Aloneorlonely?
Aloneis anadjective and an adverb meaning that no other person is with you. When we usealoneas an adjective, it never comes before the noun (predicative adjective):
She wasalonewhen she heard the sad news.(adjective)
It’s impossible to discuss as a committee. The chairmanalonewill decide.(adverb)
Did they travelaloneor did they take the children with them?(adverb)
Do you livealone?(adverb)
Lonelymeansthat no other person is with you and that you are sad and unhappy as a result. We may choose to be alone but generally we do not choose to belonely:
Without her friends, it was a long andlonelyjourney.
She says she feels verylonelyand depressed living in that big house.
We don’t uselonelyas an adverb:
I prefer going to lunchalone.
Not:I prefer going to lunch lonely.
Lonesome
In American English,lonesomemeans the same aslonely:
If they’re away from home, they getlonesome.(If they’re away from home, they getlonely).