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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Adjective or Adverb?
On a recent test, my child was asked to circle the adjective in the following sentence:
The fire smells smoky.
My daughter incorrectly circled smells. On the paper, the teacher indicated she should have circled smoky. However, upon a closer review of the sentence, I concluded that there is no adjective at all. Smoky is an adverb, describing how the fire smells (ie. the verb) and not necessarily the fire itself. If it described the fire, the sence should read: The smoky fire... OR... The fire is smoky.
Upon questioning the teacher, she maintains it's an adjective.
HELP... who's right?
The fire smells smoky.
My daughter incorrectly circled smells. On the paper, the teacher indicated she should have circled smoky. However, upon a closer review of the sentence, I concluded that there is no adjective at all. Smoky is an adverb, describing how the fire smells (ie. the verb) and not necessarily the fire itself. If it described the fire, the sence should read: The smoky fire... OR... The fire is smoky.
Upon questioning the teacher, she maintains it's an adjective.
HELP... who's right?
Top answer
The teacher is right. 'Smells' is a linking verb here, and 'smoky' is a predicate adjective. Notice the difference: The fire smells smoky.
- The teacher is right.
- 'Smells' is a linking verb here, and 'smoky' is a predicate adjective.
- Notice the difference: The fire smells smoky.
- (intransitive) I smell a fire.
- (transitive) By the way, this forum is for administrative help (lost password, etc).
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3 Answers
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The teacher is right. 'Smells' is a linking verb here, and 'smoky' is a predicate adjective. Notice the difference:
The fire smells smoky. (intransitive)
I smell a fire. (transitive)
By the way, this forum is for administrative help (lost password, etc). Next time, please post in a grammar or vocabulary form. Thanks.
The fire smells smoky. (intransitive)
I smell a fire. (transitive)
By the way, this forum is for administrative help (lost password, etc). Next time, please post in a grammar or vocabulary form. Thanks.
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Yes, thank you, Ruslana. I am afraid to do so right away lest the anonymous poster lose sight of the thread. And then I forget to come back later and move it.
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