Understanding ‘Kindly’: Boost Your IELTS Vocabulary
Learn the meaning, usage, and common mistakes associated with the word ‘kindly’. This video covers its function as both an adverb and adjective, provides examples, and offers tips to help you use it correctly in your IELTS exam.
Imagine you’re lost in a new city, and a stranger stops to help you find your way. You might describe this person as kindly.
Today, we’re exploring the word kindly, an essential vocabulary item for your IELTS preparation.
Word type:
Kindly can function as both an adverb and an adjective in English.
Meaning: As an adverb, kindly means in a kind, caring, or helpful manner.
As an adjective, it describes someone who is friendly, generous, and considerate towards others.
Word history:
The word kindly comes from the Old English word cyndelice, which meant natural or native. Over time, its meaning evolved to describe actions that felt natural and agreeable, eventually leading to our current understanding of the word.
Antonyms: Some opposites of kindly include unkindly, harshly, rudely, and cruelly.
Synonyms: Words with similar meanings to kindly include benevolently, gently, graciously, and considerately.
Examples use in sentences: Let’s look at how to use kindly in different contexts. As an adverb: The shopkeeper kindly offered to stay open late so I could pick up my order.
As an adjective: My kindly neighbor always offers to water my plants when I’m away. In a polite request: Would you kindly pass the salt?
Common errors in use: One common mistake is confusing kindly with kind. While both relate to being nice, kind is primarily an adjective, whereas kindly can be both an adverb and an adjective.
For example, She is a kind person is correct, but She is a kindly person sounds slightly old-fashioned.
Another error is overusing kindly in formal writing. While it’s perfectly acceptable in spoken English and informal writing, in very formal contexts, it’s often better to use please instead.
To wrap up, kindly is a versatile word that expresses consideration and helpfulness. Whether you’re describing a thoughtful action or making a polite request, using kindly correctly can help you achieve that target 6.5 band score in IELTS.
Remember to practice using this word in your speaking and writing tasks to become more comfortable with it.
