Suffix: -ly
Source: DfE, English Appendix 1: Spelling (2013) — Years 3–4 statutory suffix
Origin: Old English -lice, meaning "in the manner of"
Purpose: Guide to the suffix -ly — forming adverbs, spelling changes (y→i, -le→-ly), KS2 word list with definitions, and morpheme-based practice.
What it means
-ly turns an adjective into an adverb meaning "in a [adjective] way."
slow → slowly (in a slow way)
careful → carefully (in a careful way)
brave → bravely (in a brave way)
Four spelling cases
Case 1 — Add -ly directly (most adjectives): quickly, loudly, kindly, safely
Case 2 — Base ends in -le preceded by a consonant → change -le to -ly:
gentle → gently · simple → simply · possible → possibly · terrible → terribly
Case 3 — Base ends in -ic → add -ally:
basic → basically · automatic → automatically · dramatic → dramatically
Case 4 — Base ends in consonant + y → change y to i then add -ly:
happy → happily · angry → angrily · easy → easily
Statutory examples (Appendix 1, Y3/4)
| Adjective | Adverb | Case |
|---|---|---|
| certain | certainly | Case 1 |
| recent | recently | Case 1 |
| particular | particularly | Case 1 |
| probable | probably | Case 2 (-ble → -bly) |
| possible | possibly | Case 2 |
| gentle | gently | Case 2 |
| simple | simply | Case 2 |
| basic | basically | Case 3 |
| dramatic | dramatically | Case 3 |
| happy | happily | Case 4 |
| angry | angrily | Case 4 |
| easy | easily | Case 4 |
Morpheme matrix
| -ly | -ally | (nothing) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| quick- | quickly | — | quick |
| careful- | carefully | — | careful |
| gentle | gently | — | gentle |
| possible | possibly | — | possible |
| basic | — | basically | basic |
| dramatic | — | dramatically | dramatic |
| happy | happily | — | happy |
Tricky cases to teach explicitly
| Adjective | Adverb | Why |
|---|---|---|
| true | truly | drop e before -ly |
| full | fully | one l dropped |
| whole | wholly | keep e (exception) |
| due | duly | drop e |
| public | publicly | -ic but NOT -ally (exception) |
Dictation sentences
- She walked gently and carefully through the basically empty building.
- Happily, the task was probably simply done.
- He spoke certainly and directly, particularly when asked a difficult question.
- The decision was dramatically different — possibly the most important one yet.
- Angrily but quietly, she closed the door and left.
Source: DfE English Appendix 1: Spelling (2013). Etymology: Old English -lice, from Proto-Germanic.
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