Hello Readers,
What is the difference between an adjective and an adverb? An adjective is a word that describes a noun (a person, place, thing or idea). For example: Bobby Fischer is a confident chess player.
In this sentence, both confident and chess are describing the noun "player".
An adverb is a word that describes a verb (an action word) or modifies an adjective.
Example: Bobby Fischer plays chess confidently.
Example: Bobby Fischer is a truly confident player.
In the first example, the adverb confidently is describing how Bobby Fischer plays.
In the second example, truly is modifying the adjective confident.
Knowing the difference, it amazes me how often I see or hear adjectives used in place of an adverb. It's as if some people have never heard an adverb used or do not know how to use one.
Example: In the novel "One For The Money" by Janet Evanovich, the main character Stephanie Plum says, "My New Jersey heritage weighed heavy ..." WRONG. The correct adverb is heavily, describing the verb weighed.
Example: In the series "Necessary Roughness" episode "Might As Well Face It", the General Manager of the fictitious New York Hawks football team says about one of his players, "He's playing erratic." WRONG. It would be correct to say erratically, describing how he is playing.
Example: In the program "Harry's Law", episode "Onward and Upward", an associate of the titular attorney Harry Korn says to his colleague: "Can we just agree to disagree and not take it personal, OK?" WRONG. The correct adverb is personally, describing the verb take.
Example: In the medical drama "House" episode "The C-word", Dr. Wilson is speaking to his oncologist about his treatment. He asks, "How do you plan to do that, Mike?" The oncologist replies, "We start conservative ..." WRONG. The verb is start and the adverb should be conservatively.
Example: On an episode of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" , crime lab chief D.B. Russell remarks about a dead body's killer: "He killed her quick." WRONG. Of course it should be, "He killed her quickly."
In the last three examples, the character who uttered the egregious phrase was supposed to be a highly educated person (lawyer, doctor, lab scientist). Therefore I lay blame with the script writers who may or may not be educated.
Here are some examples of adverbs used correctly.
In "The King of Queens" episode "Court Date", Doug is talking to his wife Carrie about how her traffic ticket will affect their car insurance. "You are a persistent violator. That means you violate persistently." WELL DONE of both adjective and adverb!
On "The Bachelorette" Emily's season, she meets suitor Arie at the Phoenix International Speedway where he takes her for a ride in his Indy car. She says, "Are you gonna drive slow?" He answers, "I'll drive safely." GOOD JOB, Arie, not so good for Emily.
While we are on the subject of adjective versus adverb, one more issue needs to be addressed.
Not good versus evil but good versus well.
Good is an adjective, describing a noun. For example, Bobby Fischer is a good chess player. Good describes the noun "player".
Well is an adverb, describing a verb. For example, Bobby Fischer plays well. Well describes how Bobby Fischer plays.
Example: In "Boardwalk Empire" season 1 episode 5 "Nights in Ballygran", Eli Thompson, the brother of Nucky Thompson, says, "Maybe one day I'll be as good as you." Nucky retorts, "It's 'be as well as me,' you dolt. Want to be taken seriously? Then learn how to f*#*ing speak."
Actually, Eli is using good correctly and Nucky is wrong. However, Nucky does use seriously well.
Example: In the 2007 film "The Brave One", the heroine Erica Bane says to Detective Mercer after hearing him give a statement to reporters about a killing, "You handled yourself really well back there." CORRECT.
Example: In the movie "Post Grad" released in 2009, little boy Hunter is entering a box car derby. He says, "What if I don't drive good?" His mother says, "...it's drive well, honey, not drive good. Proper English is 'drive well'. I want you to drive well." RIGHT ON, Mom. She gets an A+.
Stay tuned for next month when I address, "Do you mind ...?"
