World English Institute

Welcome, Rufai Bello

Reset Password
Preferences
My Profile
Logout

Share this site

Send a message to your teacher

Dashboard
Progress
Mailbox

A. Grammar 2.6: Problems with Adjectives & Adverbs

WORLD ENGLISH INSTITUTE

ADVANCE ENGLISH BOOK TWO

Structure and Written Expression

Lesson Six

PROBLEMS WITH ADJECTIVES & ADVERBS

Some sentences in Writing Section of the TOEFL will ask you to choose the correct modifier. A
modifier may consist of an adjective or an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. Or
a modifier may be an adverb or an adverbial phrase that modifies a verb, adjective, or another
adverb.

In this lesson, we will examine some trouble-spots in the use of adjectives and adverbs.

59: Linking verbs are followed by adjectives, NOT by adverbs.

The most common linking verbs are appear, be, become, prove, remain, and seem. Examples:
"He appears happy. I think he is happy. He became discouraged yesterday, but he seems happy
today. Let's hope he remains happy." In these examples, linking verbs are followed by the
adjectives "happy" and "discouraged."

Verbs of the senses (feel, look, smell, sound, and taste) can also be used as linking verbs.
Examples:"She feels good." "She looks good." "Her music sounds good." "Her perfume smells
good." "Her food tastes good." In these sentences, each linking verb is followed by the adjective
"good."

60: Active verbs are modified by adverbs, NOT by adjectives. When a modifier refers to
the verb, describing the action, it is an adverb. Therefore, the adverbial form must be used.
Examples:"Sally sings beautifully." "Edward speaks Chinese fluently."

Some verbs of the senses can function both as linking verbs followed by adjectives AND as
active verbs followed by adverbs. Examples:"Margaret appears upset" (adjective)."The police
appeared immediately (adverb) after the accident. "Margaret felt sick (adjective) about
wrecking her car." "Susan felt her way carefully (adverb) through the darkness." “Jennifer
looks lovely" (adjective)."When the lights came on, Rolland looked quickly (adverb) around the
room." "Grandma's chocolate pudding tastes delicious" (adjective). "The cat tasted its food
cautiously (adverb) before eating."

Adjectives (adj) Adverbs (adv)

Gordon is a good teacher.(adj)

Gordon teaches well.(adv)

I am a bad joke teller.(adj)

I tell jokes badly.(adv)

Leo is a superb painter.(adj)

Leo paints superbly.(adv)

Most journalists are quick thinkers.(adj)

Most journalists think quickly.(adv)

Many old people are slow drivers.(adj)

Many old people drive slowly.(adv)

Wrong: "The Rose Festival princess looks beautifully."

Right: "The Rose Festival princess looks beautiful."

Wrong: "The roses on the parade float smell sweetly."

Right: "The roses on the parade float smell sweet."

Wrong: "Mr. Thomas feels badly."

Right: "Mr. Thomas feels bad."

Sample sentence in Part A:

1. "Turkish coffee tastes a little __________ to most Americans."

(A) too much strong

(B) strong

(C) strongly

(D) so strong

Black out (B)

Sample sentence in Part B:

 1. "If the plane (A) is (B) lately, (C) we will miss our (D) connection."

Options on the TOEFL Answer Sheet: What, in this sentence, needs to be changed?

(A) (B) (C) (D) Black out (B). Change "lately" to "late."

61: "Because" is an adverb and is used to introduce an adverbial modifier. Example: "Early
Christians changed the world because they prayed." In this sentence, "because they prayed" is
an adverbial modifier that tells more about the verb "changed."

The adverb "because" should never be used to introduce an adjectival modifier.

62: "Due" is an adjective, and "due to" is used to introduce an adjectival modifier.
Example: "Debbie's popularity is partly due to her smile." "The phrase "due to her smile" is an
adjectival phrase that follows the linking verb "is" and tells more about Debbie's popularity.

Wrong: "Susan's absence was because of sickness." "Because" cannot follow a linking verb to
introduce an adjectival phrase.

Right: "Susan's absence was due to sickness." The adjectival phrase "due to sickness" tells more
about Susan's absence.

Right: "Susan was absent because she was sick." In this sentence, the adverbial clause "because
she was sick" modifies or explains the adjective "absent."

63: Do not use the adverbs "when" or "where" to introduce adjectival clauses.

Wrong: "Metro is the church where they go." The adverbial clause "where they go" cannot
modify a noun such as "church."

Right: "Metro is the church they attend."

Wrong: "This is the time when all good men should serve their country." The adverbial clause
"when all good men should serve their country" cannot modify the noun "time." Right: "This is
the time for all good men to serve their country."

Right: "God is near us when we pray to him."

Right: "When we fail to pray, we cut ourselves off from the greatest source of power in the
universe."

Articles

The articles "a," "an" and "the" are limiting adjectives which are often misused. By observing
the following rules, you can avoid the most common errors made in the use of articles.

64: Do not use "a" or "an" after phrases ending with "of" (kind of, manner of, sort of,
type of).

Wrong: "What kind ofahouse will you build for me"?

Right: "What kind of house will you build for me"?

65: Do not use "the" before "both."

Wrong: "I'll seethe both of you in court."

Right: "I'll see both of you in court."

Wrong: "God's word influences the both of them, the student and the teacher, to live the new
life."

Right: "God's word influences both of them, the student and the teacher, to live the new life."

Adverbial Clauses

66: To express future action in adverbial clauses, the simple present tense of the verb is
used following adverbs such as "after," "as soon as," "before," "until," and "when. "
Examples: "After we finish our finals, we will leave on summer vacation." "As soon as I eat
breakfast, I'll be ready to go shopping." "Before we go fishing, we need to buy some bait." "Until
we learn basic mathematics, we will not be able to comprehend algebra." "When I turn
seventy-five, I will think about retiring."

Comparatives

Adjectives and adverbs are often used to express a lesser or greater degree of a quality or
quantity. The following rules will help you avoid some common mistakes in the use of
comparatives:

67: Never use both the "er" form and the "more/less" form of a comparative together.

Wrong: "Solomon was more wiser than all other kings."

Right: "Solomon was wiser than all other kings."

68: Never use both the "est" form and the "most/least" form of a comparative together.

Wrong: "There are profound mysteries in the Bible that are beyond the grasp of the most
brilliantest scholar."

Right: "There are profound mysteries in the Bible that are beyond the grasp of the most
brilliant scholar."

69: When comparing members of a group, be careful not to compare something with
itself.

Wrong: "Rhode Island is smaller than any state in the nation." Is Rhode Island smaller than
itself?

Right: "Rhode Island is smaller than any other state in the nation."

Personal Note

Congratulations! You have just completed Lesson Six and are now two-thirds of the way
through the book. Keep your momentum going. In the words of the apostle Paul, “Let us not
grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart"
(Galatians 6:9 NKJV). Keep up the good work!
After reviewing this lesson, please answer the question. Then, study Lesson Six inThe New
Birth and answer its questions before going to Lesson Seven in the Advanced Grammar 2.

Copyright ©1990–2023 World English Institute, All Rights Reserved