126 STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION

Sruu 24: ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS

Sometimes in the Written Expression section of the TOEFL test, adjectives are
incorrectly used in place of adverbs, or adver-bs are incorrectly used in place of
adjectives. Adjectives and adverbs have very different uses in sentences. Adjectives
have only one job: thev describe nouns or pronouns.

It is a detiliorrr-Jut.
ADJ. NOUN
r--__l
Itis deliciotrs.
PRON. ADJ.

In the first example, the adjective deliciotls describes the noun meal. In the sec-
ond example, the adjective delicious describes the pronoun ir.
Adverbs have three different uses. They can describe verbs, adjectives, or other
adverbs.
H" r".iYt". letters o,,iLkh.
VERB ADV.

t --1 r--1
It is a ouickly written letter.
ADV. ADJ. NOUN

t---l r-i t--_1

It is an extrertrclt' qtiicklv written lettbr.
AD\'. ADV. ADJ. NOTJN

In the first example, the adverb quickh describes the verb writes. In the second
example, the adverb quickly describes the adjective vsritten (which describes the
noun letter).In the third example, the adverb extremely describes the adverb
quickly, which describes the adjective written (which describes the noun letter).
The following are exan-rples of incomect sentences as they might appear on the
TOEFL test.
They were seated at a hlge$"^ ruil,".
ADV. NOLJN

The child talked sofi"^ to her mother.

VERB ADJ.

we read un story
"*,Eul,rg
ADJ. ADJ.

st.," .pJurc unbetieJabte. o[,Jo,r.

ADJ. ADV.

In the first example, the adverb largely is incorrect because the adjective large is
needed to describe the noun table.In the second example, the adjective soft is incor-
rect because the adverb softly is needed to describe the verb talked. In the third
 WRITTEN EXPRESSION 127

example, the adjective ex,treme is incorrect because the aclverb extremely is needed to
describe the adiective ktng.In the last example, the adjective unbelietable is incorrect
because the adverb unbelievabf, is needed to describe the adverb quickly.

The foliorving chart outlines the imporlant information that you should
remember about the use of adiectives and adverbs.

USE OF ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS

Adjectives Adjectives describe nouns or pronouns,

Adverbs Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

NOTE: A list of common word endings (including adjective and adverb

endings) and exercises to practice their use are included at the back of tne
text in Appendix c.You may want to complete these exercises (if you have
not already done so) before you continue with Skills 24 throuqh 25.

EXERCISE 24: Each of the following sentences has at least one adjective or
adverb. Circle the adjectives and adverbs, and label them. Draw arrows to the
words they describe. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

| - r-.1
1. Her hair rvas an (unusuallv) color of red.

The rvearher ir GJiD6;fi"rt"bia

ADV. ADJ.

We attended a poor planned conference.

He talked slorvlv and carefulh:

The composition u'as careftll prepared.

She had an incredible ston'about her lons trip.

He sent me a quickl.r,'r,vritten note.

The cat meou,ed sad.

The children are hungrv and tired.

The Iecturer spoke extr-emelv loud.

128 STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSIOI.

SKILL 25: ADJECTIVES AFTER LINKING VERBS

Generallv an adverb rather than an adjective will come directlv after a verb because
the adverb is describing the verb.

st'," rrrlk" ,ri)"tt'.

VERB AD\i

In this example, the verb spoke is follor,ied by the adverb nicely. This adverb
describes the verb spoke.
Horvever, you must be very careful if the verb is alh*ing verb. A linking verb is
follor,''ed bv an adjective rather than an adverb.
f---l
She looks ruice.
SUBJ, ADJ.

In this example, the linking verb looks is follorved b5' the adjective nice. This adjec-
tir,e clescribes the subject s/ze.
You should be sure to use an adjective rather than an adverb after a linking
verb. Be careful, hou,ever, because the adjective that goes rvith the linking verb
does not alu'ays directlv follow the linking verb.
v r--ll
He seerls tmu.sually nice.
SL'BJ. AD\I. ADJ

In this example, the adjectle nice, which describes the subject he, is itself
described bv the adverb unttsually. From this example, vou should notice that it is
possible to have an adverb directlv after a linking verb, but only if the adverb
describes an adjective that follou,s.
These sentences shou, the types of errors u,ith linking verbs that are common
on the TOEFL test.
The test looks ea-silr'! to rrle.
Sall-n.- feels unbelievable''' lu4:pt abottt the nervs.

In the first e-xample, the linking verb /oofts should be follor,i,ed by the adjective
easy- rather than the adverb easily.In the second example, the linking verb feels is
follorved by the acljective happv. The incorrect adjective urtbelievable should be the
adr,'erb unbelievablr, because it describes the adjective happ,-.

The follor,r,in-e charlt lists commonlv used linkin-e verbs and outlines the differ-
ent uses of adjectives and adverbs after regular verbs and linking verbs.
 WRITTEN EXPRESSION 129

ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS AFTER VERBS

v
(subject) + (regular verb) + (adverb)
A regular verb is followed by an adverb.The adverb describes the verb.

+ verb)
I

truul".tt (linking + (adjective)

A linking verb is followed by an adjective.The adjective describes the subject.

Y ll

(subject) + (linking verb) + (adverb) +

t------------1
(adjective)
I

It is possible for a linking verb to be followed by an adverb and an adjective.The adverb

describes the adjective, and the adjective describes the subject.

Linking verbs: appear feel seem

be look smell
become prove taste

EXERCISE 252 Each of the follou'ing sentences contains at least one ad.iective or
adverb. Circle the adjectives and adverbs, and label them. Drau, arrows to the
u,ords thev describe. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

I . Kathv looks (gorgeousl)' ) in that dress.

- -
1

ADV.

C 2. The children have srort,n considerablv.

AD\'.

Steve r.r,alked rapid to the corner to catch the bus.

The bovs bccame sick u,ith the fl-r.

The mother closed the door careful.

Tom appeared rather unhappilv at u,hat had happened.

The choir menrbers sang enthusiasticalll,.

The soup tastes too salt'r..

The book seemed easilv {'or the students.

In the late afternoon, the sun sc-t slou, in the rvest.

130 STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION

EXERCISE (SkiIIs 24-25): Each of the following sentences contains at least one
adjective or adverb. Circle the adjectives and adverbs, and label them. Draw
arrows to the rvords thev describe. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or
incorrect (I).

1. The chef prepared a delicately sauce.

2. Matthew feels terribly angry about the issue.

3. The swimmer swam por,r,erful across the pool.

4. The receptionist ansu'ered the phonc'carefully.

5. The dishes in the sink were dinv.

6. The phv-sics exam seemed quite simply to me.

7. He acted unbelievablv rude.

8. The bumed toast did not taste verv good.

9. His decision rvas absolutely necessarv.

10. The iob applicant dressed carefullv for the irnpoftant inter-r,iew
--
TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills 24-25\z Choose the letter of the underlined word or
group of words that is not correct.

l. Sounds quieter than 10 decibels are impossiblv for the human ear to hear.
A- B C -T
2. Often the best farmland is next to a river that floods periodical.
ABC
3. The planet Mercury has a rnoderately elliptical\ orbit.
ABCD
4. An 1B-watt fluorescent bulb seems as brightly as a 7-5-'uvatt incandescent bulb.
ABCD-
5. Tlre telephone rvorks by changing the voice's sound waves into electrically
ABCD
sisnals.
 WRITTEN EXPRESSION 1 31

6. In the northern United States, two European species of small rvhite birch are
AB
extensive planted as ornamentals.
-_e-D_
7. Fifiv million Americans continue to smoke despite abundant evidence that
AB
smoking is extremely unhealthfully.
CD
8. The U.S. Military Academy sits on scenic heights overlooking a strategically
AB CD
bend in the Hudson River.

9. The Erie Canal became so successfully at providing cheap transporlation that

AB
it was greatly g4qE94 betr,r'een 1835 and 1862.
CD
10. The Infra-Red Astronomy Satellite (IRAS), launched in 1983, contained a
A
- special coded reflecting telescope that detected infrared rays.
BCD
TOEFL REVIEW EXERCISE (Skills l-25): Choose the letter of the word or
group of words that best completes the sentence.

1. On December 17, 1903, the Flyer 3. Researchers have long debated about
near Kitty Hawk, Norlh moon Titan contains
Carolina, with Orwille Wright as pilot. hvdrocarbon oceans or lakes.
(A) took off (A) Saturn's
(B) it took off (B) whether it is Saturn's
(C) taking off (C) whether Saturn's
(D) took it off (D) u,hether Saturn is a

2. Comets are relatively small celestial

bodies up chiefly of dirt and icy
materials.
(A) make
(B) made
(C) they make
(D) make them
132 STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSIOITT

Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of rvords that is not correct.

4. The 4gIgry action of the u'ind rvears a\\rav softer layers of rock.
AilCI
5. There are tr.l'o rvav of making a gas condense: cooling it or putting it under
IABC-o
pfessure.

6. Researchers have discovered that the application of bright light can

A__--B-
sometinres be uses to overcomejet lag.
-T- D
7. Saln-ron qfg1trlgry mav include having to jump up u,aterfalls, swim up
AB
rapids, or climbing fish ladders at dams.
CD
8. If a strike is called in r.iolation of an existins contract betrveen labor and
-A B -C-
-t
manasen-lent. its a rvildcat strike.

9. Snapping tuftles are easil-v recognized because of the large head, the long tail,
AB-
arnd the shell that seerns insufficientl)' to protect the body:
D

- 10. The long string of genes pg\tng up a chromosome har,e been likened to a
- ABCD
strin-s of pearls.