Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Crisi]

Dear teachers,

Could you explain me why the 'adverb' isn't used in the following sentence?

I realized that everything was going wrong.

Thank you very much for your help.

Best wishes
Crisi

[lotus]

Hi Crisi,

"Wrong" is an adverb in this case.


--lotus
_________________
War does not make one great --Yoda

[Crisi]

Hello Lotus,

Thanks for your answer. - But why isn't it wrongly???

I must have missed out on some special rules then.

Could you please explain me this exception. Thank you very much in advance.

Best wishes,
Crisi

[Crisi]

Lotus,

Sorry, I wanted to say: Explain this exception to me. -

[lotus]

Hi Crisi,

Wrong and wrongly are both adverbs.
http://onelook.com/?w=wrong&ls=a
http://onelook.com/?w=wrongly&ls=a

Wrong is used more often.

Though it is often the case, adverbs do not have to end with -ly.
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/adverbs.htm

"Bad" is another case. Badly is an adverb, so is bad (although it is listed as non-standard).

Sometimes native speakers will try to turn an adjective into an adverb. Take Apple's slogan "Think different." It should be "think differently." How do we think? Differently. But, if we drive it home hard enough, and enough people say it, sometimes new usage will be created. That's probably what happened to "wrong" and "bad."

English is a dynamic language. Sometimes it can be frustrating - sometimes it can be charming.


--lotus
_________________
War does not make one great --Yoda

[Crisi]

Thank you very much, Lotus, for your comprehensive explanation.

Best wishes,
Crisi