22254 adverbs easily confused

A number of adverbs are formed by adding –ly to the corresponding adjective; e.g.. However, there are a few adverbs which have the same form as the corresponding adjectives; e.g.. fast,

A number of adverbs are formed by adding –ly to the corresponding adjective; e.g nice – nicely, easy – easily, successful – successfully etc However, there are a few adverbs which have the same form as the corresponding adjectives; e.g fast, straight, low, long etc Sometimes both forms exist, but their meaning differs high – at or to a height highly – (intensifier) very, greatly late – after expected time lately - recently hard – with great energy, vigour etc hardly – scarcely, almost not near – close by nearly - almost direct – without interruption, straight

directly – at once; involving no one else short – abruptly, suddenly shortly – in a short time, soon deep – a long way down from the surface

deeply – profoundly, very much wide – as much as possible widely – to a large extent right – correctly, accurately; opp of left

rightly – for a good reason, justly wrong – in a way that is not correct

wrongly - unjustly sharp – exactly; in a way that changes direction suddenly

sharply – severely

dead – completely; very deadly – extremely

Choose the correct adverb to complete the sentences

Hard, hardly

1 He has worked _ all his life 2 I didn’t mean to hit him so _ 3 We could afford to pay the rent

High, highly

1 He was _ praised for his charity work 2 The birds are flying _ 3 He raised his hands _ up 4 They have found some dangerous chemicals in the ground

Late, lately

1 He came to school 2 I haven’t heard from him 3 Have I told you _ that I love you

Near, nearly

1 I missed the train 2 They have spent € 5,000,000 on a new yacht 3 The time was drawing for my flight to London

Direct, directly

1 The goods will be sent _ to you 2 I’m holding you responsible for this 3 He left the office _ after the meeting

Short, shortly

1 He will come _

2 The car stopped _ only a few inches from where I was standing 3 We’re going to have a lunch break very

Deep, deeply

1 The river runs _ 2 I’m _ sorry for your loss 3 His comment offended her

Wide, widely

1 The two sisters differed _ in their appearance 2 The sleepwalker’s eyes were _ open 3 Stand with your legs _ apart and then bend over and touch the floor

Right, rightly

1 Turn at the next crossroads 2

He was _ blamed for the accident 3 The car keys were here a moment ago

Wrong, wrongly

1 It was at that corner that we went _ 2 He was accused of the crime

Sharp, sharply

1 Be here at 6 p.m 2 Turn over there at the crossroads

3 The teacher spoke _ to the boy

Dead, deadly

1 Politics is a serious business

2 You’re right

3 The lesson was _ boring

The key

• Hard, hard, hardly

• Highly, high, high, highly

• Late, lately, lately

• Nearly, nearly, near

• Direct, directly, directly

• Shortly, short, shortly

• Deep, deeply, deeply

• Widely, wide, wide

• Right, rightly, right

• Wrong, wrongly

• Sharp, sharp, sharply

• Deadly, dead, dead