"Bad" and "bad" are two homophone words. That is, they are pronounced the same way but written in different ways.
Since they have the same sound, they usually generate a lot of doubts for language users.
Differences and Examples
Bad
The word mal with "l" is the antonym of good. Therefore, to use it correctly just remember which term is its opposite.
Examples:
- I'm feeling bad this morning. (I'm feeling good this morning)
- I went a lot bad in the final exam. (I was a lot good in the final exam)
- Felipe was born to do the bad. (Felipe was born to do the good)
Stay tuned!
This word can be an adverb of manner, a noun and even a temporal subordinate conjunction.
When is it adverb, bad means that something was done wrong, for example: Sofia behaved bad in the lecture.
When is it substantive, this term is synonymous with illness, problem, anguish, sadness or suffering, for example: All bad should be avoided.
In this case, the article “o” placed in front of the term determines that noun.
When is it conjunction, bad means “as soon as; once; when", for example: Bad I arrived at the school, the gates closed.
Bad
The word bad with "u" is the antonym of well. Just like your homophone, to use it correctly just remember the opposite word.
In relation to the grammatical class, this word is a adjective which qualifies beings and objects.
Examples:
- john is bad student. (John is well student)
- he was very bad with me. (He was very well with me)
- The boss was always on bad humor (The boss was always in a well humor)
Note: When referring to someone's bad mood, the correct term is Bad mood.
In this case, it is not hyphenated. Therefore, the words bad mood, bad mood and bad mood are misspelled.
On the other hand, we must remember that a person with a bad mood is a bad tempered person. In this case, we use the evil with “l” since the opposite would be “good-natured”.
Also, according to the spelling rules these terms are separated by a hyphen.
Entrance Exam Exercises
1. (UFAC)
the cousin
First night he knew that Santina was not a girl. Married for love, Bento despaired. Kill the bride, commit suicide, and leave the other unpunished? She revealed that two years ago, cousin Euzebio had done her harm, no matter how hard she defended herself. Out of shame, he promised Our Lady to stay single. Bento himself would not let her lie, witness to her distress before the wedding. Santina apologized, he replied that she was a late bride with a wreath without a right.
(Elephants Graveyard. Apud CARNEIRO, Agostinho Dias)
“...Cousin Euzebio had done him wrong..." In this sentence, the word mal is written with a "l". There are, however, situations in which it can also be written with a “u”. Note the sentences below and then mark the alternative whose sequence adequately fills in the blanks.
- For Santina, Euzebio was a _____ man.
- According to the narrator, Bento made a _____ marriage.
- Bento received a lot of _____ Santina's revelation. _____ heard Santina's revelation, Bento decided to separate.
a) bad / bad / bad / bad
b) bad / bad / bad / evil
c) bad / bad / bad / bad
d) bad / bad / bad / bad
e) bad / bad / bad / evil
Alternative e: bad / bad / evil / evil
2. (FGV-SP) Mark the alternative in which the bad or bad forms are used according to the cultured norm:
a) Badly grateful, the judges stood before the prosecutor, demanding rewards.
b) Your bad mood exceeds the bearable limits.
c) Barely said this, and took a blow that threw him far.
d) The answers were poorly arranged on the table so that no one knew the correct sequence.
e) Then, awkwardly dressed, she went down to the hall sadly, not noticing that someone was watching her.
Alternative c: Barely said that, and took a blow that threw him far.
3. (UFPR) Complete the gaps, properly using more/more/evil/bad:
Peter and John ____ entered the house, realizing that things were not going well, as their younger sister had chosen a ____ time to let her parents know that she was going away on vacation; ____ her two siblings left her parents ____ reassured when they told her that the girl was going with her cousins and aunt.
a) bad - bad - more - but
b) bad - bad - more - more
c) bad – bad – but – more
d) bad – bad – but – but
e) bad – bad – but – more.
Alternative c: bad – bad – but – more
Read too:
- Spelling Exercises
- What are Homophone Words
- Homonyms and Paronyms
- Synonyms and Antonyms
- Orthography
- Lose or Lose?
- More or But?
- Travel or Travel
- Welcome, Welcome, Welcome or Welcome?
- Exception or exception: how do you spell it?