How come hardly? Why not heavly?

[Iza Brosch]

English Grammar Error, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #16 "Sleep well (2)", question 3

It had been raining very hardly and as a result there weren't many people about.

(a) been raining
(b) hardly
(c) many people

English Grammar Error, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #16 "Sleep well (2)", answer 3

It had been raining very hard and as a result there weren't many people about.

Correct entry: hard
The error was: (b) hardly

You have found the error but your entry is incorrect.
It had been raining very heavily and as a result there weren't many people about.
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How come hardly? Why not heavly

[Alan]

Hi Iza Brosch,

Yes, you could say heavily and it would make sense but the error is in the use of the word hardly, which means scarcely. The adverb with which it is confused is hard, which can also be an adjective. It does not change its form when it becomes an adverb. This is true of the adjective fast as in a fast(adjective) car and he drives fast (adverb).

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Phrasal Verbs/go