Adverbs are words that describe verbs.

Unfortunately, it’s easy to confuse them!

Here’s an example with easy (adjective) and easily (adverb):

• The English test was easy.

• I easily finished the English test in 45 minutes.

You can see that easy describes the test (n.) whereas easily describes the action of finishing (v.) the test.

A lot of adjectives and adverbs have the same meaning – for example, easily means “an action done in an easy way.”

However, there are exceptions – let’s learn some of them!

Late / Lately

Late can be an adjective or an adverb that means after the correct time.

• I’m not hungry because I had a late lunch. (adjective)

• He slept late and missed his first class. (adverb)

Lately is an adverb that means the same as recently.

• I haven’t studied a lot lately. Work has been busy for the past couple weeks.

Hard / Hardly

Hard can be an adjective or an adverb – and the adjective form has two meanings!

• This book is too hard for me. I can’t read it. (hard = adjective = difficult)

• This mattress is too hard. I can’t sleep. (hard = adjective = opposite of “soft”)

• She’s working hard to finish the project by tomorrow. (hard = adverb = intensely)

Hardly has a completely different meaning. It means “almost not.”

• We have a bad connection – I can hardly hear you. (= I almost can’t hear you)