Adjective-Adverb Confusion
http://esl.fis.edu/grammar/multi/adadv.htm
Adjectives and adverbs are often confused and therefore misused. To modify a noun or pronoun, use an adjective. To modify a verb, an adjective, or an adverb, use an adverb instead.
Adjective: This cheap scarf is no bargain.
Adverb: This scarf can be purchased cheaply.
Similar Forms of Adjectives and Adverbs
Many adverbs end in ly, but some adjectives do as well. Do not mistake adjectives such as ugly, friendly, and motherly for adverbs.
Some words can be used as adjectives or adverbs. Examples include daily, fast, late, likely, long, low, much, short, slow, and very. Position these words carefully because where they appear in a sentence will determine whether they are read as adjectives or adverbs.
Adjective: He reads his daily horoscope.
Adverb: He reads his horoscope daily.
Predicate Adjectives
Use adjectives, not adverbs, after linking verbs (e.g., be, become, seem) and verbs that refer to sensory experience (e.g., feel, taste, smell).
Incorrect: The cake tastes deliciously.
Correct: The cake tastes delicious.
Adverbs as Adjective Modifiers
Use adverbs, not adjectives, to modify adjectives.
Incorrect: the amazing ordinary woman
Correct: the amazingly ordinary woman
In the first sentence, the woman seems to defy logic by being both amazing and ordinary. The correct example makes clear that the woman’s ordinariness is what is so amazing.
_________ is a word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.
A) An adjective
B) A noun
C) A pronoun
D) An adverb
E) none of the above
_________ is a word that modifies a noun or pronoun.
A) An adjective
B) A noun
C) A pronoun
D) An adverb
E) none of the above
Identify which underlined portion of the sentence contains an error.
Alan, our trusty mechanic, studied the overheated engine careful and with patience before declaring that he hadn’t a clue what to do about it.
A) the overheated engine
B) careful
C) declaring
D) hadn't
E) no error
Results of the survey show a frightening pattern of constant melting glaciers in the northern part of Canada and the Arctic.
A) Results
B) show
C) frightening pattern
D) constant
E) no error
This paper’s going pretty good, although I’m not sure I’ll be done on time.
A) paper's
B) good
C) I'll
D) on time
E) no error
No matter how careful kites are flown, they often get tangled in trees.
A) No matter
B) careful
B) often
D) get tangled
E) no error
The orchestra played so loud throughout the wedding reception, that it was barely possible to hold a conversation without shouting.
A) so
B) loud
B) it was
D) to hold
E) no error
The avid runner ran slowly and steady until he crossed the large finish line.
A) avid
B) slowly
C) steady
D) large
E) no error
The young boy was a very bad student who did poorly on the difficult quiz, in part because he read the questions too quick.
A) young
B) bad
C) poorly
D) too quick
E) no error