directly

directly, at once, immediately, instantly, presently, right away

这组词(组)共同的意思是“立即”“马上”。它们的区别在于:

1.at once主要指动作迅速,但中间多有一段距离,且at once比immediately意味更强。例如:

I'm leaving for Rome at once.我马上去罗马。

He gave orders for the work to be started at once.他下令立即开始那项工作。

2.immediately侧重指时间“紧接着”。例如:

I came immediately after I'd eaten.吃过饭我立即就来了。

Please close your books immediately and answer these questions.请立即合上书,回答这些问题。

I left immediately when the clock struck twelve.钟刚打12点我就离去了。

3.right away经常出现在美式英语中。例如:

I'll do it right away.我立即去办。

He had written down a list of things to do right away.他已写下须立即做的事情。

Don't expect them to approve of the design right away.不能期望他们马上批准这项设计。

4.instantly也是指动作迅速,但它更强调的是同时发生,中间有很短的距离或无距离。例如:

The electrician went instantly in answer to the phone call.电工师傅一接到电话马上就去了。

He was killed instantly in a car accident.在车祸中,他当场死亡。

5.directly强调“直接地”,多与“迂回绕过”相对。例如:

Whether he sailed directly across the bay or coasted round it is uncertain.他是径直驶过海湾,还是沿海岸迂回绕过的,现在还无法确知。

6.presently强调过一会再去做某事。例如:

I will do the dishes presently, but I want to finish the story first.我过一会去洗碟子,不过我想得先看完这篇故事。

directly, direct

这两个词都可表示“直接地”。它们的区别是：

1.direct常指空间、距离,表示“直接地”; directly可指时间,表示“立刻”“马上”。例如:

She drove direct to school.她直接开车到学校。

I'll be there directly.我马上到那儿。

2.direct多用于直义,修饰动词,而directly则多用于比喻义,修饰形容词。例如:

You had better write direct to the secretary.

你最好直接写信给书记。

I think Mike is directly responsible for the damage.

我认为迈克要对这个损失负责。

3.如果乘坐交通工具,飞机、火车、汽车等从一地直达某地,不换乘其他交通工具,则不可用directly,而要用direct来表示。例如:

You can't go to Manchester direct, you have to change trains at Birmingham.你不能直达曼彻斯特,你一定要在伯明翰换车。

4.directly还可用作连词,相当于as soon as; direct无此用法。例如:

Directly that he came in,I knew something had happened.当他进来时,我知道有事发生了。

5.在美式英语中direct用作副词时和directly用法上没有严格的区分。

direct，directly

这两个副词都有“直接地”之意。

direct指行路中不停步、不绕道、直奔目的地。

directly指以一种直接的方式。表示时间的时候，指立刻，不拖延之意。