Cool MateFast vs Quickly now
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Fast
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
Quickly now
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: FastMost common: Fast
| Fast | Quickly now | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/fɑːst/"]/🇺🇸 /["/fæst/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈkwɪkli naʊ//🇺🇸 //ˈkwɪkli naʊ// |
| Meaning | Moving or happening quickly. | Do something fast, right away. |
| Example | She runs very fast when she is late for school. | We need to leave the house, so quickly now! |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, seem, extremely, fairly, very, be, seem, extremely, fairly, very | move quickly now, act quickly now, finish quickly now |
| Antonyms | slow | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Fast' is sometimes confused with 'quick' improperly., Learners often forget that 'fast' can be used for both time and physical speed., Some may incorrectly add 'ly' to make it an adverb (fastly). | Using 'quickly now' in formal emails or presentations., Adding unnecessary words, like 'do it quickly now', which sounds awkward. |
| Usage notes | Use 'fast' to describe speed, but be cautious when using it with 'to' (as in 'to fast', it means to not eat for a period of time). Appropriate in both written and spoken contexts. | Use in casual settings to urge someone to act fast. Not suitable for formal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Fast vs Quickly now
What's the difference between Fast and Quickly now?
Fast: Moving or happening quickly. Quickly now: Do something fast, right away.
Which is more formal: Fast and Quickly now?
Fast is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Fast and Quickly now?
Fast is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Fast: She runs very fast when she is late for school. Quickly now: We need to leave the house, so quickly now!
Can I use Fast and Quickly now interchangeably?
Not always. Fast and Quickly now are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.