What part of speech is “hard”
Adjective
Definition:
as an adjective, 'hard' describes the firmness or resistance to pressure of an object or surface. It can also refer to something that is difficult in terms of effort, understanding, or endurance.
Rules:
'Hard' can be used to describe objects or materials that are not easily penetrated, bent, or changed in shape. 'Hard' can describe tasks, questions, or situations that are challenging or require a lot of effort to complete or understand.
Examples:
The ground was hard after the frost.
The math problem was too hard for me to solve.
He has a hard time understanding abstract concepts.
Tips:
when using 'hard' to describe difficulty, it often comes before nouns like 'time,' 'work,' 'question,' etc. 'Hard' can sometimes be used to describe a person's demeanor, suggesting they are unyielding or stern.
Adverb
Definition:
as an adverb, 'hard' describes the manner in which an action is performed, often indicating that it's done with great force or effort.
Rules:
'Hard' can be used to describe an action done with a lot of force or intensity. 'Hard' can also describe doing something with a lot of effort or determination.
Examples:
He pushed the door hard, but it wouldn't budge.
She studied hard for her final exams.
They worked hard to finish the project on time.
Tips:
Don't confuse 'hard' (adverb) with 'hardly' which means 'barely' or 'almost not.' For example, 'He hardly worked' means he did very little work, which is the opposite of 'He worked hard.' In some contexts, 'hard' as an adverb can also mean 'closely' or 'intently,' as in 'listening hard.'