Using adjectives and adverbs

Afraid
Afraid meaning ‘feeling fear’
Afraid as an adjective means ‘feeling fear’. We use it with of + noun, of + -ing form, a to-
infinitive or a that-clause:
Are you afraid of the dark? (of + noun)
She seemed afraid of walking home alone. (of + -ing form)
If you don’t understand, don’t be afraid to ask. (to-infinitive)
They looked afraid that we might get lost in the city centre. (that-clause)
Warning:
We only use afraid after a verb such as be, seem, become, not before a noun
(predicatively):
Her mother is very ill and afraid.
Not: Her afraid mother
See also:
 Adjectives: order

Afraid: softening
We also use to be afraid in phrases such as afraid that, afraid to say, afraid
not and afraid so when we want to soften statements to avoid saying something too
directly. We often use these expressions to respond to bad news, or when we are sorry
about something. Be afraid not and be afraid so are only used as responses:
I’m afraid that we can’t agree to your proposal.
A:
Is it right that she has resigned?
B:
We’re afraid to say she has.
A:
Did your team win?
 B:
I’m afraid not.
A:
Is the shop closed?
B:
I’m afraid so.

Alike
Alike as an adjective

Alike as an adjective means ‘the same’ or ‘similar’:

They are not sisters but their clothes are alike, aren’t they?
All the shops are alike, and it’s hard to find something different.
Warning:
As an adjective, alike is only used after a verb such as be, seem, look, but not before a
noun (predicatively):
The two women, who looked alike, sat silently in the corner.
Not: The two alike women sat silently…
See also:
 Adjectives

Alike as an adverb

As an adverb alike means ‘in the same way’:

I don’t think you treat both children alike.
Warning:
Alike is not used as a preposition. Like is used instead:
She’s just like her mother.
Not: She’s just alike her mother.
Hard
Hard is both an adjective and an adverb. When it is an adverb, it means ‘needing or
using a lot of physical or mental effort’. It goes after the main verb:
I studied hard for my exams but didn’t do very well.
We have worked hard all day.
The comparative and superlative forms are harder and hardest:
He didn’t get into the team this year. He’ll just have to try harder next time.
Not: He’ll just have to try more hard next time.
Right, children, who has worked hardest today?
Warning:
Don’t confuse hard with hardly. Hardly usually means ‘only just’ or ‘almost not’:
Every day I ran a lot and worked hard so that I would be prepared for the game.
Not: Every day I ran a lot and worked hardly.

Long
Long is an adjective or an adverb.
We can use long to talk about time, distance or length.

Time
We use long as an adverb in questions and negative clauses to talk about duration:
A:
How long has Valerie been staying with you?
B:
She arrived in January, so she’s been here for four months.
Marco didn’t stay long at the party.
Don’t be long.
Warning:
We don’t use long on its own in affirmative clauses. We often use (for) a long time:
We waited for a long time in the rain for the bus.
Not: … waited long …
They took a long time getting here.
Not: They took long …
We can use long in affirmative clauses with too, enough and so:
A month is too long to wait for an appointment.
We’ve waited long enough for a reply. I think we need to phone them.
You took so long. What were you doing?
When we talk about actual amounts of time, we can use phrases with time + long, or
phrases like all day long, all month long:
The lecture was three hours long.
We worked all day long.
We can also use a long time ago, long ago or long before to refer to a time many years
in the past:
This castle was built a long time ago. (or … was built long ago.)
Long before you were born, there was a factory here. It was closed in the 1960s.
We use long as an adjective:
You’re home already. That can’t have been a very long film.

Distance
We can use the phrase a long way to talk about distance:
My house is a long way from the station. You’ll have to take a taxi.
It’s a long way to the nearest petrol station.
In negative statements and questions we usually use far:
My house is not far from the station.
Is it far to the beach?

Length
We use long to talk about the length of something:
It was three metres long and four metres wide.
How long is the boat?
This is such a long queue. It’s going to take at least an hour.
 As long as
The phrase as long as is used as a conjunction. It means ‘on condition that’:
As long as the weather is okay, we’re going to paint the house tomorrow.
Jenny said she’d come to the party as long as we don’t stay too late.
See also:
 Conditionals
 Conjunctions

No longer and not any longer

We can use the phrases no longer and not … any longer to refer to something that used
to exist or happen but does not exist or happen now:
There are no longer any family bakeries in our town.
A:
Are you still working at the garden centre?
B:
No, not any longer.
See also:
 Any more or anymore?

Typical error
 We can’t use long on its own in affirmative sentences:
A:
Will it take long?
B:
No, it won’t take long. (or Yes, it’ll take a long time.)
Not: Yes, it’ll take long.

Only

Only is an adjective or adverb.

Only as an adjective

We use only as an adjective to mean that there is just one or very few of something, or
that there are no others:
He was the only person in the room.
Being healthy is the only thing that is important to me.

Only as an adverb

We use only as an adverb to mean that something is limited to some people, things, an

amount or an activity:
This phone is only available in Japan.
Only a few hundred houses survived the hurricane without any damage.
Only can mean ‘simply’:
He’s only joking.
Spoken English:
In speaking, only can be used with just for emphasis. It can mean ‘very recently’ or
‘almost not’:
She’d only just moved into her new house last July. (very recently)
The building had survived the earthquake of two years before, but only just. (It almost
didn’t survive the earthquake.)

Only: position

As an adjective, we use only in front of a noun or one, or before another adjective or a

number:
Is that your only copy of the book?
He was the only one who could read in the village.
Not: He was the only who could read …
That was the only large t-shirt left in that colour.
There were only four United fans in the room.
We can use only as an adverb in different positions, depending on its focus. If the
subject is the focus, we put only in front position:
Only Jason knows where the key is kept.
Only a very small bed will fit in this room.
If the focus is on another part of the sentence, we usually put only in the normal mid
position for adverbs (between the subject and the main verb, or after the modal verb or
first auxiliary verb, or after be as a main verb):
I only go home once a month. (between subject and main verb)
She had only arrived at midnight the night before. (after the first auxiliary verb)
She’s only sixteen. (after be as a main verb)
If the focus is a whole clause, we can put only in front position:
My arm hurts but only when I try to raise it.

Same, similar, identical

Same means that two or more things are exactly like one another. We can use same as
an adjective before a noun or as a pronoun. When we use same to compare people or
things, we must use it with the:
I noticed that Richard and I were both wearing the same jacket.
Not: … were both wearing same jacket.
These two colours are not the same. This one is slightly lighter than that one.
Not: … are not same.

The same as
Warning:
The same is followed by as. It is not followed by that or than:
Does ‘start’ mean the same as ‘begin’ in English?
Not: … the same that … or … the same than …
My new car is the same model as my old one.
Not: … the same model that … or … the same model than …

The same + noun + clause

When we use the same with a noun, we can follow it by a clause with that, and less
commonly with who or which. We can often leave out that, who or which:
She’s the same person (that) I spoke to when I phoned their office.
How was the course? Was it the same teacher (who) you had last time?
We can emphasise same with very:
This is the very same hotel we stayed at when we were here twenty years ago!

Do the same
We can use do the same instead of repeating a clause:
She bought her ticket for the folk festival online, and we did the same. (We also bought
our tickets online.)

Similar and identical
We use similar if two or more things are not entirely the same, or identical if two or more
things are exactly the same. We use the patterns similar to and identical to, a similar +
noun or a similar + one and an identical + noun or an identical + one. We don’t say a
same:
This colour is similar to that one.
Frank had a problem connecting his printer. We had a similar problem, so it must be
the software.
Not: … a same problem …
She first showed us a beautiful 16th-century vase. Then she showed us an identical
one, but the second one was a copy.
Not: … a same one …
Questions 1 and 2 were identical.

Likely and unlikely
Likely and unlikely are adjectives. We use them to say that something will probably
happen or not happen in the future. We can use them before a noun, or with the
verbs be, seem and appear:
What is the most likely outcome of the referendum?
It seems unlikely that inflation will fall below 3% this year.
We can follow likely or unlikely by a verb in the to-infinitive form:
The economy is likely to recover slowly after the long recession.
Are you likely to want this cardboard box or shall I throw it out?
The weather seems unlikely to change over the next few days.
Instead of unlikely, we can say not likely:
Zoe’s not likely to arrive before eight o’clock. She doesn’t finish work till seven.
 We can also follow likely and unlikely by a that-clause with will. This pattern is less
common than likely/unlikely + to-infinitive:
It is likely that there will be a general election next year. or There is likely to be a
general election next year.
It seems unlikely that space travel for ordinary people will become common in the near
future.
We can use adverbs such
as very, quite, highly and extremely before likely and unlikely to make their meaning
stronger:
The government is very likely to propose changes to the income tax system soon.
I think it’s highly unlikely that she’ll get into university with the test scores she has.
We can compare how probable different things are using likely and unlikely with as …
as, more, (the) most, less and (the) least:
Steve is as likely to get the job as Dora. They’re both very well qualified.
People are more likely to take climate change seriously if they can understand the
economic consequences for their own lives.
Kevin is (the) least likely to want to get married of all his friends.
In American English, and more and more in British English, likely is used as a mid-
position adverb (like probably in British English), most commonly between will and a
main verb:
The new regulations will likely result in many people losing their jobs.

Typical error
 It is likely to does not mean the same as it is easy to:
It’s easy to forget to save your work on the computer.
Not: It’s likely to forget …
It’s easy to confuse mushrooms you can eat with poisonous ones.
Not: It’s likely to confuse …

As well (as)

As well (as) meaning ‘in addition’

As well is an adverb which means ‘also’, ‘too’ or ‘in addition’. We usually use as well at
the end of a clause:
We look forward very much to seeing you again and to meeting your wife as well.
As well as is a multi-word preposition which means ‘in addition to’:
She has invited Jill as well as Kate.
When they go to Austria, they like walking as well as skiing.

Might as well and may as well

We use might as well and may as well informally to mean that something is worth doing

only because other things are not happening. Might as well is more common:
I might as well paint the bedroom myself; no one else is going to do it.
We may as well go out tonight because there’s not much on TV.

As well

We use as well and the phrase just as well when we say that something is probably a

good thing:
It’s as well to have a good camera with you when you visit the bird park. (as well here
means ‘it’s a good idea’)
It’s just as well we didn’t go to the lecture, because it was cancelled.

Even
Even is an adverb.
We use even to refer to something surprising, unexpected, unusual or extreme:
He didn’t even have enough money to pay the rent.
You love me, even after the terrible things I’ve done?
I’d never been abroad before, so it was a wonderful gift. I didn’t have to pay for
anything. When we got to the airport at Stansted, she’d even arranged for the captain
to escort me on to the plane. It was a treat I will always remember.

Even: position

When even refers to a whole clause or sentence, we usually put it in the normal mid

position for adverbs, between the subject and the main verb, after the modal verb or first
auxiliary verb, or after be as a main verb:
 You can take an online course now and you even do the test online.
I haven’t even started making dinner.
It’s a really useful book if you’re interested in cameras. There’s even a chapter on
buying second-hand ones.
We can put even or not even before the part of the clause or sentence we want to focus
on:
Even a five-year-old can see that these figures don’t add up.
They came in cars, in lorries, and even an aeroplane.
[talking about a local swimming pool]
It’s not usually too busy. Not even at weekends.
We sometimes put even at the end of a clause or sentence in informal speaking.
Compare

I can’t remember him at all. I’ve even forgotten what he

typical position
looks like.

I can’t remember him at all. I’ve forgotten what he looks more informal, used in
like even. speaking

See also:
 Adverbs and adverb phrases: position

Even and comparatives

We often use even with comparative adjectives and adverbs to add more emphasis:

It is six years since U2 played in Belfast in 1987 on their world-conquering Joshua Tree
tour. Since then they have become even bigger and richer, and their
concerts even more popular.
[talking about a footballer]
Frank played well last season and this season he has played even better.

Even and also

Even and also are both adverbs.

 We use even to add emphasis or more information to a surprising or unexpected thing:
Human beings, we are told, will live for 150, even 200 years, by the end of the century.
We use also to add a new piece of information, without the suggestion that it is
surprising:
She was a very beautiful girl. She was also very bright and excelled at everything she
did.
Not: She was even very bright …
Compare

He gave her a cake with 26 candles on. The fact that he sang ‘Happy Birthday’
He even sang ‘Happy Birthday’. was unexpected.

He gave her a cake with 26 candles on. He did two things: he gave her a cake
He also  sang ‘Happy Birthday’. and he sang.

See also:
 Even
 Also, as well or too?
 As well (as)

Even though and even if

We can use even with though and if.
Even though means the same as although, ‘in spite of the fact that’. We use it to say
that something may not be what we expect. Even though gives more emphasis
than although:
[talking about a football team]
I think they’re fantastic, even though they haven’t won any games this season.
We use even before if to refer to a possible unexpected or extreme event:
I’m still going to go swimming in the sea even if it rains. (I don’t expect rain but it is
possible.)
I’ve got to get home even if it means flying the plane myself. (I’ve got to get home and
I’ll do anything to get there.)
See also:
 Although or though?
 If

Even so

We use even so to make a contrast, to mean ‘despite something’. It has a similar

meaning to however or nevertheless.
It is most common in front position in the clause but we can also use it in end position. It
often occurs after but:
Their holiday went well but, even so, they longed to be home again with the children.
[parent to child, getting into a car]
You do need your seatbelt on. Put it on please. I know it’s not very far, but even so. If
we have an accident you’ll need it.
I know you don’t like her, but you should say hello to her even so.

Hardly
Hardly is an adverb.
Hardly has a negative meaning. It normally means ‘almost not at all’ or ‘only just’. We
can use it in mid position, or before an adjective or a noun:
He wore a big hat that covered his head and you could hardly see his face. (you could
only see a small part of his face)
It’s hardly surprising that Leeds, England’s third largest city, is now fast becoming a
very popular UK holiday destination.
At first hardly a person in the audience moved, although some umbrellas were opened.
But then the rain came down more heavily.

Hardly any, hardly ever

We often use hardly before any, anyone, anybody, anything and ever in negative
clauses, but not before no, none, no one, nobody, nothing or never:
At first, hardly anyone came. (almost no one came)
Not: At first hardly no one came.
There was hardly anything to eat.
She lives in Scotland so we hardly ever see her now, but I like to keep in touch.

Hardly at all
We sometimes use at all after the verb, adjective or noun which follows hardly to give
greater emphasis:
I hardly slept at all last night.

Hardly and very little, very few

Hardly + any(thing) has a similar meaning to very little or very few:
I hardly ate anything yesterday. (= I ate very little yesterday.)
She hardly buys any new clothes at all. (= She buys very few new clothes.)

Word order
We usually put hardly in mid position, between the subject and the main verb, or after
the modal verb or first auxiliary verb, or after main verb be:
My piano lesson is on Monday, and I’ve hardly played it this week.
I can hardly wait.
There were hardly any tourists.
When hardly is modifying either the main verb or the following noun, we can put it
directly before the verb or before the noun phrase:
She hardly had any sleep. or She had hardly any sleep.
In more formal styles, to refer to something happening immediately after something
else, we use hardly … when. We move hardly to front position and invert the subject
and verb:
Hardly  [V]had  [S]I arrived there when I was called back to the head office 100 miles
away. (I arrived there and then I was immediately called back.)
Warning:
Hardly is not the adverb form of the adjective hard. The adverb form of hard is
also hard.

Hopefully
The adverb hopefully means ‘wanting the answer to be yes’:
Their father said they were not allowed to have a puppy until they were older but we
saw them sitting hopefully outside the pet shop.
‘Could you lend me £20?’ he asked hopefully.
We commonly use hopefully in front position to say what we wish for or would like to
happen. It is also sometimes used as a response to questions:
Hopefully, the economic problems in the country will not get any worse.
A:
Will they win the match tonight?
B:
Hopefully.

Surely
We use the adverb surely to express a degree of certainty. It does not express as much
certainty as definitely or certainly. When we use surely, we are hoping that our listener
will agree with us:
Lisa will surely find a solution to the problem. (I want you to agree with me that Lisa will
find a solution.)
Surely this is against the law. (I want you to agree with me that it is against the law.)
Compare

It’s certainly quicker if you have a

It’s surely quicker if you have a computer.
computer.

I think that it is quicker if you have a computer and I am certain that it is quicker if you have
I want you to agree. a computer.

We can use surely, especially in negative question forms, to show surprise:

Surely you’re not going to take two weeks off work? (I am surprised that you’re going to
take two weeks off.)
Surely she’s not interested in a job like that? (I am surprised that she is interested in a
job like that.)

Too
Too meaning ‘more than enough’

We use too meaning ‘more than enough’ in different positions.

Too before adjectives and adverbs

We use too immediately before adjectives and adverbs:
This coffee is too sweet.
Not: This coffee is too much sweet.
I can’t sleep. It’s too hot.
It happened too quickly, so I just didn’t see it.
Not: It happened too much quickly.
The car was travelling too fast and went out of control.

Too before adjective/adverb + to-infinitive

The water was too cold to swim in.
Two hours is too long to wait.

Too much, too many, too few and too little

When we want to talk about quantities which are more or less than enough, we use too
much, too many, too few and too little before a noun:
There’s too much salt in this soup. (too much + uncountable noun)
There were too many dogs on the beach. (too many + countable noun)
I don’t like this book because there are too few pictures in it. (too few + countable
noun; more formal than I don’t like this book because there aren’t enough pictures in it.)
The trip was cancelled because there was too little interest in it. (too little +
uncountable noun)

Much too and far too

We can use much and far with too for emphasis. Far too is stronger than much too:

Too and very
We use very to add emphasis to an adjective or an adverb, but it does not mean the
same as too.
Compare

She
Very makes careful stronger.
is very careful.

She is  too  careful. Too careful means ‘more careful than is necessary’.

Very much and too much

We often use very much to emphasise verbs such as like, dislike, hope, doubt. We do
not use too much in this way with these verbs:
I like it very much because I got it from my husband.
Not: I like it too much …
I doubt very much that Ronan will be able to come to the party.
Not: I doubt too much that …

Too bad

Spoken English:
In speaking, we can use too bad or that’s too bad as a response token to express that
we are sorry to hear about something. This is particularly common in American English:
A:
The weather forecast says it’s going to rain again on Wednesday.
B:
Too bad. We were planning to go for a picnic.
A:
How’s your mother?
B:
She’s okay but she’s feeling lonely because she lives on her own now.
A:
That’s too bad. Does she have many friends living nearby?
 Too meaning ‘also’

We can use too to mean ‘also’. It is more common than also in informal situations. We

normally use it at the end of the clause:
[in a restaurant, A is the waiter]
A:
Have you decided?
B:
I think I’ll have the soup.
C:
I’ll have that too.
Catherine decided to join us for dinner, and her husband came along too. (or, more
formal, … and her husband also came along.)
In short answers in informal situations, we normally say me too, not I too:
A:
I love that colour.
B:
Me too.
In more formal situations, we can use too immediately after the subject:
You too could have a week in the sun. Visit www.holidaysforyou.com.
See also:
 Also, as well or too?

Typical error
 We don’t use too to emphasise adjectives and adverbs. We use very:
She was very beautiful. (very emphasises beautiful)
Not: She was too beautiful.

Ultimately
Ultimately is an adverb. We use it to mean ‘finally, after a series of things have
happened’:
Ultimately, I’d like to go to university, but before that I want to get some work
experience and travel a bit.
We came to the conclusion ultimately that political demonstrations were a waste of
time.
Warning:
Ultimately does not mean ‘recently’:
Recently, the price of shares in the company has dropped.
Not: Ultimately, the price of shares in the company has dropped.