-ly

Adverb formation

We normally change an adjective into an adverb by adding -ly.

• late → lately
• right → rightly
• hopeful → hopefully
• real → really (not realy)
• definite → definitely
• pale → palely
• complete → completely (not completly)

Exceptions:

• true → truly
• due → duly
• whole → wholly
• full → fully

-y and -i-

-y usually changes to -i- (see here).

• happy → happily
• easy → easily
• dry → drily or dryly
• gay → gaily

Exceptions:

• shy → shyly
• sly → slyly
• coy → coyly

Adjectives ending in consonant + le

-le changes to -ly after a consonant.

• idle → idly
• noble → nobly
• able → ably

Adjectives ending in -ic

If an adjective ends in -ic, the adverb ends in -ically (pronounced /ɪkli/).

• tragic → tragically
• phonetic → phonetically

Exception:

• public → publicly