UWF WRITING LABUWF WRITING LABRULES OF THUMB RULES OF THUMB

FOR ADJECTIVE AND ADVERB USEFOR ADJECTIVE AND ADVERB USE

From Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Webb Hixon

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Created by April Turner Revised by Mamie Webb Hixon

July 1, 2010

SPEAKER 1: How are you today?

Which respondent are you?SPEAKER 2: I’m good.SPEAKER 3: I’m well.

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SPEAKER 1: How are you today?

Which respondent are you?SPEAKER 2: I’m good.SPEAKER 3: I’m well.

[By using “good” as a descriptor, is Speaker 2

saying that he or she is “well behaved”?]

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Other Common Adjective/Adverb Other Common Adjective/Adverb ErrorsErrors in Spoken and Written in Spoken and Written

EnglishEnglishThe Williams sisters play tennis remarkable well.

How quick time passes when you’re having fun!

The applicants felt very badly about missing the first phase of the interview.

These encounters make me feel real awkward.

Yes, we sure do serve nonalcoholic beverages.

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CORRECTIONSCORRECTIONS

The Williams sisters play tennis remarkably well.

How quickly time passes when you’re having fun!

The applicants felt very bad about missing the first phase of the interview.

These encounters make me feel really awkward.

Yes, we surely do serve nonalcoholic beverages.

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ADJECTIVE USEADJECTIVE USEUse ADJECTIVES with these verbs:Be-verbs

MNEMONIC DEVICE FOR Be-VerbsMr. Isamarewaswere

is are were beingam was been

Sense Verbslook feel taste smell sound

Linking Verbsbecome remain appear seem

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Some verbs act as both linking Some verbs act as both linking verbs and performers of action.verbs and performers of action.

LINKING USE ACTION USEThe speaker sounds The speaker sounds

her good. vowels distinctly.

He looked sympathetic. He looked sympathetically at the mourners.

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Some verbs that are not sense Some verbs that are not sense verbs have the meaning of “is” verbs have the meaning of “is” or “are” and, therefore, require or “are” and, therefore, require

adjectives.adjectives.High school and college seem [are] very

different. High school and college students behave differently.

The judge remained [was] silent throughout the trial. The jurors entered the courtroom silently.

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ADVERB USEADVERB USEMost adverbs are formed with the addition

of the –ly suffix to an existing adjective:cautiously surprisingly usuallysafely inadvertently quietly

Use ADVERBS to qualify and modify and intensify:You play pinochle well.You play pinochle remarkably well.You play pinochle very well.

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ADVERB USEADVERB USE

Your friendship is generously givenhappily accepteddeeply appreciated

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Use of Adjectives and Use of Adjectives and AdverbsAdverbs

He is strange. He behaves strangely.

Be careful. Drive carefully.The explanation is Think clearly.

clear. I am sure. You surely do look

good.The response time We need to

act quickly.was quick.

I feel bad. The men are behaving badly.

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Adjectives and AdverbsAdjectives and Adverbs

Use adjectives after sense verbs such as look, smell, taste, feel, or sound:

The steak tastes very good.

Use adjectives after linking verbs (is, am, are, was, were and other forms of be):

I am usually very prompt for meetings.

Most adverbs end in –ly; use adverbs after action verbs:

I usually arrive promptly for meetings.

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The difference between The difference between adjectives and adverbsadjectives and adverbs

ADJECTIVES ADVERBSbad badlycareful carefullyclear clearlycourteous courteouslydifferent differentlyquick quicklystrange strangelysure surely

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Helpful Tips from Helpful Tips from The HBJ Workbook, 1992The HBJ Workbook, 1992

I feel bad. =I feel badly. =

I feel good. =I feel well. =I feel well. =

[I am sorry.][I can’t tell if the

surface is rough or smooth.]

[I am happy.][My health is fine.][My fingers are

especially sensitive.]

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BadBad and and BadlyBadly

Bad is an adjective: I feel bad about the delay.

Badly is an adverb: The bruise doesn't hurt so badly now.

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Which sentence is grammatically Which sentence is grammatically correct?correct?

Although I never did good in spelling bees, I have always considered myself a decent speller.

I did really well on “The 25 Most Commonly Misspelled Words” quiz; I missed only one word – “misspell.”

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GoodGood and and WellWell

Good is an adjective: You look good in blue. You wear it well.

Well is an adverb: He gets along well with his co-workers.

Well is also an adjective when it is used to refer to health: I am not well today.

You look good, and you look well too.

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Real Real and and ReallyReally

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Use “real” preceding nouns; Use “real” preceding nouns; use “really” preceding adjectives (“very,” use “really” preceding adjectives (“very,” however, is a more formal adverb than however, is a more formal adverb than

“really.”)“really.”)

real excitementa real

disadvantagea real frienda real honora real differencea real crisisa real surprisereal love

really excitingreally

disadvantageousreally friendlyreally honorable

really differentreally criticalreally surprisingreally lovable

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SureSure and and SurelySurely

Sure is an adjective meaning “certain.”

I am sure that congressional hearings are nothing more than vapid, hollow charades.

Surely is an adverb meaning “certainly.”

INCORRECT: The city council sure

(certain) is making a number of

decisions this year.

CORRECT: The city council surely

(certainly) is making a number of

decisions this year.

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Which sentence is grammatically Which sentence is grammatically correct?correct?

Tips! We sure do thank you.

SPEAKER 1: Are you open Monday?SPEAKER 2: We sure are.

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Which sentence is grammatically Which sentence is grammatically correct?correct?

Tips! We sure do thank you.

SPEAKER 1: Are you open Monday?SPEAKER 2: We sure are. [Both sentences are incorrect. Since “surely” would sound stuffy here, try “certainly.”]

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Sort ofSort of and and kind ofkind of

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Based on the information in this Based on the information in this lesson, which speaker is lesson, which speaker is correct?correct?SPEAKER 1: How are you today?

Which respondent are you?SPEAKER 2: I’m good.SPEAKER 3: I’m well.

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LET’S PRACTICE!!!LET’S PRACTICE!!! Our instructor pronounces his words very

(precise, precisely). precisely

My pen was writing so (bad, badly) that I threw it away.

badly The experts are (somewhat, kind of)

undecided about the wisdom of such a tax. somewhat

The woman looked (different, differently) than she did the day before.

different

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LET’S PRACTICE A LITTLE MORE!!!LET’S PRACTICE A LITTLE MORE!!!

She looks (different, differently) at the situation now.

differently I feel (bad, badly) about missing the concert.

bad Make sure that she stirs the cookie batter

(good, well). well

Ted is a (real, really) good singer. really

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