Hard or Hardly, Late or Lately — Exercises
Practice the adverb pairs where the -ly form means something completely different: hard/hardly, late/lately, high/highly, plus good and well after a linking verb.
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He works ___ to support his family.
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hard
The adverb of 'hard' has the same form as the adjective — 'hard'. Careful: 'hardly' is a different word meaning 'almost not'.
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I can ___ hear you — speak up, please.
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hardly
'Hardly' means 'almost not' — exactly what fits before 'speak up, please'. 'Hard' would mean 'with effort'.
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Bob worked ___ all week to finish the project on time.
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hard
'Hard' means 'with great effort'. 'Hardly' (= almost not) would give the opposite meaning.
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I haven't seen her ___ — she's been very busy.
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lately
'Lately' means 'recently'. 'Late' means 'after the expected time', and 'later' points to the future.
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Sorry, I got home very ___ yesterday — there was a meeting.
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late
'Late' means 'after the expected time'. 'Lately' means 'recently', which doesn't fit with 'yesterday'.
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These cookies taste ___.
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good
After the linking verb 'taste', use an adjective — 'good'. Adverbs like 'well' and 'nicely' describe how an action is performed.
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Her work is ___ regarded by her colleagues.
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highly
'Highly' is the figurative adverb (= very, with respect). 'High' is the literal one (= up in the air).
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The plane flew ___ above the clouds.
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high
'High' is the literal adverb (= up in the air). 'Highly' is figurative, as in 'highly regarded'.
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We ___ ever eat out — maybe twice a year.
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hardly
'Hardly ever' means 'almost never'. 'Hard' would mean 'with effort', which makes no sense here.
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Talking about a colleague
A: How's your new colleague settling in?
B: Very {1}. She's been here a month and already knows everyone in the office.
A: Is she good at her job?
B: Yes, she works incredibly {2} and learns new systems {3} — she picked up our database in a week.
A: And with clients?
B: She speaks to them very {4} — always polite and patient. They appreciate it.
A: What does the manager think?
B: He thinks {5} of her, which is rare — he's not easily impressed.
A: Sounds like a perfect hire.
B: Almost. Sometimes she speaks too {6} in meetings, and people at the back can't hear her.
A: Easy to fix. Has she joined any team activities?
B: Yes — she came to the away-day last week and joined in {7}.Show answer
1. well — Irregular adverb of 'good' — 'settling in very well'.
2. hard — The adverb of 'hard' is the same word — 'works hard'. 'Hardly' would mean 'almost not'.
3. fast — The adverb of 'fast' is the same word — 'learns systems fast'. There is no 'fastly'.
4. kindly — Regular formation — 'kind' + ly. Describes the manner of speaking to clients.
5. highly — Figurative 'highly' = with respect — 'thinks highly of her' is a fixed phrase.
6. quietly — Manner adverb — speaking too quietly explains why people can't hear at the back.
7. enthusiastically — Manner adverb — describes how she joined in at the away-day.
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A change of department
Ever since I moved departments, I have been working {1} — some weeks I barely leave the office before eight. I used to get home {2} only on Fridays, but {3} it happens almost every evening. My new manager is {4} regarded by everyone in the building, and I can see why: she explains things {5}, and she {6} raises her voice, even when a deadline is slipping. The work itself suits me {7}. The only thing I miss is the old team — we used to go out together {8} on Friday evenings, and I've seen almost none of them since the move.
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1. hard — 'Work hard' means 'with great effort'. 'Hardly' would mean the opposite — almost not working at all.
2. late — 'Get home late' means after the usual time. 'Lately' means 'recently' and can't follow 'get home'.
3. lately — 'Lately' means 'in the recent period' — it contrasts with the earlier habit.
4. highly — 'Highly regarded' is figurative — respected. Literal 'high' would mean physical height.
5. clearly — An -ly adverb describes how she explains.
6. hardly ever — 'Hardly ever' means 'almost never', and it goes before the main verb.
7. well — 'Suit me well' needs the adverb 'well'; 'good' is the adjective.
8. regularly — A frequency adverb of this kind sits after the verb phrase, before the time expression.
Hard or Hardly, Late or Lately
A small group of English adverbs has two forms, and the -ly form is not a more formal version of the short one — it is a different word with a different meaning. Reaching for the -ly ending by default, which works for almost every other adverb, reverses the sense of the sentence: 'he works hard' and 'he hardly works' describe opposite people. These pairs have to be learned as vocabulary, not derived from a rule.
Hard and Hardly
Hard is the adverb of effort. Hardly means 'almost not' and has nothing to do with effort at all; it usually sits before the main verb, like a frequency adverb.
I can hardly hear you — speak up, please. (almost not)
We hardly ever eat out — maybe twice a year. (almost never)
Late and Lately
Late means 'after the expected time'. Lately means 'recently' and normally appears with the present perfect.
I haven't seen her lately — she's been very busy. (recently)
High and Highly
High is literal height. Highly is figurative, meaning 'very much' or 'to a great degree', and goes with words like regarded, recommended, skilled.
Her work is highly regarded by her colleagues. (figurative)
Good and Well After a Linking Verb
After a linking verb such as taste, smell, look, sound or feel, English uses the adjective, because the word describes the subject rather than the action. 'Taste well' would mean the food is good at tasting things.
She sings well. (action verb → adverb)
Common Mistakes
✗ He hardly works to support his family. → ✓ He works hard to support his family.
✗ I got home lately yesterday. → ✓ I got home late yesterday.
✗ Her work is high regarded. → ✓ Her work is highly regarded.
✗ These cookies taste well. → ✓ These cookies taste good.
Last updated: · Satori Editorial