(b) A final e is retained before ly: extreme, extremely. Exceptions: true, due, whole become truly, duly, wholly.
(c) Adjectives ending in a consonant + le drop the e and add y: gentle, gently simple, simply
Note that the adverb of goodis well.
B Adjectives ending in ly
daily, weekly, monthly etc., kindlyand sometimes leisurelycan be
adjectives or adverbs, but most other adjectives ending in ly,e.g.
friendly, likely, lonelyetc., cannot be used as adverbs and have no
adverb form. To supply this deficiency we use a similar adverb or
adverb phrase:
likely (adjective) probably (adverb)
friendly (adjective) in a friendly way (adverb phrase)
C Some adverbs have a narrower meaning than their corresponding adjectives or differ from them. coldly, coolly, hotly, warmlyare used mainly of feelings:
We received them coldly, (in an unfriendly way)
They denied the accusation hotly, (indignantly)
She welcomed us warmly, (in a friendly way)
But warmly dressed= wearing warm clothes.
coolly = calmly/courageously or calmly/impudently:
He behaved very coolly in this dangerous situation. presently = soon:He'll be here presently. (See also 30 B. For barely, scarcely,see 44. For surely,
see 40 A.)
30 Adverbs and adjectives with the same form
A back hard'" little right*
deep* high* long short*
direct* ill low still
early just* much/more/most* straight
enough kindly near* well
far late* pretty* wrong*
fast left *See B below.
Used as adverbs: Used as adjectives:
Come back soon. the back door
You can dial Rome direct the most direct route
The train went fast a fast train
They worked hard, (energetically) The work is hard
an ill-made road You look ill/well
Turn right here. the right answer
She went straight home a straight line
He led us wrong This is the wrong way.
B Starred words above also have ly forms. Note the meanings. deeplyis used chiefly of feelings:
He was deeply offended. directlycan be used of time or connection:
He 'II be here directly, (very soon)
The new regulations will affect us directly/indirectly. (For hardly,see 44.) highlyis used only in an abstract sense:
He was a highly paid official. They spoke very highly of him. justlycorresponds to the adjective just (fair, right, lawful), but justcan also be an adverb of degree. (See 41.) lately = recently:Have you seen him lately? mostly = chiefly nearly = almost:I'm nearly ready. prettilycorresponds to the adjective pretty(attractive):
Her little girls are always prettily dressed. But prettycan also be an adverb of degree meaning very:
The exam was pretty difficult. rightlycan be used with a past participle to mean justly or correctly:
He was rightly/justly punished.
I was rightly/correctly informed.
But in each case the second adverb would be more usual. shortly = soon, briefly or curtly, wronglycan be used with a past participle: You were wrongly (incorrectly) informed.
But He acted wrongly could mean that his action was either incorrect or morally wrong.
C long and near(adverbs) have a restricted use.
Long
longer, longestcan be used without restriction:
It took longer than I expected. But longis used mainly in the negative or interrogative:
How long will it take to get there? ~ It won't take long. In the affirmative too/so + long or long + enoughis possible. Alternatively a long timecan be used:
It would take too long.
It would take a long time. In conversation (for) a long timeis often replaced by (for) ages:
I waited for ages.
It took us ages to get there.
Near
nearer, nearestcan be used without restriction:
Don't come any nearer.
But nearin the positive form is usually qualified by very/quite/so/too or enough:
They live quite near. Don't come too near.
You're near enough.
The preposition nearwith noun, pronoun or adverb is more generally useful:
Don't go near the edge.
The ship sank near here.
D far and muchalso have a restricted use. See 32 and 33.
31 Comparative and superlative adverb forms
A With adverbs of two or more syllables we form the comparative and superlative by putting more and mostbefore the positive form:
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
quickly fortunately
more quickly more fortunately
most quickly most fortunately
Single-syllable adverbs, however, and early, add er, est: