Add "-ly" to an adjective = adverb

Simple rule: adding -ly to an adjective makes an adverb.

An adverb gives us more information about a verb in a sentence. Adverbs describe when something happens, where something happens, how something happens, and how often something happens. 

WHEN: tomorrow, now, today, later, early, again, soon. Can you think of another?  

WHERE: here, there, inside, high, away, home, everywhere. Can you think of another? 

HOW: easily, loudly, quickly, angrily, well, sadly, slowly, carefully. Can you think of another?  

HOW OFTEN / FREQUENCY: usually, sometimes, daily, frequently, seldom, monthly. Can you think of another?  

We usually make adverbs by adding “ly” to the end of an adjective.

slow —> slowly

clear —> clearly

If a word ends in -y and has more than one syllable, we add “-ily”:

happy --> happily

bouncy --> bouncily

sturdy --> sturdily

easy --> easily

noisy —> noisily

 

If a word ends in -y and has only one syllable, then just add “-ly”:  

shy --> shyly

coy --> coyly

Be careful! Here are some common exceptions: well, good, fast, hard, late, early, daily, straight, wrong (less formal), wrongly (more formal). 

Try to use adverbs to make your speaking and writing more detailed and fascinating. 

Punctual words

Are you a tardy person or a punctual person? I consider myself punctual because I don’t like waiting and I don’t want anyone to have to wait for me. 

The English language has several expressions regarding time--specifically precise, exact time--and some of them are phrasal verbs: on time or on schedule, which mean not early or late but as planned or expected.

• The concert started on time. 
• The plane departed on schedule. 

I think idioms are more fun than phrasal verbs so try adding these to your vocabulary.  When referring to an exact specified time, you can use sharp or on the dot after the time to emphasize punctuality. 

• The conference will begin at 8 a.m. sharp. 
• Marta never works late. She leaves the office at 5:00 on the dot every day. 

So, what kind of person are you? Always running late or always on time?