Shadowing Practice: Adverb and Adjective Choices in Conversation - Learn English Speaking with Video

Loading...
1
From VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar.
2
Imagine two American students are talking outside of their school.
3
Let's listen to the imaginary conversation.
4
Today is going slow.
5
Yeah, I guess we should study for our grammar test.
6
That sounds like a terrible idea.
7
Yeah, but if we don't study, we won't do good on the test.
8
Fine.
9
Let's go study our notes quick.
10
Then we can play video games.
11
These bad students may hate grammar,
12
but they just taught you some common grammatical structures in conversational American English.
13
In today's report, we will study how conversational grammar differs from written and formal grammatical structures.
14
We will show you how some Americans use adjectives and adverbs in casual conversation.
15
Adjectives are words that give information about nouns.
16
They generally appear before nouns, although they also appear after linking verbs.
17
Here are two examples.
18
You are a good student.
19
Learning English is fun.
20
In the two example sentences, the words good and fun are adjectives.
21
They are telling you something about a noun.
22
Adverbs are often used to modify adjectives or verbs.
23
They give information about reason, manner, time, and so on.
24
For example, the adverb loudly appears in this sentence.
25
We sang loudly.
26
The adverb loudly modifies the past tense verb sang.
27
It tells about the way in which the subject, we, sang.
28
Adverbs often have an ly ending, but there are many that do not.
29
You can read more about adverbs in past everyday grammar stories.
30
Let's think back to the conversation we heard at the beginning of the story.
31
Today is going slow.
32
Yeah, I guess we should study for our grammar test.
33
That sounds like a terrible idea.
34
Yeah, but if we don't study, we won't do good on the test.
35
Fine.
36
Let's go study our notes quick.
37
Then we can play video games.
38
Notice that the words are used differently from what might be taught in an English class.
39
In casual conversation, Americans often use adjective forms in place of adverbs.
40
They may use adjective forms to modify verbs.
41
For example, the students use good,
42
a word that is normally an adjective, as an adverb.
43
One student says, we won't do good on the test.
44
In writing and in formal conversation, Americans generally do not use the word good this way.
45
Instead, they use the word well.
46
In formal writing or speaking, you would be more likely to see or hear the sentence,
47
we won't do well on the test.
48
Americans also may use an adverb but choose not to say an ly ending.
49
For example, the student says, today is going slow, instead of today is going slowly.
50
You would be more likely to read slowly in academic writing,
51
write Susan Conrad and Douglas Biber, two English grammar experts.
52
These grammatical structures are not necessarily slang.
53
They are not necessarily impolite, either.
54
You might hear some of these structures in a restaurant, at a job fair, or even at work.
55
For example, a boss might tell an employee, we need to do this quick,
56
about a project that must be completed quickly.
57
This is the same pattern that the students used in their conversation.
58
Conrad and Beiber say that in formal speech and writing, adjective forms are almost never used to modify verbs.
59
In addition, adverbs with ly endings are more common in writing,
60
particularly in academic and news writing.
61
The good news is this.
62
We are not asking you to memorize any of the patterns we have talked about today.
63
What we hope to do is show you that the grammatical patterns in conversation
64
do not always match the patterns used in formal writing or speech.
65
There is more flexibility in casual speech.
66
Understanding this idea will help you understand Americans when they speak,
67
and it will help you sound more natural when you speak to Americans.
68
You might also be pleased to know that Americans will not judge you severely
69
if you use an adjective in place of an adverb.
70
In fact, they probably would do the same.
71
I'm Jill Robbins. And I'm John Russell.

Master Casual Conversation: Adjectives vs. Adverbs in Daily Talk

Want to sound more natural in English? This video targets a key fluency milestone: using adjectives and adverbs like native speakers in casual chats. Whether you’re prepping for IELTS speaking practice or just want to fit in, understanding these subtle differences will make your speech feel less "textbook" and more real.

Phrase Bank: Casual Expressions to Add to Your Toolkit

  • "Today is going slow" (instead of "slowly")
  • "That sounds like a terrible idea"
  • "We won't do good on the test" (casual for "well")
  • "Let's study our notes quick" (instead of "quickly")

These phrases are perfect for shadowspeak practice—repeat them aloud to mimic the rhythm and tone of native speakers. They’re common in everyday chats, so mastering them will make your conversations flow smoother.

Fix Your Weak Spots: Casual vs. Formal Usage

Many learners struggle with when to use adjectives as adverbs (or skip "ly" endings) in casual speech. The video shows how Americans say "do good" (not "well") or "go slow" (not "slowly") in relaxed settings. This isn’t "wrong"—it’s conversational English. For shadow speak practice, focus on copying these subtle changes: notice how dropping "ly" or using an adjective instead of an adverb makes the speech sound more natural.

Pro tip: Use a shadowing site to record yourself repeating the dialogue. Compare your version to the video—are you using "good" vs. "well" correctly in context? This is great for IELTS speaking practice too, as it trains you to adjust your language based on formality. Remember: formal writing needs "ly" endings and "well," but casual talk often bends these rules. Practice both to stay flexible!

Ready to level up your english speaking practice? Start with these phrases—you’ll be sounding more like a native in no time.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.