наўрад ці
Hardly with Наўрад Ці
Наўрад ці means hardly or it is unlikely that: Наўрад ці ён прыйдзе. (He is hardly going to come.)
How It Works
Наўрад means unlikely. With the particle ці it forms one fixed unit, наўрад ці, which says that the speaker strongly doubts something: Наўрад ці гэта праўда. (That is unlikely to be true.)
Where it goes. Put наўрад ці at the start of the sentence or right before the word it doubts, usually the verb:
- Наўрад ці мы паспеем. (We are hardly going to make it.)
- Мы наўрад ці паспеем. (the same meaning)
Keep the verb positive. English hardly already sounds negative, and so does наўрад ці. Do not add не to the verb unless you really mean the opposite: Наўрад ці ён не прыйдзе means he is unlikely not to come, so he will probably come.
As a short answer. On its own, наўрад ці works as a polite probably not: — Ты прыйдзеш заўтра? — Наўрад ці.
No commas. Наўрад ці is a particle, not a comment word like мабыць or відаць, so it takes no commas. Compare parenthetical words, which are set off with commas.
Spelling. The word is written with ў: наўрад, stressed наўра́д. Russian has вряд ли, but the Belarusian particle is ці, not лі.
For a milder guess, use мусіць (probably). For a claim you report but doubt, use нібыта.
Examples (6)
- Наўрад ці ён прыйдзе сёння.
He is hardly going to come today.
Word by Word: Hardly whether he will-come today.
- Наўрад ці гэта праўда.
That is unlikely to be true.
Word by Word: Hardly whether this truth.
- Мы наўрад ці паспеем на апошні аўтобус.
We are unlikely to catch the last bus.
Word by Word: We hardly whether will-make-it to last bus.
- Яна наўрад ці памятае маё імя.
She probably does not remember my name.
Word by Word: She hardly whether remembers my name.
- Наўрад ці хто-небудзь гэта заўважыў.
Hardly anyone noticed it.
Word by Word: Hardly whether anyone this noticed.
- — Ты прыйдзеш заўтра? — Наўрад ці.
"Will you come tomorrow?" "Probably not."
Word by Word: You will-come tomorrow? Hardly whether.
Common Mistakes
Adding не when you mean that something is unlikely to happen.
Наўрад ці ён не прыйдзе.Наўрад ці ён прыйдзе.The intended meaning is He is unlikely to come. The doubt is already in наўрад ці. With не the sentence says he is unlikely not to come, so he will probably come.
Using the Russian particle лі.
Наўрад лі ён прыйдзе.Наўрад ці ён прыйдзе.Belarusian uses ці here, as in its questions. Лі is Russian.
Setting наўрад ці off with a comma.
Наўрад ці, ён прыйдзе.Наўрад ці ён прыйдзе.Наўрад ці is a particle that belongs to the verb, not a parenthetical comment, so it takes no comma.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Hardly needs ці and parenthetical words.
Related Patterns
- мусіць Meaning Probably
Мусіць says something is probably true; наўрад ці says it is probably not.
Level 4 - нібытаSupposedly with Нібыта
Another way to show doubt: нібыта marks a claim you repeat but do not trust.
Level 5 - хіба / няўжоSurprised Questions with Хіба and Няўжо
Хіба and няўжо also express doubt, but in surprised questions.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
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