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. hard – with great energy, vigour etc. hardly – scarcely, high – at or to a height highly – (intensifier) late – after expected time very, greatly lately - recently direct – without short – abruptly, interruption, straight suddenly directly – at once; shortly – in a short involving no one else time, soon deep – a long way down wide – as much as right – correctly, from the surface possible accurately; opp. of left deeply – profoundly, widely – to a large rightly – for a good very much extent reason, justly wrong – in a way that is sharp – exactly; in a dead – completely; very not correct way that changes deadly – extremely wrongly - unjustly direction suddenly almost not near – close by nearly - almost sharply – severely 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
