Dictionary-enhanced word family
Word Forms of “Bad”
Not good; having negative qualities or causing harm or unhappiness.
Word Family of Bad
How to Use Each Word Form in a Sentence
- That apple tastes bad because it is old. A1
- He felt bad about missing his friend's birthday party. A2
- Bad weather conditions forced the airport to cancel multiple flights. B1
Word Form Patterns for Bad
-ness
Adds **-ness** to make a noun meaning the state, quality, or condition of being something. Example: bad → badness.
-ly
Adds **-ly** to make an adverb describing how an action happens. Example: bad → badly.
Origin and Word Formation of Bad
Old English origin; perhaps related to "bad hair day" or disheveled condition. Cognate with Scandinavian words.
Common Word Form Mistakes with Bad
Wrong: He speaks English very bad.
Correct: He speaks English very badly.
Modifying a verb (speaks) requires the adverb form "badly", not the adjective "bad".
Wrong: The food taste bad to me.
Correct: The food tastes bad to me.
With singular subject "food", the verb needs "-s"; "taste" → "tastes".
Frequently Asked Questions About Word Forms of Bad
What are the word forms of “bad”?
The confirmed forms are shown in the word family cards above. Missing parts of speech are hidden instead of filled with placeholder text.
What part of speech is “bad”?
“bad” is primarily a adj. Some forms above show how the same root works as other parts of speech.
Where does “bad” come from?
Old English origin; perhaps related to "bad hair day" or disheveled condition. Cognate with Scandinavian words.