[Grammar] They treated him badly.

[suprunp]

10.10
[c] The obligatory manner adverbial in They treated him badly seems to be related both to the subject ('They are behaving badly.') and to the object ('He is in a bad way.').
(A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language; R. Quirk)

Would you be so kind as to explain to me how exactly 'badly' is related to the object? I fail to read it that way.

Thanks.

 

[MikeNewYork]

"Badly" is an adverb there. Therefore it modifies the verb. In this case it changes the verb "treat" from neutral to negative. Their treatment of him was bad.

 

[suprunp]

Thank you MikeNewYork!

Have I unerstood it correctly then that "The obligatory manner adverbial in They treated him badly seems to be related both to the subject ('They are behaving badly.') and to the object ('He is in a bad way.')." simply explains why They treated him badly means 'They are behaving badly towards him'?

Thanks.

 

[SoothingDave]

It has nothing to do with him being "in a bad way." It describes their treatment of him.

 

[suprunp]

Thank you SoothingDave!

It has nothing to do with him being "in a bad way." It describes their treatment of him.

Are you saying that what was suggested in the book is not correct?

Thanks.

 

[SoothingDave]

Thank you SoothingDave!


Are you saying that what was suggested in the book is not correct?

Thanks.

I am. Logic and experience can tell us that someone who has been treated badly is probably in bad shape, but the adverb "badly" only modifies the "treatment."