Scarcely

Scarcely is almost negative in meaning:

Tom has scarcely any food.

Sharp

Sharp can be used as an adverb to mean ‘punctually’, in expressions like at six o’clock sharp; we start at twelve-twenty sharp. It also has a musical sense (to sing sharp means ‘to sing on a note that is too high’), and it is used in the expressions turn sharp left and turn sharp right (a sharp turn is one that nearly takes you back where you came from). In other senses we use sharply (for example, look sharply, speak sharply).

Short

Short is used as an adverb in the expressions stop short (= ‘stop suddenly’), cut short (= ‘interrupt’). Shortly means ‘soon’; it can also describe an impatient way of speaking.

Slow

Slow is used as an adverb instead of slowly in road-signs, as in Slow, dangerous bend, and in informal conversation after go, and some other verbs in American English. Typical expressions: go slow, drive slow.

Sound

Sound is used as an adverb in the expression sound asleep. In other cases, soundly is used (e.g. She’s sleeping soundly).

Straight

The adverb and the adjective are the same. A straight road goes straight from one place to another.

Tight

After a verb, tight can be used instead of tightly, especially in informal conversational English. Typical expressions: hold tight, packed tight (compare tightly packed).

Warm

Warmly is usually used in an abstract sense:

He greeted us warmly.

However, warmly may be used in a literal sense:

Please dress Paul warmly as it is cold outside.

Well

Well is an adverb corresponding to good (a good singer sings well). Well is also an adjective meaning ‘in good health’ (the opposite of ill). In this sense, well is only used after the verb: we can say I’m well but not * a well person.

Wide

The normal adverb is wide; widely means ‘in many different places’. Compare:

He opened the door wide. He has travelled widely.

Wrong

Wrong is like right: it can be used instead of wrongly after the verb, especially in informal conversation. Compare:

I wrongly believed that you wanted to help me.

You guessed wrong(ly).

Adjectives or Adverbs? (Confusing cases)

With verbs we usually use adverbs, not adjectives. But with certain verbs (they are called link verbs), adjectives can be used. This happens when we are really describing the subject of the sentence, not the “action” of the verb. Verbs of this kind are:

be, seem, appear, grow,look, sound, smell, taste, feel, become, get. He spoke

She is nice. She seems nice. She sounds nice.

She smells nice. She feels nice.

But we should be careful as some of these verbs have two meanings. Compare:

The problem appeared impossible.

Isabel suddenly appeared in the doorway

In the first sentence, appeared means “seemed”, and is used with an adjective; but in the second sentence appeared means ‘came into sight’(an action), so it is used with an adverb.

Look, taste, feel and smell can also be used to refer to actions, and they are then used with adverbs. Compare:

Your father looks angry (=’seems angry’)

He’s looking at you angrily (looking =’directing his eyes’-an action.)

The soup tastes wonderful.

I tasted the soup suspiciously.

My skin feels rough.

The doctor felt my arm carefully.

2) Sometimes other verbs, too, can be followed by adjectives, when we are really describing the subject of the sentence, and not the action of the verb. This often happens in descriptions with remain, stand, lie, sit, leave, arrive, return

The valley lay quite and peaceful in the sun.

She sat motionless, waiting for their decision.

They arrived home safe and sound.

The train lef t London empty.

He remained calm in spite of the danger.

His farther returned happy.

3)Sometimes verbs are used to show how the subject of the sentence changes in some way. These verbs are also followed by adjectives. For example become, fall, get, go, turn.

She fell unconscious on the floor.

It’s getting dark.

There are some set expressions: