English grammar
Adjective or adverb? Quick or quickly? 📕
An adjective describes a noun. An adverb describes a verb: it tells us how something happens.
She is a careful driver. (adjective: what kind of driver?)
She drives carefully. (adverb: how does she drive?)
How to make adverbs: add -ly
| Adjective | Adverb |
| quick | quickly |
| slow | slowly |
| careful | carefully |
| easy | easily (y → ily) |
| gentle | gently (-le → -ly) |
| automatic | automatically (-ic → -ically) |
Irregular adverbs
| Adjective | Adverb |
| good | well |
| fast | fast |
| hard | hard |
| late | late |
| early | early |
✗ He speaks English very good.
✓ He speaks English very well.
✗ Please drive slow.
✓ Please drive slowly.
Careful: hardly and lately
Hardly means "almost not". Lately means "recently". They are not the adverbs of hard and late.
I work hard. (I work a lot)
I hardly work. (I almost don't work)
After look, feel, taste, smell, sound: use an adjective
✓ You look happy.
✗ You look happily.