Adverbs: Flat¶
Adjective |
Adjective example |
Flat adverb example |
-ly form (if exists) |
Notes / Meaning difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
close |
a close friend |
Stay close |
closely |
“closely” = carefully / scrutinize |
deep |
a deep hole |
Dig deep |
deeply |
“deeply” = figurative / intensity |
far |
a far distance |
He ran far |
farly ❌ |
does not exist |
first |
the first time |
She came first |
firstly |
mainly in enumerations |
fast |
a fast car |
She runs fast |
fastly ❌ |
obsolete / not used |
hard |
a hard test |
Hit the nail hard |
hardly |
“hardly” = almost not |
high |
a high wall |
The kite flew high |
highly |
“highly” = very / greatly |
last |
the last item |
He finished last |
lastly |
mainly in enumerations |
late |
a late arrival |
He arrived late |
lately |
“lately” = recently |
main |
the main reason |
This is mainly true |
mainly |
formal / “chiefly” |
mere |
a mere child |
He did it merely? |
merely |
formal / limited use |
near |
the near station |
The station is near |
nearly |
“nearly” = almost |
next |
the next bus |
She was next |
nextly ❌ |
does not exist |
quick |
a quick reply |
Come quick |
quickly |
flat = informal |
right |
the right answer |
Guess right |
rightly |
“rightly” = formally correct / evaluative |
slow |
a slow car |
Drive slow |
slowly |
flat = informal; -ly formal |
soon |
a soon event |
We’ll leave soon |
soonly ❌ |
does not exist |
straight |
a straight line |
Go straight ahead |
straightly ❌ |
archaic / very rare |
utter |
an utter failure |
He was utterly shocked |
utterly |
lexicalized, not compositional |
wide |
a wide road |
Open the door wide |
widely |
“widely” = extensively |
wrong |
the wrong choice |
You spelled it wrong |
wrongly |
“wrongly” = formal / legalistic |
early |
an early train |
She woke early |
early (same) |
flat and normal use identical |
long |
a long wait |
Don’t wait long |
longl |