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Dictionary-enhanced word family

Word Forms of “Difficult”

Needing a lot of effort; not easy to do.

Word Family of Difficult

What is the noun of difficult? — difficulty

difficulty

What is the adjective of difficult? — difficult

difficult

What is the adverb of difficult? — difficultly

difficultly

How to Use Each Word Form in a Sentence

  • Math is difficult for many students. A1
  • This puzzle is too difficult to solve quickly. A2
  • She found it difficult to adjust to the new schedule. B1

Word Form Patterns for Difficult

-ly

Adds **-ly** to make an adverb describing how an action happens. Example: difficult → difficultly.

Origin and Word Formation of Difficult

From Latin difficilis: dis- (not) + facilis (easy).

Common Word Form Mistakes with Difficult

Wrong: This exercise is difficult for understanding.

Correct: This exercise is difficult to understand.

After 'difficult', use 'to-infinitive' (to understand) not 'for + gerund'.

Wrong: The problem is too much difficult.

Correct: The problem is too difficult.

Do not use 'much' before adjectives; use 'very' or 'too' instead.

Frequently Asked Questions About Word Forms of Difficult

What are the word forms of “difficult”?

The confirmed forms are shown in the word family cards above. Missing parts of speech are hidden instead of filled with placeholder text.

What part of speech is “difficult”?

“difficult” is primarily a adj. Some forms above show how the same root works as other parts of speech.

Where does “difficult” come from?

From Latin difficilis: dis- (not) + facilis (easy).

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