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Dictionary-enhanced word family

Word Forms of “Mainly”

Used to show that something is true for most cases but not all.

Word Family of Mainly

What is the noun of mainly? — main

main

What is the adjective of mainly? — main

main

What is the adverb of mainly? — mainly

mainly

How to Use Each Word Form in a Sentence

  • The team is mainly men, with a few women. A2
  • Our diet consists mainly of vegetables and rice. B1
  • The book is mainly concerned with climate change. B2

Origin and Word Formation of Mainly

From main + -ly suffix (forming adverbs).

Common Word Form Mistakes with Mainly

Wrong: The food is very mainly rice.

Correct: The food is mainly rice.

Mainly is an adverb of degree; do not use very before it

Frequently Asked Questions About Word Forms of Mainly

What are the word forms of “mainly”?

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 “mainly”?

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

Where does “mainly” come from?

From main + -ly suffix (forming adverbs).

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