Talk:tautly
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Can this only qualify adjectives? In other words, must the adverb be taut when used with verbs? For example, "A tautly stretched drum" (taut qualifies an adjective); "Hold it taut" (taut qualifies a verb).
The example we give applies it to a verb - is it possible to say "Hold it tautly"? Compare "Hold it straight" (not "straightly") - here, the meaning is "Hold it so that it is straight" (adjective), not "Hold it in a straight manner" (adverb). Or does it depend on what the verb is?
If it can only qualify an adjective, we need a user note to this effect. — Paul G 15:12, 30 April 2009 (UTC)
- Two Web results with clear use as an adverb modifying a verb: "Tie on some plain brown twine, and drape it over and through branches several times, tautly."[1], "Similarly, the raised foot draws the skirt more tautly against the leg, illustrating the side placement of the seam coursing from waist to hem."[2]. In any event I think that "hold it taut" is using taut as an adjective, not as an adverb. I cannot think of a use for taut as an adverb, and doubt that it is one. Probably it's merely the case that tautly is the adverb but is
{{rare}}.—msh210℠ 21:05, 1 May 2009 (UTC)
- I can find many examples of "sat tautly" a few "walked tautly" on b.g.c, and I assume other movement and posture words would generate additional examples. --EncycloPetey 04:02, 4 June 2009 (UTC)