"not near as drunk" vs "not nearly as drunk"

Question

I actually looked at the "drive safe/ly" answers before I posted this question and remember, at the time, seeing how these were clearly two different questions. Now, however, they seem the same. I guess I didn't think I was near as drunk as I actually was.

Solved.

Near or nearly?

Between "not near as drunk" and "not nearly as drunk", I can't think of a compelling reason to prefer one to the other. "Not nearly" sounds better, I think, but I wouldn't be able to say why.

I imagine it comes down to whether "as" is an adverb or a preposition in this phrase, but I can't think of a compelling reason to decide even that one way or the other.

See the question on "drive safe" or "drive safely". https://english.stackexchange.com/q/8328/9368 Adjectives can be (and have been for centuries) used also as adverbs. — GEdgar, Mar 02 '19 at 12:02
Possible duplicate of Which is correct: "drive safe" or "drive safely"? — GEdgar, Mar 02 '19 at 12:03
"nowhere near as drunk" is also a possibility you should bear in mind the next time you want to use this phrase. I'm nowhere near as drunk as I'm planning to be. — TimR, Mar 02 '19 at 13:31

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 02 '19 at 12:05

1

Not nearly as drunk would be better.

Nearly works as the adverb that modifies as (another adverb). Adverbs can modify other adverbs and explain "how much."

Edited for clarity and a typo.

answered Mar 02 '19 at 12:05

Happymelon

19

Would you prefer to stand nearer to the door, or more nearly? Or what about nearlier? Only in near misses and such is near an adjective. It's usually an adverb -- one of a different kind than nearly is . (And some would say that even as a preposition it's gradable, if you can fit your head around that one.) – tchrist Mar 03 '19 at 22:44

"not near as drunk" vs "not nearly as drunk"

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