英语中有一些表示方式、 程度的副词具有两种形式。 如late，lately；high，highly；slow，showly等 等。在这些词当中，两种不同形式所表达的含义有的完全不同，有的很相似，而有的却完全一致。这就给人们 使用这些词时带来一定的麻烦。特别是在学生中间，总免不了使用时的混淆。笔者想就此问题分类作一点探讨 。
（一）本类词有hard，hardly；late，lately；most，mostly等等，这两种副词形式含义完全不同，所以 ，使用时不易引起混淆。
1.He works hard all day.他整天都在使劲地干活。
He hardly works at all.他很少干活。
2.You have come too late.你来得太晚了。
Have you see him lately?你最近见到过他吗？
3.The person who talks most is often the one who doesleast.说得最多的人常常干得最少。
The audience consisted mostly of women.观众大部分是女的。
4.The next flight dose not go direct to Tokyo; it goes byway of Shanghai.下趟航班不直飞东京 ，而是绕道上海。
He will be here directly.他马上就来。
5.The rider pulled his horse up short.骑手突然一下把马勒住。
Make a right turn shortly beyond the village. 村前不远处往右拐。
6.Please stand clear of the gate.请不要站在门前。
He stated his view-point clealy.他很清楚明白地阐述了自己的观点。
7.The exam was pretty difficult.这次考试相当难。
Her little girls are always prettily dressed.她的小女孩穿着总是很漂亮。
（二）这类词主要有wide，widely；close， closely ；high，highly等等，这两种副词形式不同，含义 也有差别，但是没有第一类的区别明显，而且翻译成汉语时用词也很接近。所以使用时很容易混淆。这类词含 义及用法上的主要特点是：不带-ly的副词表示具体的行为和动作，说明的动作或状况有可测量性和可见性；而 以-ly结尾的同源副词所表达的常常是抽象性的行为和状况。这时，这些词大都具有“greatly”和“extremel y”的含义。试作如下比较：
1.Do you see that butterfly flying high above the street?你是否看见那只蝴蝶在街道上方高高飞舞 着？
The distinguished guests were highly praised.贵宾们受到了高度赞扬。
2.He flung the door wide open.他猛地把门开得大大的。
We were widely different on many questions.我们在许多问题上分歧很大。
3.You will have to pay dear for that telescope.买那个望远镜你得付很高的价钱。
You will pay dearly for the insult. 对这样的侮辱你将付出高昂的代价。
4.She stood close against the wall.她紧挨着墙站着。
The police were watching him closely.警察在密切监视他。
5.The bird is now flying quite low.鸟儿现在飞得非常低。
He bowed lowly before the queen.他谦恭地给女王鞠了一躬。
6.They had to dig deep to reach water.他们挖得很深才挖到水。
You have offended him deeply.你冒犯他可不轻。
7.Grace is holding tight to Paul.格雷斯紧紧地搂抱着保罗。
The passengers were packed tightly in the train.火车车箱里挤满了乘客。
8.Mr. Cole tends to speak rather loud.科尔先生说话声音总是很大。
Mr. Cole boasted loudly of his power. 科尔先生大肆夸耀自己的权力。
