Adjective → Adverb Spelling Rules
IELTS with Mujahid · Beginner practice
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What is an adverb? An adverb tells us how something is done: She walks slowly. Many adverbs are made from an adjective + -ly, but the spelling changes follow rules. Learn the 6 rules and the special words below.
Add -ly
quick → quicklyy → ily
happy → happily-le → -ly
simple → simply
quick → quicklyy → ily
happy → happily-le → -ly
simple → simply
Rule 1: add -lyMost adjectives
Rule 2: -y → -ilyChange y to i, then add -ly
Rule 3: -le → -lyDrop the e and add y
Rule 4: -ic → -icallyAdd -ally
Rule 5: -l → -llyKeep the l, so you get double l
Rule 6: -e → keep the eJust add -ly
Special wordsIrregular, or the same form as the adjective
💡 IELTS tip: Adverbs make Writing Task 1 and 2 stronger: increased sharply, changed dramatically, rose steadily. Do not use an adjective instead of an adverb: ❌ He drives careful → ✅ He drives carefully. ❌ She speaks English good → ✅ She speaks English well. Also, hardly does not mean “hard” and lately does not mean “late”.
Ready? Tap a tab above and start with 1. Make the Adverb.
Activity 1: Make the Adverb
Choose the correctly spelled adverb for each adjective.
Activity 2: Gap Fill
Choose the correctly spelled adverb to complete each sentence.
Activity 3: Spot the Error
Two adverbs are spelled correctly. One is spelled wrong. Tap the wrong word.
Activity 4: Fix the Mistake
Each pair has one correct sentence and one with a wrong adverb. Tap the correct sentence.
Activity 5: Type It
Write the adverb form of the adjective in brackets. The number of letters is given as a clue. Press Check or Enter.