Form and Comparison of Adverbs

Adverbs are used to express how something is done (adjectives express how someone or something is).

Example: The dog sleeps quietly. The dog is absolutely quiet.

Form

In general: adjective + -ly

adjective	adverb
slow	slowly

Exceptions in spelling

exception	example
silent e is dropped in true, due, whole	true → truly
y becomes i	happy → happily
le after a consonant is dropped	sensible → sensibly
after ll only add y	full → fully

Adjectives ending in -ic: adjective + -ally (exception: public-publicly)

adjective	adverb
fantastic	fantastically

Adjectives ending in -ly: use ‘in a … way / manner’ or another adverb with similar meaning

adjective	adverb
friendly	in a friendly way in a friendly manner
likely	probably

Exceptions

adjective	adverb (meaning)	adverb (meaning)
good	well
difficult	with difficulty
public	publicly
deep	deep (place)	deeply (feeling)
direct	direct	directly (=soon)
hard	hard	hardly (=seldom)
high	high (place)	highly (figurative)
late	late	lately (=recently)
most	most	mostly (=usually)
near	near	nearly (=almost)
pretty	pretty (=rather)	prettily
short	short	shortly (=soon)
The following adjectives are also used as adverbs (without modification):	daily, enough, early, far, fast, hourly, little, long, low, monthly, much, straight, weekly, yearly, …Adverbs are used to express how something is done (adjectives express how someone or something is). Example: The dog sleeps quietly. The dog is absolutely quiet. Form In general: adjective + -ly adjective adverb slow slowly Exceptions in spelling exception example silent e is dropped in true, due, whole true → truly y becomes i happy → happily le after a consonant is dropped sensible → sensibly after ll only add y full → fully Adjectives ending in -ic: adjective + -ally (exception: public-publicly) adjective adverb fantastic fantastically Adjectives ending in -ly: use ‘in a … way / manner’ or another adverb with similar meaning adjective adverb friendly in a friendly way in a friendly manner likely probably Exceptions adjective adverb (meaning) adverb (meaning) good well   difficult with difficulty   public publicly   deep deep (place) deeply (feeling) direct direct directly (=soon) hard hard hardly (=seldom) high high (place) highly (figurative) late late lately (=recently) most most mostly (=usually) near near nearly (=almost) pretty pretty (=rather) prettily short short shortly (=soon) The following adjectives are also used as adverbs (without modification): daily, enough, early, far, fast, hourly, little, long, low, monthly, much, straight, weekly, yearly, …