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Adverbs/Adjectives

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Latest post Thu, Feb 28 2008 1:01 AM by Anonymous. 3 replies.
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mathukauer  +  482405 Wed, 27 Feb 08 04:47 PM

She looks beautiful..She looks beautifully

She looks good..She looks well

My teacher says that the 2nd examples are correct because adjectives can only modify nouns; whereas, adverbs can modify verbs.  I just feel the second examples don't sound correct at all.  If "she looks beautifully" wouldn't that describe the ways "she" uses her eyes as beautifully.  If "she looks well" wouldn't that describe her eye sight as being top-notch.  The second example could also describe the way she looks as healthy, but I'd swear the first example would be beautiful instead of beautifully.
mathukauer
Joined on Wed, Feb 27 2008
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Susankay  +  482426 Wed, 27 Feb 08 05:22 PM

Adverbs can modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs and even nouns.

"Look" is not a good verb to make your case. Try another one.

 

 
Susankay
Joined on Sat, Jan 19 2008
Full Member 201
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Grammar Geek  +  482457 Wed, 27 Feb 08 06:10 PM

mathukauer
“

She looks beautiful..She looks beautifully

She looks good..She looks well

My teacher says that the 2nd examples are correct because adjectives can only modify nouns; whereas, adverbs can modify verbs.  I just feel the second examples don't sound correct at all.  If "she looks beautifully" wouldn't that describe the ways "she" uses her eyes as beautifully.  If "she looks well" wouldn't that describe her eye sight as being top-notch.  The second example could also describe the way she looks as healthy, but I'd swear the first example would be beautiful instead of beautifully.

”

You are absolutely correct.

Your teacher is over-applying the rule that adverbs modify verbs. It doesn't apply to verbs like to be, to seem, to appear, to look, to feel, etc. which describe somethings state.

Grammar Geek
Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006
Veteran Member 19,506
Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random!
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Anonymous, 1 yr 254 days ago

verbs like looks, seems, appears are copular verb and modify the subject.  Therefore, they modify the subject  thus beautiful i.e. adjective is required. hence beautiful is the answer.

 with regards

b.r.dua

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