Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[kerstin]

I want my coffee *searing hot* or *searingly hot*?


thanks

[cgage2]

Searingly hot is correct because the "hot" requires an adverb to modify it.
However, in American English there is something called "the death of the adverb". What that means is that many Americans are declining to use adverbs and are employing adjectives in their place. You hear doctors, lawyers and even some teachers use adjectives incorrectly.
Example" She cooks real good" (The correct words should be "really well")

[kerstin]

Oh,I understand.Because when I heard a native speaker was saying that ,I thought it was strange.

by the way,to* cook simmer *is wrong,it should be to* cook simmerly*,right?

thank you

[Lorikeet]

If by "simmer" you mean hot enough to almost boil but not quite, it's a verb and you don't use "cook". The soup was simmering on the stove.

[asterix]

But, if you say searing hot coffee searing is an adjective, as is hot.
Probably you do not even need to include i]hot[/i].
You can also have searing pain and so on. It means: experienced as a sudden burning sensation.

[Philo Kevetch]

Could it be that you heard "steaming hot" coffee? That sounds more common to me. Philo