We use an adverb to express a significant description to a verb, an adjective or another adverb. Simply put, it tells us HOW something happens. The rule is simple for regular adverbs as we often only need to add -ly to the end of an adjective.
Irregular adverbs on the other hand, disregard standard English spelling rules. Hence, they have to be memorized.
Here are some common irregular adverbs.
| Adjectives | Irregular Adverbs | |
| good | well | The show went well. |
| fast | fast | She drives too fast. |
| hard | hard | He studied hard for the exam |
| late | late | They arrived late at the party. |
| early | early | The package arrived early. |
| daily | daily | New articles are published daily. |
Hard vs Hardly
She works hard because she’s looking forward for a promotion. – correct
She works hardly because she’s looking forward for a promotion. – incorrect (Hardly means “almost never”)
If we say, “She works hardly,” this means she hardly ever or rarely works which is opposite from the original context.
Late vs Lately
I came home late. – correct (To arrive home later than the expected time or very late at night.)
I came home lately. – incorrect (Lately means “recently”)
Late is both an adjective and an adverb while ‘lately’ is only an adverb of time which means recently.
Good vs. Well
Good is an adjective. Well is the adverb of good which describes how something is being done.
I did good in my interview. – incorrect
I did well in my interview. – correct