Adverbs with two meanings & confused with adjectives
ADVERBS WITH TWO FORMS DIFFERING IN MEANING
Two types of adverbs which differ in form and meaning are created from some adjectives.
Usually, one adverb of those adverbs pair has an identical form as an adjective.
The second one is created by adding an ending –ly.
LATE – LATELY
Identical with the adjective adverb “late” has a literal meaning.
I got up late today.
The plane arrived late, so I didn’t catch the last bus home.
The adverb “lately” meaning not long ago is a synonym for “recently”.
Have you seen Jack lately?
HIGH – HIGHLY
Adverb “high” is an equivalent word for an adjective.” Highly” has a metaphor meaning.
How high can a kangaroo jump?
Six metres? That’s highly improbable!
HARD – HARDLY
Adverb “hard” means “with difficult” “firmly”:
She works hard.
Peter was trying very hard to learn Spanish, but with no success.
Adverb “hardly” means the same as “barely”.
There was hardly anything left in the fridge.
Hardly anybody came.
She hardly reads anything.
ADVERBS AND ADJECTIVES CONFUSED WITH ONE ANOTHER
Not only adverbs “hard” and “late” have identical forms as adjectives.
FAST
Example with an adjective:
She is a fast runner.
Example with an adverb:
She runs really fast.
EARLY
Example with an adjective:
He’s an early bird and he usually gets up before seven.
Example with an adverb:
Don’t get up too early or you’ll be sleepy all day long.
DAILY
Example with an adjective:
I don’t buy my daily newspaper any longer.
Example with an adverb:
She works as a language teacher and gets paid daily.
STRAIGHT
Example with an adjective:
It’s a long and straight road.
Example with an adverb:
Go straight and then turn left.
