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Kooyeen Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
Talk funny - Adjectives and adverbs
Hi,
I wonder what are the cases where adjectives are also used instead of adverbs. I know some adjectives are also adverbs, for example "slow", which is listed as both an adjective and an adverb. Others are used as adverbs in certain cases, for example "good" (Listen to me good). We all know that, and it can be found in dictionaries.
But sometimes I feel adjectives could be used as if they were adverbs, and no dictionary lists adjectives like "funny" as adverbs too. So... could someone tell me more about this?
Here are a few examples that doesn't sound completely unnatural to me:
You are acting weird.
They talk funny.
You should pronounce them different.
Thank you
I wonder what are the cases where adjectives are also used instead of adverbs. I know some adjectives are also adverbs, for example "slow", which is listed as both an adjective and an adverb. Others are used as adverbs in certain cases, for example "good" (Listen to me good). We all know that, and it can be found in dictionaries.
But sometimes I feel adjectives could be used as if they were adverbs, and no dictionary lists adjectives like "funny" as adverbs too. So... could someone tell me more about this?
Here are a few examples that doesn't sound completely unnatural to me:
You are acting weird.
They talk funny.
You should pronounce them different.
Thank you
Top answer
The ones you list, and more like them, are widely used in casual conversation, but should (as I always say) be avoided in careful writing.
- The ones you list, and more like them, are widely used in casual conversation, but should (as I always say) be avoided in careful writing.
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10 Answers
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The ones you list, and more like them, are widely used in casual conversation, but should (as I always say) be avoided in careful writing.
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Oh, oh! An embarrassing slip by one of our stars on the Forum!
... a few examples that doesn't ...
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When the contexts involve the senses, adjectives behave like adverbs.
She looks sensational / beautiful > completely fine.
This cake tastes very light > completely fine.
The band sounds terrible > not terribly. They may play terribly.
Her hands
She looks sensational / beautiful > completely fine.
This cake tastes very light > completely fine.
The band sounds terrible > not terribly. They may play terribly.
Her hands
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Oops... lol, well, I make a lot of mistakes like that. Either because I don't really read what I've written, or because... because... I don't know why. It's just that I find myself writing "she don't know".
Well, this is off topic, but Christina Aguilera says "That don't..." for example. I know black people say "She don't", "That don't", but who else uses those structures among white people?
Well, this is off topic, but Christina Aguilera says "That don't..." for example. I know black people say "She don't", "That don't", but who else uses those structures among white people?
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<<<When the contexts involve the senses, adjectives behave like adverbs.>>>
Of course they are adjectives. That's my point. Song lyrics don't necessarily follow grammar rules. "She don't love you, like I love you..." is just the typical country lyrics to reflect the flavor of the count
Of course they are adjectives. That's my point. Song lyrics don't necessarily follow grammar rules. "She don't love you, like I love you..." is just the typical country lyrics to reflect the flavor of the count
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Just one more little tidbit for thought. The verb 'act' is sometimes used as a linking verb, so it's not unheard of to (correctly) use an adjective after that verb. The verbs Goodman mentioned are also 'linking verbs'. (If you don't already have a list of 'linking verbs', Kooyeen, you can find one pretty easily with Google.)
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You know what? I'm starting to think this problem actually doesn't exist. Because there's nothing really strange, all the verbs I used are linking verbs or behave like linking verbs in some cases.
Act: act dumb.
Different: it's also an adverb.
Talk: talk bullisht, talk dirty...
And now take "behave". I don't think it behaves like a link
Act: act dumb.
Different: it's also an adverb.
Talk: talk bullisht, talk dirty...
And now take "behave". I don't think it behaves like a link
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