How "unlikely" is an adjective not an adverb

[gurpreetgill4u]

Hello,

I'd really appreciate if it if someone could help me understand why "unlikely" is an adjective, not an adverb in the following phrase:

a) I find this very unlikely.

Thanks for your support

 

[emsr2d2]

It's an adjective in the same way that "likely" is an adjective if it were used in the same sentence, or in the same way that "happy" is an adjective in "I find him
to be very happy".

Are you confused by the fact that it ends "-ly"? That's a common source of confusion but you have to remember that not all words that end -ly are adverbs. There is no natural adverbial form of "unlikely". We have been asked many times if it's "unlikelily" but that word doesn't exist.

 

[GoesStation]

I'd spell that unlikely word unlikelily if it existed.

 

[emsr2d2]

I'd spell that unlikely word unlikelily if it existed.

That's actually what I thought I'd typed! I've changed the spelling in post #2.

 

[Tdol]

I'd really appreciate if it if someone could help me understand why "unlikely" is an adjective, not an adverb in the following phrase:

a) I find this very unlikely.

Which of the following would you use if the movie made you laugh?

I found the movie very funny.
I found the movie very funnily.

 

[gurpreetgill4u]

I found the movie very funny.

 

[Tdol]

Then the word that fills that slot grammatically is an adjective. There are some adjectives that end in -ly. Likely is an adjective in your original sentence. There are other adjectives that end in -ly, like friendly (a friendly person) and leisurely (in a leisurely manner).