almost

The word "almost" is used to describe something that is very close to happening, but it does not actually happen. It is an adverb that modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Be careful not to confuse "almost" with "nearly." While they are often interchangeable, "almost" is more common when describing a state of being or a specific point in time (e.g., "almost midnight"). In negative sentences, "almost" usually comes before the word it modifies to show that something was close to occurring but failed (e.g., "I almost forgot my keys").