- bad - badly
- ◊ 'bad'Something that is bad is unpleasant, harmful, or undesirable.
I have some very bad news.
Candy is bad for your teeth.
\The weather was bad.
The comparative and superlative forms of `bad' are worse and worst.\...the worst thing which ever happened to me.
◊ WARNINGYou never use the forms `badder' and `baddest'.\◊ 'badly'You do not use bad as an adverb. You do not say, for example, `The Conservatives did bad in the elections'. You say `The Conservatives did badly in the elections'.I cut myself badly.
\The room was so badly lit I couldn't see what I was doing.
Some people ski worse than others.
\...the worst affected areas.
Badly has another meaning which is quite different. If you need or want something badly, you need or want it very much.We need the money badly.
I want you so badly.
\I am badly in need of advice.
For this meaning of badly, you do not use the comparative and superlative forms `worse' and `worst'. Instead you use the forms more badly and most badly.She wanted him more badly than ever.
\This is the area that most badly needs the relationship.
Many other words and expressions can be used in a similar way to this meaning of badly. For a graded list, see section on degree in entry at ↑ Adverbials.\
Useful english dictionary. 2012.