Some English words can function as both adjectives and adverbs without changing their form. In these cases, the “adverb” does not take the usual -ly ending (like quickly or happily), but keeps the same spelling as the adjective, as in fast, hard, or early. These are often called flat adverbs.
Because the form stays the same, there is no difference in spelling between the adjective and the adverb — only in how the word is used in the sentence. As adjectives, they describe nouns (a fast car); as adverbs, they modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs (She runs fast).
In this article, you’ll find a list of common adjectives that are also used as adverbs, along with clear example sentences. Studying these will help you recognize them in context and use them confidently in your own writing and speaking.
- airmail – Adj: We sent an airmail letter. Adv: Please send the documents airmail.
- early – Adj: I caught the early train. Adv: She arrived early for the meeting.
- inside – Adj: The inside wall needs painting. Adv: It’s cold; let’s go inside.
- quiet – Adj: This is a quiet neighborhood. Adv: The children sat quiet and listened.
- alone – Adj: He felt alone in the crowd. Adv: She lives alone in a small flat.
- easy – Adj: It was an easy exam. Adv: He won easy in the final.
- just – Adj: It was a just decision. Adv: He just left the office.
- right – Adj: That is the right answer. Adv: Turn right at the next corner.
- back – Adj: Use the back door. Adv: We must go back now.
- even – Adj: Draw an even line across the page. Adv: She didn’t even say goodbye.
- kindly – Adj: He is a kindly old man. Adv: Please speak kindly to the children.
- sharp – Adj: Be careful with that sharp knife. Adv: The meeting starts at seven sharp.
- best – Adj: She is my best friend. Adv: He did best in the oral test.
- everyday – Adj: He wears everyday clothes to work. Adv: She jogs everyday before breakfast.
- last – Adj: I read the last chapter first. Adv: He arrived last in the race.
- short – Adj: It was a short film. Adv: They cut the speech short.
- better – Adj: This is a better solution. Adv: She sings better than before.
- extra – Adj: We ordered an extra pizza. Adv: Please arrive extra early tomorrow.
- left – Adj: My left hand is stronger. Adv: Turn left at the traffic lights.
- slow – Adj: He is a slow reader. Adv: Drive slow in this area.
- big – Adj: They live in a big house. Adv: He won big in the competition.
- fair – Adj: It was a fair decision. Adv: They played fair throughout the match.
- likely – Adj: Rain is likely this evening. Adv: He will most likely call later.
- still – Adj: The lake was still and calm. Adv: He still lives with his parents.
- cheap – Adj: We found a cheap hotel. Adv: They travel cheap whenever they can.
- far – Adj: It’s a far country. Adv: He lives far from here.
- late – Adj: We took the late bus home. Adv: She arrived late again.
- straight – Adj: Draw a straight line. Adv: Go straight to your room.
- clean – Adj: This is a clean shirt. Adv: The bullet went clean through the target.
- farther – Adj: The farther shore was hard to see. Adv: He ran farther than anyone else.
- little – Adj: She has little money. Adv: It matters little to me.
- sure – Adj: I am sure about my answer. Adv: I sure hope you’re right.
- clear – Adj: The instructions are clear. Adv: Please speak clear so everyone can hear.
- fast – Adj: He drives a fast car. Adv: She runs very fast.
- long – Adj: It was a long journey. Adv: We didn’t stay long.
- thin – Adj: He wore a thin jacket. Adv: Roll the pastry thin.
- close – Adj: We are close friends. Adv: Stand close to the door.
- fine – Adj: It’s a fine day. Adv: Everything worked out fine.
- loud – Adj: The music is too loud. Adv: Don’t talk so loud in the library.
- thick – Adj: He wore a thick coat. Adv: Spread the jam thick on the bread.
- cold – Adj: The water is cold. Adv: He knocked him cold with one punch.
- firm – Adj: She gave a firm answer. Adv: Stand firm and don’t move.
- low – Adj: They built a low wall. Adv: The plane flew low over the city.
- through – Adj: We bought a through ticket to Paris. Adv: The ball went through into the net.
- daily – Adj: I read the daily newspaper. Adv: We talk daily on the phone.
- first – Adj: I’m in the first group. Adv: First, read the question carefully.
- monthly – Adj: We publish a monthly magazine. Adv: The rent is paid monthly.
- tight – Adj: These shoes are tight. Adv: Hold on tight!
- dead – Adj: The battery is dead. Adv: You are dead right about that.
- free – Adj: The tickets were free. Adv: The birds fly free in the sky.
- near – Adj: We found a near solution to the problem. Adv: Come near so I can see.
- together – Adj: The together team spirit impressed everyone. Adv: Let’s work together on this.
- dear – Adj: She is a dear friend. Adv: This dress will cost you dear.
- further – Adj: We need further information. Adv: He walked further into the forest.
- only – Adj: He was the only student present. Adv: I only asked a simple question.
- weekly – Adj: We have a weekly test. Adv: The club meets weekly.
- deep – Adj: They swam in deep water. Adv: Breathe deep and relax.
- hard – Adj: This is a hard question. Adv: She works very hard.
- outside – Adj: Use the outside door. Adv: The children are playing outside.
- well – Adj: He is not well today. Adv: She sings well for her age.
- direct – Adj: We booked a direct flight. Adv: He flew direct to London.
- high – Adj: That is a high wall. Adv: The kite flew very high.
- overseas – Adj: They recruit overseas students. Adv: He worked overseas for years.
- wide – Adj: That is a wide road. Adv: Open your eyes wide.
- dirty – Adj: Your shoes are dirty. Adv: Don’t play dirty in the game.
- home – Adj: The home crowd cheered loudly. Adv: He went home early.
- past – Adj: I can learn from past mistakes. Adv: He walked past without speaking.
- worse – Adj: This is a worse result than last time. Adv: She sings worse than her sister.
- double – Adj: I ordered a double espresso. Adv: I had to pay double for the ticket.
- hourly – Adj: There is an hourly bus service. Adv: The clock chimes hourly.
- pretty – Adj: She wore a pretty dress. Adv: The train was pretty late.
- wrong – Adj: That is the wrong page. Adv: You spelled my name wrong.
- duty-free – Adj: We bought duty-free goods at the airport. Adv: You can buy perfume duty-free here.
- ill – Adj: He has been ill all week. Adv: He spoke ill of his neighbour.
- quick – Adj: She gave a quick answer. Adv: Come quick or we’ll miss the bus.
- yearly – Adj: The company holds a yearly meeting. Adv: The fee is paid yearly.
