Learn French: Ce texte n'est guère lisible. - This text is hardly legible.

Ce texte n'est guère lisible.

This text is hardly legible.

Breakdown of Ce texte n'est guère lisible.

être

to be

not (used before the verb)

this (before a noun)

le texte

the text

Questions & Answers about Ce texte n'est guère lisible.

How does ne... guère change the meaning of this sentence compared to ne... pas?

ne... guère is a restrictive negation meaning "hardly," "barely," or "scarcely." While Ce texte n'est pas lisible means the text is completely unreadable, Ce texte n'est guère lisible means it is almost unreadable, but you might still be able to make out a few words.

Do I need to include pas when using guère?

No, you must drop pas. guère acts as the second half of the negation, wrapping around the conjugated verb (est) exactly like pas, jamais, or plus do. Saying n'est pas guère would be incorrect.

Would I use ne... guère in normal everyday conversation?

Not usually. It is a very formal, literary expression. In casual spoken French, you would be much more likely to use à peine (barely/hardly) to express this idea, as in Ce texte est à peine lisible.

Can lisible mean "readable" in the sense of being enjoyable or easy to understand, or does it only mean physically "legible"?

It can mean both! Just like in English, it primarily refers to physical legibility (e.g., clear handwriting or print). However, it is also commonly used to describe a book or text where the writing style is clear, well-structured, and accessible.