Adjectives and Adverbs 2
well, fast, late, hard / hardly
good vs well · fast/hard/late · lately · hardly (almost not) · hardly any/ever — Complete Guide
Adjectifs et Adverbes 2
well, fast, late, hard / hardly
good vs well · fast/hard/late · lately · hardly (presque pas) · hardly any/ever — Guide Complet
Master the good/well contrast, words that are both adjective and adverb (fast, hard, late), the meaning of lately, and hardly (= almost not) with all its constructions.
Maîtrisez le contraste good/well, les mots à la fois adjectif et adverbe (fast, hard, late), le sens de lately, et hardly (= presque pas) avec toutes ses constructions.
Some adjective/adverb pairs in English are irregular or tricky. Good is always an adjective; its adverb is well. But fast, hard and late are the same whether used as adjectives or adverbs. And hardly does NOT mean “in a hard way” — it means almost not. These distinctions are essential for precise, natural English.
Certaines paires adjectif/adverbe sont irrégulières en anglais. Good est toujours un adjectif ; son adverbe est well. Mais fast, hard et late ont la même forme en tant qu’adjectifs ou adverbes. Et hardly ne signifie PAS “de manière dure” — il signifie presque pas. Ces distinctions sont essentielles pour un anglais précis et naturel.
good (adjective) and well (adverb / adjective)
good (adjectif) et well (adverbe / adjectif)
Good is an adjective. Its adverb form is well. Use well (not good) after action verbs.
Good est un adjectif. Son adverbe est well. On utilise well (pas good) après les verbes d’action.
good — adjective
well — adverb (or adjective)
Sophie’s father is a well-known writer.
The children were well-behaved.
She is well-educated and well-paid.
✓ She plays the piano very well. — CORRECT
Well is also an adjective meaning “in good health”: I’m very well, thanks. ✗ She plays the piano very good. — FAUX
✓ She plays the piano very well. — CORRECT
Well est aussi un adjectif qui signifie “en bonne santé” : I’m very well, thanks.
fast, hard and late — Same Form as Adjective and Adverb; lately
fast, hard et late — Même Forme en Adjectif et Adverbe ; lately
These words are both adjectives and adverbs — the form does NOT change:
Ces mots sont à la fois adjectifs et adverbes — la forme ne change PAS :
fast
hard
late
‘Lately’ is NOT the adverb of ‘late’. It means ‘recently’. Have you seen Kate lately? · I haven’t been to the cinema lately.
‘Lately’ n’est PAS l’adverbe de ‘late’. Il signifie ‘récemment’.
hardly = very little / almost not — hard vs hardly
hardly = très peu / presque pas — hard vs hardly
Hardly means very little or almost not. It is NOT the adverb of ‘hard’. Hardly goes before the main verb.
Hardly signifie très peu ou presque pas. Ce n’est PAS l’adverbe de ‘hard’. Hardly se place avant le verbe principal.
hard (= with effort/intensity)
hard (= avec effort)
hardly (= almost not)
hardly (= presque pas)
Your writing is terrible. I can hardly read it. (= almost impossible)
My leg was hurting. I could hardly walk.
✓ We hardly know each other.
✗ We know each other hardly. — WRONG position
✓ We hardly know each other.
✗ We know each other hardly. — position FAUSSE
hardly any / anybody / anything / anywhere / ever — hardly = certainly not
hardly any / anybody / anything / anywhere / ever — hardly = certainement pas
Use hardly + any/anybody/anyone/anything/anywhere to mean “very little/few/none”:
On utilise hardly + any/anybody/anyone/anything/anywhere pour exprimer “très peu / presque rien / personne” :
B: Hardly any. (= very little, almost none)
There’s hardly any difference between them.
Hardly anybody in our class passed. (= very few people)
She said hardly anything. / She hardly said anything.
Hardly ever = almost never:
I’m nearly always home. I hardly ever go out.
Hardly = certainly not:
It’s hardly surprising that you’re tired. (= certainly not surprising)
The situation is serious, but it’s hardly a crisis.
✓ She said hardly anything. (hardly before ‘anything’)
✓ She hardly said anything. (hardly before verb)
Both are correct!
✓ She said hardly anything.
✓ She hardly said anything.
Les deux sont corrects !
Put in good or well.
Mettez good ou well.
Complete using well + the following words: behaved · informed · kept · known · paid · written
Complétez avec well + les mots suivants : behaved · informed · kept · known · paid · written
Choose the correct word.
Choisissez le bon mot.
Complete using hardly + these verbs (in the correct form): change · hear · know · recognise · say · sleep · speak
Complétez avec hardly + ces verbes (à la bonne forme) : change · hear · know · recognise · say · sleep · speak
Complete with hardly + any / anybody / anything / anywhere / ever.
Complétez avec hardly + any / anybody / anything / anywhere / ever.
Frequently Asked Questions — Adjectives & Adverbs 2
Questions fréquentes — Adjectifs & Adverbes 2
Good is always an adjective (describes nouns or follows linking verbs): ✓ a good result · ✓ Your English is good. Well is the adverb (describes how something is done): ✓ She plays well. Exception: well is also an adjective meaning ‘healthy’: ✓ I’m very well, thanks.
Good est toujours un adjectif : ✓ a good result · ✓ Your English is good. Well est l’adverbe : ✓ She plays well. Exception : well est aussi un adjectif signifiant ‘en bonne santé’ : ✓ I’m very well, thanks.
Fastly does NOT exist. ‘Fast’ is already the adverb: ✓ He runs fast. ‘Hardly’ is NOT the adverb of ‘hard’. It means almost not: ✓ He hardly tried (= he made very little effort). The adverb of ‘hard’ (meaning intensity) is simply hard: ✓ She works hard.
Fastly n’existe PAS. ‘Fast’ est déjà l’adverbe. ‘Hardly’ n’est PAS l’adverbe de ‘hard’. Il signifie presque pas : ✓ He hardly tried. L’adverbe de ‘hard’ est simplement hard : ✓ She works hard.
Late (as adverb) = not on time, after the expected time: ✓ I got up late. Lately = recently (and is NOT the adverb of ‘late’): ✓ Have you seen Kate lately? · ✓ I haven’t been sleeping well lately.
Late (comme adverbe) = en retard : ✓ I got up late. Lately = récemment (et n’est PAS l’adverbe de ‘late’) : ✓ Have you seen Kate lately?
Hardly = very little / almost not. It goes before the main verb: ✓ She hardly spoke to me. It can combine with: any/anybody/anyone/anything/anywhere/ever. Hardly ever = almost never. Hardly can also mean “certainly not”: ✓ It’s hardly surprising (= certainly not surprising).
Hardly = très peu / presque pas. Il se place avant le verbe principal : ✓ She hardly spoke to me. Il peut se combiner avec : any/anybody/anyone/anything/anywhere/ever. Hardly ever = presque jamais. Hardly peut aussi signifier “certainement pas” : ✓ It’s hardly surprising.
These are compound adjectives: adverb well + past participle. They describe a noun: ✓ a well-known singer (famous) · ✓ a well-paid job (good salary) · ✓ well-behaved children (good behaviour) · ✓ a well-written report. Always use well (not ‘good’) before past participles in this structure.
Ce sont des adjectifs composés : adverbe well + participe passé. Ils décrivent un nom : ✓ a well-known singer · ✓ a well-paid job · ✓ well-behaved children. On utilise toujours well (pas ‘good’) avant les participes passés dans cette structure.
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