Clearly: easy to understand

The idea

Use clearly to modify a verb: speak clearly, write clearly, see clearly. Use the adjective clear before a noun or after be: a clear explanation.

Examples

• Please speak clearly so everyone can hear.
• She wrote the address clearly on the envelope.
• I cannot see the sign clearly from here.
• He explained the problem clearly.
• The teacher spoke clearly during the lesson.
• Can you read the small numbers clearly?

Watch out

Clearly can also express that the speaker thinks something is obvious; that meaning is different from describing how someone speaks.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the adverb describing how someone speaks. Please speak ___. (clearly / clear)

   Show answer or example answer

   clearly

   Clearly describes how the person speaks.

2. Choose the adjective before the noun. He gave a ___ explanation. (clear / clearly)

   Show answer or example answer

   clear

   Clear describes the noun explanation.

3. Choose the adverb describing how well something is seen. I cannot see the sign ___ from here. (clearly / clear)

   Show answer or example answer

   clearly

   Clearly describes how easily the sign can be seen.

Use it today

Ask someone to speak clearly and describe something you cannot see clearly.