A number of adverbs are formed by adding ly to the corresponding adjective;

e.g. nice nicely, easy easily, successful successfully etc.

However, there are a few adverbs which have the same form as the corresponding
adjectives;
e.g. fast, straight, low, long etc.
Sometimes both forms exist, but their meaning differs.

hard with great

energy, vigour etc.
hardly scarcely,

high at or to a height
highly (intensifier)

late after expected

time

very, greatly

lately - recently

direct without

short abruptly,

interruption, straight

suddenly

directly at once;

shortly in a short

involving no one else

time, soon

deep a long way down

wide as much as

right correctly,

from the surface

possible

accurately; opp. of left

deeply profoundly,

widely to a large

rightly for a good

very much

extent

reason, justly

wrong in a way that is

sharp exactly; in a

dead completely; very

not correct

way that changes

deadly extremely

wrongly - unjustly

direction suddenly

almost not
near close by
nearly - almost

sharply severely

Choose the correct adverb to complete the sentences

Hard, hardly
1. He has worked ___________ all his life.
2. I didnt mean to hit him so _________.
3. We could __________ afford to pay the rent.
High, highly
1. He was _________ praised for his charity work.
2. The birds are flying _________.
3. He raised his hands _________ up.
4. They have found some __________ dangerous chemicals in the ground.
Late, lately
1. He came __________ to school.
2. I havent heard from him __________.
3. Have I told you _________ that I love you.
Near, nearly
1. I __________ missed the train.
2. They have spent ________ 5,000,000 on a new yacht.
3. The time was drawing ________ for my flight to London.
Direct, directly
1. The goods will be sent _________ to you.
2. Im holding you __________ responsible for this.
3. He left the office _________ after the meeting.
Short, shortly
1. He will come _________.
2. The car stopped _________ only a few inches from where I was standing.
3. Were going to have a lunch break very ______.
Deep, deeply
1. The river runs _______.
2. Im _________ sorry for your loss.
3. His comment offended her __________.

Wide, widely
1. The two sisters differed _________ in their appearance.
2. The sleepwalkers eyes were _________ open.
3. Stand with your legs _________ apart and then bend over and touch the floor.
Right, rightly
1. Turn __________ at the next crossroads.
2. He was _________ blamed for the accident.
3. The car keys were ________ here a moment ago.
Wrong, wrongly
1. It was at that corner that we went ___________.
2. He was ________ accused of the crime.
Sharp, sharply
1. Be here at 6 p.m. ________.
2. Turn __________ over there at the crossroads.
3. The teacher spoke _________ to the boy.
Dead, deadly
1. Politics is a __________ serious business.
2. Youre ________ right.
3. The lesson was _________ boring.

The key

Hard, hard, hardly

Highly, high, high, highly
Late, lately, lately
Nearly, nearly, near
Direct, directly, directly
Shortly, short, shortly
Deep, deeply, deeply
Widely, wide, wide
Right, rightly, right
Wrong, wrongly
Sharp, sharp, sharply
Deadly, dead, dead