Talk (softly/soft) or don't talk at all. Which one is correct and why?

Question

Talk (softly/soft) or don't talk at all. Which one is correct and why?

Answer 1

"soft" is an adjective, and is used to modify a noun----eg the soft pillow

"softly" is an adverb, and is used to modify a verb----eg they played the music softly.

In this case, what is being modified is the verb "talk"

Answer 2

Talk softly.

Soft is an adjective. Adjectives modify nouns. That is a soft <noun>, The <noun> is soft.

Softly is an adverb. Adverbs modify verbs. <verb> softly, The man <verb>ed softly, She was <verb>ing softly.

Verbs are action words, like: run, walk, drive, eat, sleep, go, come, stop.

Nouns are ideas, people, and things: dog, man, woman, road, table, chair.

A chair can be soft.

You can sit in a chair softly.

Answer 3

Softly is the correct answer. When you are describing a verb (talk) you use an adVerb, which usually (but not always) ends in -ly.

Soft is an adjective. Adjectives are used to modify (describe) nouns.

Hope that helps!

Abby

Answer 4

Mark’s right. The -ly ending is the giveaway to the correct word to modify a verb. Remember that there are adverbs that don’t have the -ly, though, so you speak well, not good, but you speak good English.