Poor or poorly?

Poor is an adjective; it can be used before a noun or after a linking verb. However, poorly can be either an adjective or an adverb. As an adjective, it follows a linking verb and means “sick” or “unwell”; as an adverb, it modifies an action verb and answers the question “how.”

Using these clues, see if you can fill in the blanks below with the correct choice.

1. Chloé rarely consumes vegetables and seems to relish fried foods. That child eats so .

poor

poorly

2. Because of macular degeneration, Sylvain’s eyesight is becoming .

poor

poorly

3. Agathe barely ate her supper; she’s feeling .

poor

poorly

4. With only one breadwinner now, the family lives quite .

poor

poorly

5. The food at the restaurant was of quality.

poor

poorly

6. Tony speaks French, English and Farsi fluently, but he speaks Spanish .

poor

poorly

7. The weather in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, is today.

poor

poorly

8. Rafael was so full of anxiety the night before the exam that he slept .

poor

poorly

9. The children looked for days after the accident.

poor

poorly