Adverbs and Adjectives real and really From the

Adverbs and Adjectives: real and really From the UWF Writing Lab’s 101 Grammar Mini-Lesson Series MINI-LESSON #6

REAL • Real is an adjective and should be used to modify or describe only a noun or a pronoun. Real is usually interchangeable with genuine. – Example: • That is a real diamond. • That is a genuine diamond.

REALLY • Really is an adverb and should be used only to modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Remember, however, that really is an overused equivalent of very, unusually, and other such modifiers. – Examples: • Incorrect: – That is a real difficult concept. • Correct: – That is a really difficult concept. – That is a very difficult concept.

Real versus Really Real • • Real interest Real knowledge Real honor Real crisis Really • • Really interesting Really knowledgeable Really honorable Really critical

Let’s practice! Find any incorrect uses of real and really: • I really feel like avoiding my professors today. Correct! • I would never say that I am real unattractive, but I would say that I am real intelligent. Really

Let’s Practice Some MORE! • The coach is real upset that we lost the game. Really • I can surf really awesomely when I am really sunburned. Correct! • The crash was a real surprise to the passengers. Correct!

Wasn’t that really fun?