MTEL Communication Literacy Skills : Writing Practice Test

What is the correct usage of the adjective "bad" in a sentence?

1. She feels bad about the decision

2. She feels badly about the decision

3. She feels bad about the delay

4. She feels badly about the delay

The correct answer is: She feels bad about the delay

The correct usage of "bad" in the provided context revolves around understanding the distinction between "bad" and "badly." "Bad" is an adjective that describes a noun, while "badly" is an adverb that modifies verbs. In the sentences regarding feelings, "She feels bad" effectively communicates the emotional state of the subject regarding the decision or delay, as it is describing how she feels. The choice that correctly uses "bad" focuses on the subjective experience of feeling. When the emotion is the center of the sentence, "bad" directly conveys the intended meaning. In contrast, using "badly" would incorrectly imply a deficiency in the act of feeling itself, which does not align with standard usage in expressions of emotional states. This is why the other options, although they may seem grammatically permissible, misapply the function of the word in this context.