9th Literature Language Practice # 5 Name: ___________________________________________

Adjectives vs. Adverbs

If you learn the rules that govern the use of modifiers, you will have an easier time noticing when they are used
incorrectly.
Understanding Adjectives
An adjective is a modifier that provides information about the noun or pronoun it describes. Adjectives answer
questions such as Which one? How many? What kind? How much? They appear either before or after the word
they modify. A predicate adjective follows a linking verb to modify the subject or clause of a sentence.
Understanding Adverbs
Like adjectives, adverbs are modifiers that modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. They tell how, when,
where, to what extent, in what manner, or how much. Adverbs can also modify prepositions and prepositional
phrases, subordinate clauses, and complete sentences. Many negatives like only, barely, not, and never are
adverbs that can interrupt the verb phrase.
Choosing between Adjectives and Adverbs
Though many adverbs end in ly, dont count on this ending to signify an adverb every time. Many
adjectives, such as friendly, slovenly, and curly, end with the suffix ly.
Good and bad are always adjectives. Well and badly are adverbs, although well may be used as an
adjective to describe a persons health.
You can use bad as a predicate adjective following a linking verb. When health is not involved, be sure
to use good, not well, as a predicate adjective.
Try it: Choose the correct modifier
1. A forkful of well-cooked grits goes down (smooth, smoothly).
2. When the new grits cookbook came out, I (quick, quickly) went to the store to buy it.
3. I ate my first plate of grits (near, nearly) twenty years ago.
4. The first time I cooked grits, I cooked them (bad, badly).
5. If you continue to eat so (slow, slowly), we will be late.
6. Some think that grits taste (good, well) with red-eye gravy.
Identify the sentence error. If an underlined word or phrase contains a grammatical error, choose the part that
must be changed to correct the sentence.
7. The child(A) spoke (B) polite (C) to her friendly (D) hosts. No error. (E)
8. My grandmother sees remarkable(A) well considering that(B) she has endured four operations on her
eyes and suffered from(C) vitamin deficiency during(D) her childhood. No error. (E)
9. Employees with less(A) personal problems are(B) likely(C) to be more(D) productive. No error. (E)
10. It will be(A) hard to soothe your mother now that you have so aggravated(B) her by refusing to take
her eminently(C) sensible advice(D). No error. (E)
11. The general reported that(A), as a result of(B) financial constraints, less(C) soldiers would be sent
on(D) peace-keeping missions this year. No error. (E)
12. Jackie enjoys (A) golfing when (B) the weather (C) is well(D). No error. (E)

Improve the sentence. Select the answer choice that best expresses the meaning of the underlined portion of
the original sentence.
13. The waiter walked slow and steady, burdened by the heavy tray of plates in his arms.
A. walked slow and steady
B. walked slowly and steady
C. walked slowly and steadily
D. walked slow and steadily
E. walked slow and careful
14. The population of tigers in the National Park is increasing steadily, and this is a source of
encouragement to those who have worked so hard to fund the conservation effort.
A. steadily, and this
B. steadily: which
C. steadily; this trend
D. steadily, this increase
E. steady, and this
In each of the following exercises, (1) use at least one current vocabulary word per sentence; (2) relate
each sentence to our current unit of study; (3) use proper punctuation.
15. Write a sentence that uses bad as a predicate adjective following a linking verb.

16. Write a complex sentence that uses good as a predicate adjective following a linking verb.

17. Write a compound sentence that uses an adverb ending in ly.

18. Write a sentence that uses an adjective ending in ly.

19. Write a compound-complex sentence that uses an adverb to modify a prepositional phrase.

20. Write a complex sentence that uses an adverb as a negative.

21. Write a simple sentence that uses an adjective that tells how much AND an adverb that tells how much.