Usage of すぐに
The adverb すぐに means "immediately" or "soon" and is used to express that something happens without delay or shortly after. It is very common in everyday conversation and formal speech.
Common contexts
- To indicate prompt action or response: すぐに来る (come immediately), すぐに知らせる (inform immediately).
- To express something will happen shortly: すぐに終わる (finish soon).
Collocations and patterns
- すぐに + verb (action happens immediately): すぐに行く (go immediately).
- すぐに + 〜ます form (polite): すぐに始まります (will start soon).
Nuances and tips
Using すぐに implies no significant delay. It is stronger than just すぐ, which can sometimes be used more loosely. Avoid confusing すぐに with ただちに, which is more formal and often used in official announcements.
Common learner mistake
Do not omit に when using すぐに as an adverb modifying a verb. Saying すぐ行く is common in casual speech, but すぐに行く is more grammatically complete and polite.