Early can mean before an expected time or near the beginning of a period.
The idea
Use early after a verb, as in arrive early, or before a noun, as in an early meeting. To compare times use earlier: earlier than expected.
Examples
- The train arrived early.
- I leave home early on Mondays.
- We arrived earlier than expected.
- She has an early meeting.
- Please come early tomorrow.
- They ate an early dinner.
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Watch out
Do not add -ly: the adverb is early, not earlyly.
Try it yourself
The train arrives before the expected time. Choose the adverb. The train arrived before its scheduled time. It arrived ___. (early / late)
Show answer or example answer
early
Early describes when the train arrived.
Compare the arrival with the expected time. We arrived ___ than expected. (earlier / earliest)
Show answer or example answer
earlier
Earlier compares the arrival with the expected time.
Choose the adjective before meeting. She has an ___ meeting. (early / earlyly)
Show answer or example answer
early
Early describes the noun meeting.
Practice round
Answer questions and rebuild English sentences to practise. Your score is shown.
The train arrives before the expected time. Choose the adverb. The train arrived before its scheduled time. It arrived ___. (early / late)
Compare the arrival with the expected time. We arrived ___ than expected. (earlier / earliest)
Choose the adjective before meeting. She has an ___ meeting. (early / earlyly)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Describe a day you arrived early and compare it with the expected time.