window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-KF0HPJ6WPF');
Learning Zone
Grammar

Adverbs with two meanings & confused with adjectives

Level: B2
Article navigation:
ADVERBS WITH TWO FORMS DIFFERING IN MEANING
ADVERBS AND ADJECTIVES CONFUSED WITH ONE ANOTHER

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.

engxam logo english exams

What is your level of English?

Take a short 5-minute test to find out your level of English and which certificate is right for you.
© 2024 engxam. All rights reserved.