USE BASIC ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS CORRECTLY

Skill 46: USE BASIC ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS CORRECTLY

Sometimes in
written expression questions on the TOEFL test, adjectives are used in place of
adverbs, or adverbs are used in place of adjectives. Adjectives and adverbs
have very different uses. Adjectives have only one job: they describe nouns or
pronouns.

                                    She is a beautiful woman.

                                                       ADJ.         NOUN

                                                            She
is beautiful.

                                    PRO.       ADJ.

In the first example, the adjective beautiful describe the noun woman. In the second example, the
adjective beautiful describe the
pronoun she.

            Adverbs
do three different things. They describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

                                    She sings beautifully

                                                VERB     ADV.

                                    She is beautifully dessed woman.

                                                ADV,
                             ADJ.
          NOUN

                                    She is a truly beautifully dressed woman.

                                                  ADV.         ADV.
                 ADJ. NOUN

In the first example, the adverbs
beautifully describe the verbs sings. In the second example, the
adverbs beautifully describe the
adjective dressed (which describe the
noun woman). In the third example,
the adverb truly describe the adverb beautifully, which describes the
adjective dressed (which describes
the noun woman).  

          The following are examples of
incorrect sentences as they might appear on the TOEFL test.

                                     They were
seated at a largely* table.

                                                                             ADV.        NOUN

                                     The child
talked quick* to her mother,

                                                       VERB      ADJ.

                                       We read
an extreme* long story.    

                                                             
ADJ.                ADJ.







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 quick is
incorrect because the adverb quickly
is needed to describe the verb talked.
In the last example, the adjective extreme
is incorrect because the adverb extremely
is needed to describe the adjective long.
About the basic use of adjectives and advers:




 


  

  

BASIC
  USE OF ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS

 

  

  

ADJECTIVES

  

  

Adjectives describe nouns or pronouns.

 

  

  

ADVERBS

  

  

Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

 


EXERCISE
46: 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).   

¾   
1. The mother
was pleasant    surprised when her
daughter came to visit.

                NOUN                 ADJ.           ADJ.







 

¾   
2. The
salespeople  frequently visit the east
coast for trade shows.

                                     ADV.
       VERB

¾   
3. He was driving an axpensively
sports car.

¾   
4. There is a special program on
television this evening.

¾   
5. She was chosen for the leading
part because she sings so well.

¾   
6. The car was not complete ready
at 3.00.

¾   
7. It was difficult to believe
that what we read in the news paper was a truly story.

¾   
8. Points will be subtracted for
each incorrect answered question,

¾   
9. The production manager quietly
requested a completely report of the terribly       incident.

¾   
10. The children finished their
homework quickly so that they could watch television.