22254 adverbs easily confused

A number of adverbs are formed by adding –ly to the corresponding adjective;
nice – nicely, easy – easily, successful – successfully etc.

e.g.

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, almost not

near – close by
nearly - almost

high – at or to a height

late – after expected time

highly – (intensifier) very,

lately - recently

greatly

direct – without

short – abruptly, suddenly

interruption, straight

shortly – in a short time,

directly – at once;

soon

involving no one else
deep – a long way down

wide – as much as possible

right – correctly,

from the surface

widely – to a large extent

accurately; opp. of left

deeply – profoundly, very

rightly – for a good

much

reason, justly

wrong – in a way that is

sharp – exactly; in a way

dead – completely; very

not correct

that changes direction

deadly – extremely

wrongly - unjustly

suddenly
sharply – severely


Choose the correct adverb to complete the sentences
Hard, hardly
1. He has worked ___________ all his life.
didn’t mean to hit him so _________.
__________ afford to pay the rent.

2. I
3. We could

High, highly
1. He was _________ praised for his charity work.
birds are flying _________.
his hands _________ up.
some __________ dangerous chemicals in the ground.

2. The
3. He raised
4. They have found

Late, lately
1. He came __________ to school.
haven’t heard from him __________.
Have I told you _________ that I love you.

2. I
3.

Near, nearly
1. I __________ missed the train.
They have spent ________ € 5,000,000 on a new yacht.
The time was drawing ________ for my flight to London.

2.
3.

Direct, directly

1. The goods will be sent _________ to you.
holding you __________ responsible for this.
left the office _________ after the meeting.

2. I’m
3. He

Short, shortly
1. He will come _________.
2. The car stopped _________ only a few inches from where I was standing.
We’re going to have a lunch break very ______.

3.

Deep, deeply
1. The river runs _______.
_________ sorry for your loss.
comment offended her __________.

2. I’m
3. His


Wide, widely
1. The two sisters differed _________ in their appearance.
sleepwalker’s eyes were _________ open.

2. The
3. Stand with

your legs _________ apart and then bend over and touch the floor.
Right, rightly
1. Turn __________ at the next crossroads.
He was _________ blamed for the accident.

2.
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. ________.
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.

2.


The key
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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