Let alone meaning in English
Learn how to use Let alone correctly with Gymglish.
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Definition
(I wouldn't go out with him,) let alone (marry him)...: (I would not be his girlfriend,) and I certainly (wouldn't marry him)...
(I can't afford a bike), let alone (a car!): (I don't even have enough money for a bike), so I definitely don't (have enough for a car!)
Examples
- "I could never even pretend to afford one tenth of one of your companies, let alone both!"
- "In fact, I don't even know if Bob can pronounce the word "sushi", let alone eat it."
- "I can't run, let alone swim in the ocean!"
- "Bruno will kill me if there is so much as a scratch on it, let alone your nerd urine."
Exercise 1
Tired parent #1: I haven’t been on vacation for three years.
Tired parent #2: have I! I have enough time to plan a date with my wife, let alone a vacation.
Tired parent #2: have I! I have enough time to plan a date with my wife, let alone a vacation.
Tired parent #1: I haven’t really 1 been on vacation for three years.
Tired parent #2: Neither 2 have I! I barely 3 have enough time to plan a date with my wife, let alone a vacation.
Tired parent #2: Neither 2 have I! I barely 3 have enough time to plan a date with my wife, let alone a vacation.
1 really: In this sentence, the parent is saying that they have not been on a "real" or "proper" vacation for three years. Perhaps they have been on a short trip or two, but not something which "really" qualified as a vacation. Another example: "Your suggestion is not really appropriate, Kevin" (It is not completely inappropriate, but it is somewhat inappropriate).
1 barely: Generally speaking, we use "barely" (and "hardly") in affirmative sentences, not negative ones. The parent could say: "I have barely been on vacation for three years".
1 almost: This sentence does not make sense with "almost". We mostly use "almost" in affirmative sentences, not negative ones. The parent could say: "We almost went on vacation last year, but then my husband got pneumonia".
2 Neither: Tired parent #2 is saying that the same negative statement also applies to them: they have not really been on vacation either. Note that we change the word order when responding using "neither" (or "so"). For example: "-I don't like pears. -Neither do I" (instead of the usual word order "I do").
2 So: We use "so" to reply to positive statements, not negative ones. For example: "-I loved our vacation in China. -So did I!".
2 Hardly: Generally speaking, we use "hardly" (and "barely") in affirmative sentences, not negative ones. The parent could say: "I have hardly been on vacation for three years either!". Another example: "There was hardly anyone at the meeting. I think lots of people are sick at the moment".
3 barely: Here, the parent is saying that they almost don't have time to plan a date with their wife. Therefore, they definitely don't have time to plan a vacation. "Barely" or "hardly" both communicate that something is almost not the case. Another example: "When I get home from work, I hardly have enough energy left to make dinner".
3 nearly: "Nearly" does not make sense in the context of this sentence, which continues with the words "let alone". "Let alone" always follows a negative statement, and the first half of this sentence would not be negative with "nearly". For example: "I can't juggle three balls, let alone four" (I can't juggle three balls, so I definitely can't juggle four balls).
3 totally: "Totally" does not make sense in the context of this sentence, which continues with the words "let alone". "Let alone" always follows a negative statement, and the first half of this sentence would not be negative with "totally". For example: "I can't juggle three balls, let alone four" (I can't juggle three balls, so I definitely can't juggle four balls).
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