Often people confuse the use of some adverbs and some adjectives. The next few lessons will cover some of the common mistakes. Remember that adjectives modify nouns or pronouns. Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs.

This lesson will be about the use of the adjective sure and the adverbs surely, certainly, and really. Use sure only when one of these three adverbs does not make sense.

Examples: Jim is sure he is right. Surely he is right.

Choose the correct form for each of these sentences.

1. You seem very (surely, sure) of yourself.

2. Ila (surely, sure) is tired from work.

3. The milk (surely, sure) tastes sour.

4. Are you (surely, sure) this is the right road?

5. This story (surely, sure) is exciting.

Answers

1. sure

2. surely

3. surely

4. sure

5. surely

(Each answer in which you used surely could be substituted with the other adverbs really and certainly and still make sense.)

The adjective good should not be used for the adverb well. Well should be used for an adjective only when it refers to health or appearance.

Choose the correct form for each of these sentences.

1. This food tastes very (good, well).

2. Ann doesn't drive very (good, well).

3. Dad writes (good, well).

4. Becky worked (good, well) today.

5. That hot sun feels (good, well).

Answers

1. good

2. well

3. well

4. well

5. good

The adverb badly is used to tell how something is done. The adjective bad is used to refer to health or feelings and to complete linking verbs such as seem, look, taste, smell.

Choose the correct form for each of the following sentences.

1. Our football team played (bad, badly) last night.

2. John felt (bad, badly) about the loss.

3. The medicine doesn't taste too (bad, badly).

4. Our science project went (bad, badly).

5. The air in the sewer smelled (bad, badly).

Answers

1. badly

2. bad

3. bad

4. badly

5. bad

The adjectives real and awful should not be used for the adverbs really, very and extremely.

Choose the correct form for each of these sentences.

1. She is (very, real) sorry.

2. Today is (really, real) stormy.

3. Is that a (really, real) person?

4. Be sure to drive (very, real) carefully on slick roads.

5. I am (extremely, real) tired of your antics.

Answers

1. very

2. really

3. real

4. very

5. extremely

Choose the correct form for each of these sentences. Remember that adjectives modify nouns and pronouns while adverbs modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs.

1. Mr. Peterson always speaks (good, well).

2. That coach (sure, surely) gets results.

3. Those knives are (awful, very) sharp.

4. The bacon tasted (good, well).

5. The new teacher (sure, really) is smart.

6. Your assignment was done (bad, badly).

7. I am (real, really) sorry to hear that.

Answers

1. well

2. surely

3. very

4. good

5. really

6. badly

7. really

Choose the correct form for the following sentences.

1. Matthew plays tennis (bad, badly).

2. Can't you see the game (good, well)?

3. The apple tastes (bad, badly).

4. Are you (sure, surely) he will come?

5. The man felt (bad, badly) about the accident.

6. The weather has been (real, really) cold lately.

7. His death caused everyone to be (real, very) sad.

8. Do you feel (good, well)?

9. The pizza tastes (real, really) (good, well).

10. You (sure, surely) are wrong.

Answers

1. badly

2. well

3. bad

4. sure

5. bad

6. really

7. very

8. well

9. really, good

10. surely

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