adverbs or adjectives?
confusing cases
lecture 1
adverbs or adjectives? confusing cases
Lecture 2
Fine: The adverb fine (= well) is used in some informal expressions.
That suits me fine. You're doing fine.
The adverb finely is used to talk about small careful adjustments and similar
ideas.
e.g. a finely tuned engine
e.g. finely chopped onions (= cut up very small)
flat: Flat can be used as an adverb in a musical sense (to sing flat means 'to
sing on a note that is too low'). In most other cases, the adverb is flatly.
Free: The adverb free (used after a verb) means 'without payment'; freely means
'without limit or restriction'. Compare:
You can eat free in my restaurant whenever you like.
You can speak freely - I won't tell anyone what you say.
Hard: The adverb hard means 'with a lot of force, energetically'.
Hit it hard.
e.g. I trained really hard for the marathon.
Hardly means 'almost not'.
I've hardly got any clean clothes left.
Compare:
Ann works hard. Her brother hardly works.
High: High refers to height; highly (rather formal) expresses an extreme degree
(it often means 'very much'). Compare:
- He can jump really high. - It's highly amusing.
Throw it as high as you can. - I can highly recommend it.
Just: Just is an adverb with several meanings. There is also an
adjective just, meaning 'in accordance with justice or the law'; the adverb
is justly.
He was justly punished for his crimes.
Late: The adverb late has a similar meaning to the adjective late; lately means
'recently'. Compare:
I hate arriving late.
I haven't been to the theatre much lately.
Loud: Loud is often used informally as an adverb after a verb.
Don't talk so loud(ly) - you'll wake the whole street.
low : Low is an adjective and adverb (a low bridge, a low voice, bend low).
Most: Most is the superlative of much, and is used to form superlative
adjectives and adverbs
Which part of the concert did you like most?
This is the most extraordinary day of my life.
In a formal style, most can be used to mean 'very'
You're a most unusual person.
Mostly means 'mainly', 'most often' or 'in most cases'.
My friends are mostly non-smokers.
pretty The informal adverb of degree pretty is similar to rather
Prettily means 'in a pretty way'. Compare:
I'm getting pretty fed up. Isn't your little girl dressed prettily?
quick In an informal style, quick is often used instead of quickly, especially
after verbs of movement.
I'll get back as quick(ly) as I can.
real In informal American English, real is often used instead of really before
adjectives and adverbs.
That was real nice. He cooks real welL
right Right with adverb phrases means 'just', 'exactly' or 'all the way'.
She arrived right after breakfast.
The snowball hit me right on the nose.
Turn the gas right down.
Right and rightly can both be used to mean 'correctly'. Right is only used after
verbs, and is usually informal. Compare:
I rightly assumed that Henry was not coming. You guessed right.
It serves you right. ( ... rightly is not possible.)
sharp : Sharp can be used as an adverb to mean 'punctually'.
Can you be there at six o'clock sharp?
It also has a musical sense (to sing sharp means 'to sing on a note that is too
high'), and is used in the expressions turn sharp left and tum sharp right
(meaning 'with a big change of direction').
In other senses the adverb is sharply.
She looked at him sharply.
I thought you spoke to her rather sharply.
short Short is used as an adverb in the expressions stop short (= 'stop
suddenly') and cut short (= 'interrupt'). Shortly means 'soon'; it can also
describe an impatient way of speaking.
slow Slow is used as an adverb in road signs (e.g, SLOW - DANGEROUS
BEND), and informally after go and some other verbs. Examples: go slow, drive
slow.
sound Sound is used as an adverb in the expression sound asleep. In other
cases, soundly is used (e.g, She's sleeping soundly).
straight The adverb and the adjective are the same. A straight road goes
straight from one place to another.
sure Sure is often used to mean 'certainly' in an informal style, especially in
American English.
Can I borrow your tennis racket? '" Sure.
Surely (not) is used to express opinions or surprise
Surely house prices will stop rising soon!
Surely you're not going out in that old coat?
tight After a verb, tight can be used instead of tightly, especially in an informal
style. Typical expressions: hold tight, packed tight (compare tightly packed).
well Well is an adverb corresponding to the adjective good (a good singer sings
well). Well is also an adjective meaning 'in good health' (the opposite of ill).
wide The normal adverb is wide; widely suggests distance or separation.
Compare:
The door was wide open. She's travelled widely.
They have widely differing opinions.
Note also the expression wide awake (the opposite of fast asleep).
wrong Wrong can be used informally instead of wrongly after a verb. Compare:
I wrongly believed that you wanted to help me.
You guessed wrong.
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