alone, lonely, lonesome and lone

Alone

‘Alone’ means ‘without others around. in other words we can say ‘alone’ is an adjective and an adverb meaning that no other person is with you. When we use ’alone’ as an adjective, it never comes before the noun It is a predicative adjective:

• She was alone when she heard the sad news. (adjective)
• It’s impossible to discuss as a committee. The chairman alone will decide. (adverb)
• Did they travel alone or did they take the children with them? (adverb)
• Do you live alone? (adverb)

‘Alone’ can be emphasized by ‘all’.

After her husband died, she was all alone.

‘Alone’ is not used before a noun . ‘Lone’ and ‘solitary’ can be used instead;

The only green thing was a lone/solitary pine tree.

Lonely

‘Lonely’ means 'alone and unhappy because of it'. In other words, we can say that ‘Lonely’ means that no other person is with you and that you are sad and unhappy as a result.

• Without her friends, it was a long and lonely journey.
• She says she feels very lonely and depressed living in that big house.

We don’t use lonely as an adverb:

• I prefer going to lunch alone.

Not: I prefer going to lunch lonely.

Let us take some examples:

We may choose to be ‘alone’ but generally, we do not choose to be ’lonely’:

• I like to be alone for short periods.
• I like to be lonely for short periods.

Lonesome

In American English, lonesome means the same as lonely:

If they’re away from home, they get lonesome.

means the same as;

If they’re away from home, they get lonely.

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