Chapter 1 Common Grammar Mistakes
19
bad/badly
Many people think it sounds better to say, "I feel badly" when they
feel punk.
If you're one of them and you're a Brit, it may indeed sound better.
But if you're on this side of the big pond, you'll be correct with:
v
I feed BAD.
This is standard American English.
When verbs like "feel," "look," "smell," or "taste" are LINKING
VERBS, they suggest states of being, not action.
And a linking verb takes an ADJECTIVE, not an adverb.
BAD is an adjective. ("Badly" is an adverb.)
v
She feels BAD about missing the deadline.
v
Ratings look BAD for the July book.
v
Yuk! It smells BAD in here.
v
The 5-day old pizza tastes pretty BAD.
Here're a couple of sentences to help you keep them straight.
v
If you smell BAD, take a bath.
v
If you smell BADLY, see an ear, nose, and throat doctor.
Mrs. B hopes neither applies to you.
