Grammar question

Joyce J · Post by **Joyce J** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 7:46 pm

The children are acting impatient/impatiently.

Correct response and more importantly Why??

Macavity · Post by **Macavity** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 7:19 am

Hello,
impatiently because this is an adverb and tells us how the action of the verb is being done.

jotham · Post by **jotham** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 11:18 am

The verb act can be linking or action. When functioning as an action verb — like when the children are putting on a production and have to act — the adverb would be used. In this context, impatiently doesn't seem to fit though. When functioning as a linking verb — to convey how the children are behaving or putting on airs — adjectives, like sad or impatient, are correct.