She’s hardly the right person for the job, is she?
You seldom see that sort of thing these days, do you?
You can modify rarely and seldom by putting so, very, too, or pretty in front of them. You can also modify rarely by using only.
It happens so rarely.
Women were very seldom convicted.
He too seldom makes the first greeting.
Most people go to church only rarely.
If you want to say there is very little of something, you can use a broad negative with any or with a word that begins with any-.
The bonds show barely any interest.
Hardly anybody came.
In fact, it is seldom any of these.
With scarcely any warning, the soldiers charged.
Sometimes two or three relatives are admitted, but rarely any friends.
almost
5.87 Instead of using a broad negative, you can use almost followed by a negative word such as no or never. For example, There was almost no food left means the same as There was hardly any food left.
They’ve almost no money for anything.
The cars thinned out to almost none.
They were very private people, with almost no friends.
Children almost never began conversations.
Emphasizing the negative aspect of a statement
at all
5.88 You can add at all to a negative statement in order to make it more emphatic. You use at all with any negative word, with without, or with a broad negative.
She had no writing ability at all.
‘There’s no need,’ said Jimmie. ‘None at all’.
He did it without any help at all.
He hardly read anything at all.
Broad negatives are explained in paragraphs 5.80 to 5.86.
whatsoever
5.89 You can put whatsoever after none and nothing in order to emphasize the negative aspect of a statement.
‘You don’t think he has any chance of winning?’ – ‘None whatsoever.’
There is absolutely no enjoyment in that, none whatsoever.
You’ll find yourself thinking about nothing whatsoever.
If no is used as a determiner in a noun phrase, you can put whatsoever after the noun phrase.
There is no need whatsoever to teach children how to behave.
There was no debate whatsoever, not even in Parliament.
You can also use whatsoever in negative statements that contain any or a word that begins with any-.
You are not entitled to any aid whatsoever.
He was devoid of any talent whatsoever.
I knew I wasn’t learning anything whatsoever.
ever
5.90 You can put ever after negative words in order to emphasize the negative aspect of a statement.
I can’t say I ever had much interest in fishing.
Nobody ever leaves the airport.
I never ever believed we would have such success.
other expressions
5.91 There are several expressions that are used to emphasize a negative statement that contains not. These include in the least, the least bit, in the slightest, and a bit.
I don’t mind in the least, I really don’t.
Neither of the managers was the least bit repentant afterwards.
I don’t really envy you in the slightest.
They’re not a bit interested.
If in the least and in the slightest are used with verbs, they are placed either immediately after the verb or after the object, if there is one.
I wouldn’t have objected in the least.
She did not worry Billy in the least.
The weather hadn’t improved in the slightest.
If in the least is used with an adjective, it is put in front of it. In the slightest usually comes after an adjective.
I wasn’t in the least surprised.
She wasn’t worried in the slightest.
The least bit and a bit are used only with adjectives and are placed in front of the adjective.
I’m not the least bit worried.
They’re not a bit interested.
Using modals
5.92 Language is not always used just to exchange information by making simple statements and asking questions. Sometimes we want to make requests, offers, or suggestions, or to express our wishes or intentions. We may want to be polite or tactful, or to indicate our feelings about what we are saying.
We can do all these things by using a set of verbs called modals. Modals are always used with other verbs. They are a special kind of auxiliary verb.
Here is a list of the modals used in English:
can
could
may
might
must
ought to
shall
should
will
would
In some grammars, dare, need, and used to are also referred to as modals. In this grammar, we call these words semi-modals. They are dealt with separately in paragraphs 5.246 to 5.256.
Ought is sometimes regarded as a modal, rather than ought to. For a further note about this, see paragraph 5.99.
Modals are sometimes called modal verbs or modal auxiliaries.
5.93 The main uses of modals are explained in paragraphs 5.94 to 5.98. Special features of modals are described in paragraphs 5.99 to 5.106.