Grammar Spod: Words which confuse you

Why are “hard” and “hardly” opposite in meaning?
Well, because if you work hard you work very much and if you hardly work you don’t work very much at all.

Remember that “hard” and “fast” are both adjectives and adverbs:

1.    She drove very fast to work               - ADVERB

2.    She is a very fast driver                    - ADJECTIVE

3.    Peter works very hard in the office      - ADVERB

4.    Peter is a very hard worker                - ADJECTIVE


In sentence 1) “fast” is related to “drive”. It tells you how she drives.
In sentence 2) “fast” tells you about “driver” and what kind of driver she is.

In sentence 3) “hard” is related to “works”.
In sentence 4) “hard” describes what kind of worker he is.