Good or Well, Bad or Badly and Other Pairs

Use the good or well sheet as a quick usage check. Keep the connotation list handy during narrative writing so students choose trait words on purpose.

Choose good or well, real or really and bad or badly in sentences about a music rehearsal. Use an adjective (good, bad, real, sure) to describe a noun, often after a linking verb such as is, seem or sound. Use an adverb (well, badly, really, surely) to describe an action verb, an adjective or another adverb. The directions on the page read: Circle the word in parentheses that correctly completes each sentence. An answer key is included.

Yes, both. We made it for 8th grade parts of speech, and it works the same at home or at school. At home, a student can work through it alone and then go over it with you, which shows quickly what is solid and what needs another look. In class it works as independent practice, homework or a warm-up, and you can print one copy or a full set.

Use good, an adjective, to describe a noun, often after a linking verb such as sounded. Use well, an adverb, to describe an action, as in Tariq played the scales well.

Feel is a linking verb here, so it takes the adjective: Dev felt bad about missing the rehearsal. Badly describes how an action is done.

Connotation is the feeling a word carries beyond its meaning. Frugal and stingy name the same trait, but frugal makes readers admire it and stingy makes them judge it.