Is this sentence proper english? "I want so badly to go home and take a nap". Should it be bad or badly?

Answer 1

Badly is correct. You need an adverb as a modifier to the verb "want". You want to go badly. Bad is an adjective and cannot be used as a verb modifier.

Answer 2

No the sentence is very poor English. The introduction of the word 'so' is un-necessary. Also the use of an adverb before your verb creates a split infinitive. 'Badly' is not a good word either in this context, but if you must use it then alternatives are:

I badly want to go home and take a nap.
I want to go home badly and take a nap.

the use of and is also bad English as taking a nap is the object of your sentence. 'To' would be better.

I would have said

I desperately want to go home to take a nap.

Answer 3

Badly is correct in this use, but not necessarily because it is an adverb. Bad and badly are often misused when expressing how we "feel". Feel is a verb that should be modified by an adverb, but not always.

But, we can talk about feeling as in the sense of touch or as in the sense of emotion. If I use the verb "feel" in a sentence and use an adverb to modify it, I would say, "I feel badly." However, this sentence may not mean what you intend. To "feel badly" means that you do not use your hands very well in sensing things by touch. If you mean to say you are saddened or sorry about something in expressing your feelings in a situation you would say, "I feel bad about your accident."

Isn't English fun!

Answer 4

Proper English is "want so badly," because to modify a verb (want) you need an adverb: Badly.

"Bad" is an adjective. "I want so bad to go home" is informal English, but not grammatically correct.

Answer 5

Yes, the sentence is correct. You always use badly as an adverb.

Answer 6

badly is the way to go! (adverb modifying the verb want)

Answer 7

Badly is right.

Answer 8

It should be badly