Learn English – Too deep or too deeply

adverbs

A Text from a recent (excellent) Dr.Who episode:

"One day you will linger in the same place too long.
You will sit too still or sleep too deep – and when, too late, you rise to go, you will notice a second shadow next to yours. Your life will then be over."

To sit "still-ly" isn't possible, I know, "still" is used as the adverb here, but what about the "deep"? Is there a difference between "sleep too deep" or "sleep too deeply"? Why isn't the adverb used here?

Best Answer

deep is used as an adverb. See deep:

adverb

21) in a deep way or to a deep extent; far down, far in, far back, etc." ⇒ to dig deep"