How can you use hardly at the beginning of a sentence?

You can use "hardly" at the beginning of a sentence, but it usually requires an inversion of the subject and verb. This is because "hardly" is an adverb that indicates a negative or near-negative situation, and this inversion is a common feature of negative adverbs.

Here are some examples:

* Hardly had I finished speaking when the phone rang. (Instead of: I had hardly finished speaking when the phone rang.)

* Hardly can I believe that he won the lottery. (Instead of: I can hardly believe that he won the lottery.)

* Hardly did she realize the danger she was in. (Instead of: She hardly realized the danger she was in.)

Note:

* The inverted structure is often used for emphasis, highlighting the near-negative condition expressed by "hardly".

* While inversion is common, it's not always necessary. You can sometimes use "hardly" at the beginning of a sentence without inversion, but the sentence may sound less emphatic. For example: "Hardly anyone came to the party."

Remember:

* When using "hardly" at the beginning of a sentence, be sure to use the correct verb tense and ensure the inversion is grammatically correct.