be barely able

Question

Is this both correct?I would barely be able to see it.I am barely able to see it.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Yes, but with different meanings.

Clive

Dimsumexpress · Answer

AnonymousI would barely be able to see it.
I am barely able to see it.

This is not the normal collocation to my ears.

I would barely be able to see it. Do you mean " I could barely see it.?"
I am barely able to see it. Or " I can barely see it" ?
If you had a fever of 103 and every joint of your body was aching, you could say " I barely had enough energy to get up to the bathroom...", vs " I was barely able to get up to the bathrrom..", or " I would be barely able to get up to the bathroom..."

Barely - means just having enough to have made it. like I barely passed the test. Would and "barely " don't seem to semantically go together.

be barely able

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions