to keep her eyes open, which fits perfectly.
- Hard: An adverb meaning “with effort” or an adjective.
Sentence: “She was so tired that she could hard keep her eyes open.”
Grammatically incorrect as “hard” doesn’t modify “could” appropriately here.
- Barely: An adverb meaning “only just” or “almost not.”
Sentence: “She was so tired that she could barely keep her eyes open.”
This is grammatically correct and similar to “hardly.” However, “hardly” is more common in this context
- Clearly: An adverb meaning “in a clear manner.”
Sentence: “She was so tired that she could clearly keep her eyes open.”
This implies she could easily keep her eyes open, which contradicts the meaning.
Step 3: Conclusion
“Hardly” and “barely” both fit
The sentence implies extreme tiredness, making it difficult to keep eyes open. We need an adverb that conveys “almost not” or “with great difficulty.”
Step 2: Analyze each option
- Hardly: An adverb meaning “almost not” or “scarcely.”
Sentence: “She was so tired that she could hardly keep her eyes open.”
This means she could barely manage to keep her eyes open, which fits perfectly.
- Hard: An adverb meaning “with effort” or an adjective.
Sentence: “She was so tired that she could hard keep her eyes open.”
Grammatically incorrect as “hard” doesn’t modify “could” appropriately here.
- Barely: An adverb meaning “only just” or “almost not.”
Sentence: “She was so tired that she could barely keep her eyes open.”
This is grammatically correct and similar to “hardly.” However, “hardly” is more common in this context
- Clearly: An adverb meaning “in a clear manner.”
Sentence: “She was so tired that she could clearly keep her eyes open.”
This implies she could easily keep her eyes open, which contradicts the meaning.
Step 3: Conclusion
“Hardly” and “barely” both fit
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