As far as I am aware, すぐに means "immediately", but in which contexts can you
use もうすぐ and すぐ？
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2014-05-10T18:59:56.740
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question
meaning nuances
What are the differences between すぐ、もうすぐ、すぐに?
As an example, if I'm told this I might expect the fireworks to start...

```

    すぐ花火が始まります-> 0 min - maybe 5 min
    すぐに花火が始まります-> 0 min - maybe 5 min
    もうすぐ花火が始まります-> maybe 5 min - maybe 20 min
    
```

i.e. もうすぐ isn't immediately, more like "very soon". As for すぐ vs すぐに I don't
think there is a difference.

**EDIT** : The actual time these word indicates depends heavily on the context
and listener. The times above are completely made up.

For example if I'm told this, I might expect my scores to go up...:

```

    すぐ学力が上がりますよ
         -> I can expect them to go up within 3 months? 
    もうすぐ学力が上がりますよ
        -> it won't get better now, but they will start to get better after at some point, maybe in a month?
    
```

But somebody else may have a completely different expectation.
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answer
There could be various explanations from Japanese native speakers. Mine is
just one of them. I hope it could be helpful for your question.

もうすぐ: もうすぐ春が来る。

"もうすぐ" = "Just a little longer and"

At the end of winter, we sometimes find a sign of spring and say "Spring is
coming." "もうすぐ春が来る"

"もうすぐ" doesn't only mean "soon" but "sooner than expected before," because in
the winter we can't wait until spring. Strong demand for spring makes us feel
"Spring will come in the far distant future." However, at the end of winter,
we can find a hint of spring and realize as much about the coming of spring.
In such situation, we say "もうすぐ春が来る！"

"もうすぐ１０時になるよ。早くしてね。" = "It's almost 10 o'clock. Hurry up!"

"もうすぐ" here means "earlier than you expected" or "If you are not careful, or
you'll drop behind the time." "もうすぐ" is used as mental time sense.

"もうすぐ花火が始まるよ。うかうかしていると見逃すよ！"

* * *

"すぐ" and "すぐに" means "instantaneous" or "straight"

"１階を掃除したら、すぐに２階も掃除してね"

You have two scenes in sequential order and scene changes without a pause.

* * *

"もうすぐ春が来る！" いよいよ、待ちに待った春が来ると言う感じがある。春の到来を待っていたので、それが長く感じられていた。それがもうすぐそこに来る。

"すぐに春が来る" 冬が終わったら、冬と春の中間のような季節は感じられずに、春が来る。

"すぐに新しいボスが来る" 前任者が離任して間を置かずに、新任のボスが来る。
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answer