In most cases, an adverb is formed by adding -ly to an adjective
cheap | cheaply |
quick | quickly |
slow | slowly |
If the adjective ends in -y, replace the y with i and add -ly
easy | easily |
angry | angrily |
happy | happily |
lucky | luckily |
If the adjective ends in -able, -ible, or -le, replace the -e with -y.
probable | probably |
terrible | terribly |
gentle | gently |
If the adjective ends in -ic, add -ally. Exception: public -> publicly
basic | basically |
tragic | tragically |
economic | economically |
Some adverbs have the same form as the adjective: early, fast, hard, high, late, near, straight, & wrong
Examples
- It is a fast car.
- He drives very fast.
- This is a hard exercise.
- He works hard.
- We saw many high buildings.
- The bird flew high in the sky.
Well is the adverb that corresponds to the adjective good.
Examples
- He is a good student.
- He studies well.
- She is a good pianist.
- She plays the piano well.
- They are good swimmers.
- They swim well.
heavy
adverb
/ˈhevi/
/ˈhevi/
Idiomsjump to other results
Idioms
hang/lie heavy
- hang/lie heavy (on/in something) (of a feeling or something in the air) to be very easy to notice in a particular place in a way that is unpleasant
- Smoke lay heavy on the far side of the water.
- Despair hangs heavy in the stifling air.
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- hang/lie heavy on somebody/something to cause somebody/something
to feel uncomfortable or anxious
- The crime lay heavy on her conscience.
See heavy in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: heavy
We make many adverbs by adding -ly to an adjective, for example: There are some basic rules about spelling for -ly adverbs. See the table below:
adjective endingdo thisadjectiveadverb most adjectives
add -ly
quick
nice
sole
careful
quickly
nicely
solely
carefully
-able or -ible
change -e to -y
regrettable
horrible
regrettably
horribly
-y
change -y to -ily
happy
happily
-ic
change -ic to -ically
economic
economically
But not all words that end in -ly are adverbs. The following -ly words, for example, are all adjectives:
- friendly, lovely, lonely, neighbourly
And some adverbs have no particular form. Look at these examples:
- well, fast, very, never, always, often, still
Note that the form of an adverb can also change to make it comparative or superlative.
EnglishClub : Learn English : Grammar : Adverbs : Adverb Form