This week’s question
What are the differences between ‘fast’, ‘quick’ and ‘quickly’? – Ruben on YouTube
Answer this
Is ‘fastly’ the correct adverb from the adjective ‘fast’?
Language points
Fast and quick – the similarities
Fast and quick are both adjectives and both mean ‘moving or happening at speed’. You can often use either and the meaning is the same.
- This car is very fast. This car is very quick.
- The punch was so fast, the boxer didn’t see it. The punch was so quick, the boxer didn’t see it.
As adverbs
Fast and quickly are adverbs of manner – notice ‘fast’ not ‘fastly’. Again, they mean moving or happening at speed. In many cases you can exchange them.
- The lightning struck fast. The lightning struck quickly.
- He punched me so fast, I didn’t see it! He punched me so quickly, I didn’t see it!
The differences
Quick can mean ‘happening over a short time’ or ‘finishing quickly’.
- Let’s have a quick meeting. Can I have a quick word?
- After only a quick glance, her quick thinking came up with a solution.
Quick can also mean ‘intelligent’ or ‘understanding quickly’.
- He’s very quick. Show him something once and he’s got it.
Fast can be a noun meaning ‘a period of not eating’. It can also refer to something that is ahead of time, such as a watch.
- Is it time to stop fasting? I’m not sure because my watch is fast.
Collocations and fixed phrases
- In quick succession means coming speedily one after another.
- Cut someone to the quick means hurt their feelings greatly.
- Play fast and loose with somebody or something means treat something / someone without care.
- Hold fast means remain firmly where you are or keep the same opinion.
The answer
No, we do not use ‘fastly’. ‘Fast’ is both an adjective and an adverb.