[Grammar] as good as?

[JustALass]

Which is grammatically correct?

I didn't know he spoke English as badly as that

OR

I didn't know he spoke English as good as that

This was a multiple answer question, the options were; good, definitely, badly and fluent. I told my student the correct answer was badly as good is not used in that context, but now I am doubting it. Which is correct?

 

[5jj]

Welcome to the forum, JustALass.

You were right. 'Right' is wrong.

Later: Silly slip. I meant to write 'Good' is wrong'.

 

[JustALass]

Welcome to the forum, JustALass.

You were right. 'Right' is wrong.

excuse me?

 

[5jj]

Sorry, I don't know what happened there. I meant to write 'Good is wrong'.

 

[MikeNewYork]

excuse me?

I think 5jj meant "good" is wrong. One needs an adverb there, such as "badly" or "well".

 

[JustALass]

Sorry, I don't know what happened there. I meant to write 'Good is wrong'.

Thank you for the prompt reply! I am so happy to have found this forum, I'm just starting out teaching English to Italians and it's not as easy as I thought it would be!

So, is badly correct then? Why? My students always want to know why, here in Italy the people are grammar obsessed and I often have no idea how to answer.

I seriously need to brush up on my grammar!

 

[JustALass]

I think 5jj meant "good" is wrong. One needs an adverb there, such as "badly" or "well".

Thanks Mike, I don't want to be a pain but do you by any chance have an article or a link or something explaining this adverb rule?

 

[MikeNewYork]

Thanks Mike, I don't want to be a pain but do you by any chance have an article or a link or something explaining this adverb rule?

The rule is that adverbs modify verbs; adjectives do not. You can use a search engine to find pages dealing with the functions of adverbs and adjectives. There are hundreds of them.

 

[JustALass]

The rule is that adverbs modify verbs; adjectives do not. You can use a search engine to find pages dealing with the functions of adverbs and adjectives. There are hundreds of them.

Will do

Thanks again!

 

[JustALass]

The rule is that adverbs modify verbs; adjectives do not. You can use a search engine to find pages dealing with the functions of adverbs and adjectives. There are hundreds of them.

I got the following answer somewhere else, and am now more confused than ever!



"I didn't know he spoke English as badly as that" is correct English and presumably is the expected answer.
"I didn't know he spoke English as good as that" is bad English if "good" is meant as an adverb (should be "well"). However, it is possible to interpret "good" as an adjective, and "English as good as that" as a noun phrase, in which case the sentence is OK. By the same token "fluent" is also possible.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I got the following answer somewhere else, and am now more confused than ever!



"I didn't know he spoke English as badly as that" is correct English and presumably is the expected answer.
"I didn't know he spoke English as good as that" is bad English if "good" is meant as an adverb (should be "well"). However, it is possible to interpret "good" as an adjective, and "English as good as that" as a noun phrase, in which case the sentence is OK. By the same token "fluent" is also possible.

I disagree with that answer. For me, "as XXX as that" is modifying the verb "spoke".

 

[JustALass]

I disagree with that answer. For me, "as XXX as that" is modifying the verb "spoke".

Yes, I think I agree with you

 

[MikeNewYork]

Yes, I think I agree with you

English grammar is based mostly on analysis and theory. It is not an exact science. Opinions abound!