SHE LOOKED NERVOUS AFTER SHE LOOKED NERVOUSLY AT HER WATCH.

Most students know that the Be verb takes an adjective, not an adverb. But what about other stative, non-action verbs such as look, appear, and feel? These verbs can take both an adjective and an adverb! The confusion lies in the fact that these verbs have both non-action and action meanings.

Trick:

Can you use the Be verb in place of look, appear, or feel?

– If you can, then it’s usually a non-action verb and should take an adjective.

– If you can’t, then it’s usually an action verb and should take an adverb.

1. LOOK:

Non-Action + Adjective:

Look can be a non-action verb that can describe someone’s appearance. We use this verb to explain how someone else looks/appears to the speaker.

Examples:

• I think she looks very happy. (Trick: I think she is very happy. = correct)
• He looks tired today. (Trick: He is tired today. = correct)

Action + Adverb:

Look is also an action verb that means to use one’s eyes to see something.

Examples:

• He is looking carefully at the schedule. (Trick: He is being carefully at the schedule. = incorrect)
• She looked furtively at him from across the room. (Trick: She was furtively at him from across the room. = incorrect)

2. APPEAR:

Non-Action + Adjective:

Appear can be a non-action verb that can describe someone’s appearance. We use this verb to explain how someone else looks/appears to the speaker.

Examples:

• My teacher appears tired today. (Trick: My teacher is tired today. = correct)
• He appeared nervous this morning. (Trick: He was nervous this morning. = correct)

Action + Adverb:

Appear is also an action verb that means to show up suddenly.

Examples:

• She appeared quickly once the bell rang. (Trick: She was quickly once the bell rang. = incorrect)
• The flowers appeared suddenly in the magician’s hand. (Trick: The flowerswere suddenly in the magician’s hand. = Be careful; appear must take an adverb here but the Be verb does make sense.)

3. FEEL:

Non-Action + Adjective:

Feel can be a non-action verb that can describe someone’s emotions or physical state. We use this verb to explain how the speaker feels or how a speaker thinks someone else feels.

Examples:

• I feel stressed out at work. (Trick: I am stressed out at work. = correct)
• She must feel excited since it’s her graduation day . (Trick: She must beexcited since it’s her graduation day. = correct)

Action + Adverb:

Feel is also an action verb that means to touch something. This use is not as common as the non-action verb.

Examples:

• I felt quickly for my phone to make sure it was still in my pocket. (Trick: Iwas quickly for my phone to make sure it was still in my pocket. = incorrect)
• She felt the fabric carefully before she bought it. (Trick: She was the fabric carefully before she bought it. = incorrect)

PRACTICE:

ANSWERS:

1. nervous   2. nervously   3. happy   4. frantically   5. frantic
6. sleepily   7. sick   8. excited   9. suddenly   10. good