Delicious or deliciously?

English translation: delicious

15:35 Apr 15, 2012
English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
Food & Drink
English term or phrase: Delicious or deliciously?
On a Dutch leaflet the English header 'Delicious tasting cupcakes' is used. I'm confused. Shouldn't this be 'Deliciously tasting cupcakes' as delicious is an adverb here? (It's a leaflet from the Dutch tea brand Pickwick)
Wendy Rosbag
Netherlands
Local time: 07:48
Selected answer:delicious
Explanation:
With the verbs for the senses (taste, feel, smell...) you use the -ly form only if the verb involves an active action.
(see Rule 2 in the link).
Selected response from:

tihomir
Iceland
Grading comment
Thanks for your clear explanation, now I understand!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +8delicious
Armorel Young
4 +3delicious
Shera Lyn Parpia
4 +3delicious
Jack Doughty
5 +2delicious
tihomir
4Delicious
Worapot Sattapunkeeree


Discussion entries: 7





  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +8
delicious or deliciously?
delicious


Explanation:
Definitely "delicious". The cupcakes taste delicious, so they are delicious-tasting cupcakes.

If you car looks nice, its a nice-looking car, not a nicely looking car.

Armorel Young
Local time: 06:48
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Shera Lyn Parpia
0 min

agree  Tony M
0 min

agree  NancyLynn
13 mins

agree  Charles Davis
14 mins

agree  Lara Barnett
46 mins

agree  Martin Riordan
1 hr

agree  Patricia Fierro, M. Sc.
2 hrs

agree  liz askew
2 hrs
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3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
delicious or deliciously?
delicious


Explanation:
Delicious is correct.
The cupcakes taste delicious, not deliciously

Shera Lyn Parpia
Italy
Local time: 07:48
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 6

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tony M
1 min
  -> Thank you!

agree  Lara Barnett
46 mins
  -> Thanks :)

agree  Martin Riordan
1 hr
  -> Thanks!
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4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
delicious or deliciously?
delicious


Explanation:
delicious-tasting cupcakes. I can't quote you the grammatical rule, but I am sure nothing would be described as "deliciously-tasting".

Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:48
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 16

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tony M
0 min
  -> Thank you.

agree  NancyLynn
12 mins
  -> Thank you.

agree  Martin Riordan
1 hr
  -> Тhank you.
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5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
delicious or deliciously?
Delicious


Explanation:
"Delicious tasting cupcakes" is a reduced form of "cupcakes which taste delicious." "Taste" here is a linking verb followed by adjective, so when the clause is reduced for concise purpose, it is as you see.

Worapot Sattapunkeeree
Thailand
Local time: 13:48
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ThaiThai
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6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +2
delicious or deliciously?
delicious


Explanation:
With the verbs for the senses (taste, feel, smell...) you use the -ly form only if the verb involves an active action.
(see Rule 2 in the link).


    Reference: http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/adjAdv.asp
tihomir
Iceland
Native speaker of: Bulgarian
Grading comment
Thanks for your clear explanation, now I understand!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  NancyLynn
9 mins

agree  Veronika McLaren: good grammar reference: there is no action of "tasting" performed by the cupcakes.
2 hrs
  -> Thanks:) It would have been weird if the cupcakes had mouths and tongues could taste (themselves?!) in a delicious way.:)

neutral  B D Finch: What "active action" is involved in "smelly"? I suggest you get yourself a better grammar book. // Exactly, but that is what you wrote! "With the verbs for the senses (taste, feel, smell...) you use the -ly form only if ..."
17 hrs
  -> Think again! ..... "Tasting" and "smelling" are forms of the verb. "Tasty" and "smelly" are not. // Yes, "the -ly form" as in "deliciousLY". Verbs don't have a "-ly form".
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