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Postmodernbliss Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Quick questions

Hello,

I have a few quick questions. First, can someone please help me understand why the following answers to an online adjective and adverb quiz are incorrect?:




Question #: 1: It is very easy. Here, very is an adjective.
User's answer: True
Correct answer: False
Additional Notes:

Is the answer incorrect because the word 'very' modifies 'is', and is therefore an adverb, and not 'easy' which is an adjective?
Question #: 5: It was likely to happen. Here, likely is an adverb.
User's answer: True
Correct answer: False
Additional Notes:


How is that 'likely' does not modify the infinitive verb 'to happen' and therefore be an adverb? How is it it possible that likely is an adjective?

Many kind thanks in advance for anyone who can answer this question.

Second, why does the following sentence not have a comma after the quotation: "Ouch!" yelled Cecilia. "You're stepping on my toes." Shouldn't there always be a comma after a direct quote involving reported speech?

Third, why does the following sentence have a subject-verb agreement error: "This is some of the data that shows why he is wrong."

Fourth, why is the relative pronoun their incorrect in this sentence: "Did everyone bring their permission slip?"


Finally, what's the rule for using the possessive pronouns its versus their when referring to plural nouns? For example, the team lost (its/their) game last nite or the committee/crowd/organization/company lost (its/their).....whatever it may be.

Many kind thanks in advance for anyone who can help me with these questions.
















  

Top answer

Question #: 1: It is very easy . Is the answer incorrect because the word 'very' modifies 'is', and is therefore an adverb, and not 'easy' which is an adjective? -- No.

— Mister Micawber

  • Question #: 1: It is very easy .
  • Is the answer incorrect because the word 'very' modifies 'is', and is therefore an adverb, and not 'easy' which is an adjective?
  • -- No.
  • Adverbs modify verbs and adjectives.
  • 'Very' is an adverb modifying the adjective 'easy .
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1 Answers
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Question #: 1: It is very easy. Is the answer incorrect because the word 'very' modifies 'is', and is therefore an adverb, and not 'easy' which is an adjective? -- No. Adverbs modify verbs and adjectives. 'Very' is an adverb modifying the adjective 'easy.

Question #: 5: It was likely to happen. How is that 'likely' does not modify the infinitive verb 'to h
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