naturally

/ˈnætʃrəli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈnætʃrəli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈna-chər-ə-lē ˈnach-rə-, ˈna-chər-/ (ame, mw)

naturally — adverb

1. happening or existing in the physical world of plants, animals, rocks, and weath

1.副詞B1
釋義

happening or existing in the physical world of plants, animals, rocks, and weather, without being created, changed, or added to by people

例句

The cave was formed naturally over thousands of years by flowing water.

Honey is a naturally sweet food that needs no added sugar.

naturally + adjective describing inherent quality

同義詞
  • by nature

    equivalent phrase, interchangeable most of the time

  • organically

    specifically about food or materials grown without chemicals

反義詞
  • artificially

    made or created by people rather than occurring in nature

文法句型

verb + naturally

naturally + adjective

用法筆記

Often appears before adjectives (naturally sweet, naturally clear) or after verbs of existence (occur naturally, form naturally, exist naturally).

常見錯誤

❌This drink is naturally sugar.
✅This drink is naturally sweet.
💡Naturally is an adverb, so it must modify an adjective or verb, not a noun.

2. used about a quality or skill that has been part of a person's character since t

2.副詞B1
釋義

used about a quality or skill that has been part of a person's character since they were born, rather than one they developed later

例句

Elena is naturally shy and takes time to warm up to new people.

naturally + adjective describing personality

Tuan was naturally good at mathematics from a very young age.

同義詞
  • innately

    more formal; used especially for deep character traits

  • by nature

    equivalent phrase, interchangeable in most contexts

  • born

    used in the pattern 'born + adjective' (born shy, born curious)

反義詞
  • acquired

    learned or developed through effort rather than present from birth

文法句型

naturally + adjective

用法筆記

The adjective that follows usually describes a personality trait (shy, confident, curious) or a talent (gifted, talented, good at something). Not used with physical states that change — you would not say *naturally hungry* or *naturally tired*.

常見錯誤

❌She naturally sings beautifully.' (ambiguous — could be sense 1 or 5).
✅She is a naturally gifted singer.
💡To clearly express innate ability, place naturally before an adjective (gifted) rather than directly before an action verb.

3. used to describe a skill or activity that someone can do very well without much

3.副詞B1
釋義

used to describe a skill or activity that someone can do very well without much effort, as if they were born with the ability for it

例句

Swimming came naturally to Reema the first time she tried it.

come naturally to + person — skill is subject

Playing piano by ear comes naturally to Min without any formal lessons.

同義詞
  • effortlessly

    adverb meaning without effort, but does not require the 'come' pattern

  • easily

    simpler word; 'do easily' replaces the entire construction

反義詞

文法句型

come naturally to + noun

用法筆記

The only grammatical pattern is 'come naturally to [someone]', where the subject is the skill or activity and the object of 'to' is the person. Never transfer this pattern to other verbs: *Swim naturally to her* is incorrect unless you intend sense 1 or 5.

常見錯誤

❌Piano plays naturally to me.
✅Playing the piano comes naturally to me.
💡The skill is the subject of 'come', not the object of a different verb.
❌She naturally swims.' (ambiguous — reads as sense 1 or 5).
✅Swimming comes naturally to her.
💡Use the 'come naturally to' pattern for this sense.

4. used to say that something is not surprising because it is the normal or logical

4.副詞B1
釋義

used to say that something is not surprising because it is the normal or logical result of the situation being described

例句

Naturally, the children were very excited about the trip to the zoo.

sentence adverb at clause start: Naturally, + clause

When Tuan offered to help, his mother naturally accepted right away.

mid-sentence: subject + naturally + verb

同義詞
  • of course

    stronger and more informal; implies the outcome is obvious, not just expected

  • obviously

    emphasises visible or undeniable evidence

  • understandably

    focuses on the emotional or logical reasons behind a reaction

反義詞

文法句型

Naturally, + clause

subject + naturally + verb

用法筆記

As a sentence adverb, naturally signals that the speaker regards the outcome as predictable given the circumstances. It can appear at the start of a clause (Naturally, she was upset), inserted after the subject (she naturally said yes), or after a dash or comma near the end of a sentence.

常見錯誤

❌Naturally he is a doctor.' (sounds odd as a stand-alone statement).
✅Naturally, he became a doctor
💡both of his parents were doctors.' — This sense works best when the context makes the expectation clear.

5. in a relaxed, ordinary way that does not feel forced, fake, or designed to impre

5.副詞B1
釋義

in a relaxed, ordinary way that does not feel forced, fake, or designed to impress other people

例句

Just act naturally during the interview and tell them about your skills.

common collocation: act naturally

The children played naturally in the garden without any arguments or tears.

同義詞
  • normally

    closest synonym; interchangeable in most contexts

  • unaffectedly

    more formal; describes behaviour free from pretence

  • casually

    overlaps in meaning but emphasises informality rather than genuineness

反義詞

文法句型

verb + naturally

用法筆記

Commonly follows verbs of behaviour (act, behave) or appearance (smile, walk, speak). Describes a manner that is genuine and unaffected, in contrast to acting in a forced or artificial way.