Download Adjectives and Adverbs with Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

Adjectives and Adverbs
with Transitive and
Intransitive Verbs
Mini-Lesson #4
From the
UWF Writing Lab’s
101 Grammar Mini-lessons Series
Transitive Verb
A transitive verb names an action that directly
affects the person or thing mentioned in the
predicate.
A transitive verb requires an object to
complete its meaning in the sentence.
He struck the gong.
Water erodes even granite.
Did you mail the letters?
We elected Sloan.
Intransitive Verb
An intransitive verb names an action that has
no direct impact on anyone or anything
named in the predicate.
A intransitive verb requires no object.
Frank scowled.
Gail won.
Children giggle.
Wilson smiled at the comedian’s best
efforts, but he did not laugh.
Adjectives with Transitive and
Intransitive Verbs
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Adjectives modify nouns and pronouns, specifying such things as how
many, what kind, and which one.
A predicate adjective usually follows a linking verb.
He is strange.
I am slow.
The response was quick.
She feels bad.
We are poor.
Linking verbs are used to show a “state of being” of the subject, not what
the subject is doing. Some of these are as follows:
The forms of be: is, am, are, was, were, been, being
The sense verbs: feel (as an emotion), look, smell, taste, sound,
Other verbs with linking use: appear, become, remain, stay, grow,
seem
Adverbs with Transitive and
Intransitive Verbs
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Adverbs modify a verb, an adjective, another adverb, or a whole
sentence. An adverb conveys such things as how, when, where,
why, and for what purpose.
Unlike the predicate adjective, this –ly modifier generally follows an
action verb.
He talks strangely.
I speak slowly.
We need to act quickly.
We sang badly.
We speak poorly.
Bad and Badly
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Bad is an adjective:
I feel bad (NOT badly) about the
delay.
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Badly is an adverb:
It does not hurt so badly (NOT bad)
now.
Good and Well
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Good is an adjective:
You look good in blue. You wear it well.
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Well is an adverb:
He gets along well with his co-workers.
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Well is also an adjective when it is used to
refer to health:
I am not well today.
Good and Well as Adjectives
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Good is an adjective:
You look good.
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Well is also an adjective when it is used to
refer to health:
You look well.
Real and Really
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Real is an adjective meaning "genuine";
really is an adverb:
The admiral has real charm, so he is
really charismatic.
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The use of real as an adverb is colloquial and
nonstandard:
He writes really (NOT real) well.
REAL Versus REALLY
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a real friend
a real crisis
real support
a real difference
a real threat
real excitement
a real surprise
a real honor
really friendly
really critical
really supportive
really different
really threatening
really exciting
really surprising
really honorable
Sure and Surely
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Sure is an adjective meaning “certain”:
Are you sure (certain)?
Yes, I’m sure (certain) about the date.
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Surely is an adverb meaning “certainly”:
You surely (certainly) do look good.
This Bundu mask surely (certainly) is
expensive.
Sure and Surely
QUESTION:
Please ask Kevin to return my call.
CORRECT RESPONSE:
a.
I sure will.
b.
I surely will.
Questions?
 Please
contact the staff of the
UWF Writing Lab for any
additional questions.