Adverbs

• Most adjectives add –ly   f.i. cheap-cheaply/ beautiful- beautifully
• If the adjective ends in -y, replace the y with i and add –ly    f.i. happy- happily
• If the adjective ends in -ic, add -ally.    F.i. heroic- heroically
• Some –ly adverbs (related to manner/ frequency) have the same form as adjectives: early, daily, weekly, monthly and yearly.
• Some adjectives have the same form as adverbs: fast.
• Special form: good-well
• Other adjectives in –ly do not have an adverbial form and we put the adjective in an adverbial phrase: cowardly, disorderly, friendly, jolly, leisurely, lively, timely. F.i. in a friendly way/ fashion/ manner.

Some adverbs have two forms, one with –ly and one without, the meanings are sometimes close and sometimes unrelated.

Wrong versus wrongly

 

Wrong suggests that something bad has happened.   It all went wrong.
Wrongly  means by mistake.   I wrongly accused you.

Late versus lately

 

Late  means beyond the expected time.   John arrived late 
Lately means recently.    He’s been studying a lot lately.

Hard versus hardly

Hard means with a lot of effort.  She works hard.
Hardly means  almost not at all.    You have hardly touched your dinner.

High versus highly

High means vertical distance.  The balloon flew high over the house.
Highly means very.   Crocodiles are highly dangerous.

Near versus nearly

Near means within a short distance. Don't walk near the edge of the cliff.
Nearly means almost. You nearly fell.

Just versus justly

Just means a short time before. I’ve just told you.

Justly means fairly. Were they treated justly?