Is the word an adjective or adverb?

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Introduction & Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives Differentiate between adjectives and adverbs based on their grammatical function within a quotation. Identify adjectives and adverbs within direct quotations from American literary texts. Analyze how an author's choice of a specific adjective or adverb in quoted dialogue develops characterization. Evaluate how an author's use of adjectives and adverbs in narration and attributive tags establishes tone or mood. Integrate grammatical analysis of modifiers into a thesis-driven literary analysis essay. Correctly identify and analyze adverbs within signal phrases (e.g., 'she remarked caustically') to understand the manner of speech. Why did Fitzgerald describe Daisy's voice as 'full of money' and not just 'rich'? 🤔...

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Key Concepts & Vocabulary

TermDefinitionExample AdjectiveA word that modifies (describes or qualifies) a noun or a pronoun. It answers the questions: What kind? Which one? How many? Whose?In the quote, 'It was a an old, *timeworn* map,' the adjective 'timeworn' modifies the noun 'map'. AdverbA word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. It often answers the questions: How? When? Where? Why? To what extent?In the phrase, 'He spoke *softly*,' the adverb 'softly' modifies the verb 'spoke,' telling us how he spoke. ModifierThe general term for a word, phrase, or clause that provides description in a sentence. Adjectives and adverbs are the most common types of single-word modifiers.In 'the *truly* *beautiful* sunset,' the adverb &#03...

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Key Rules & Conventions

The Noun/Pronoun Test for Adjectives If a word describes a noun or pronoun, answering 'What kind?', 'Which one?', or 'How many?', it is an adjective. Use this test to confirm if a word is functioning as an adjective. Find the noun it is connected to. For example, in 'the *last* green light,' 'last' and 'green' both modify the noun 'light'. The Verb/Modifier Test for Adverbs If a word describes a verb, an adjective, or another adverb, answering 'How?', 'When?', 'Where?', or 'To what extent?', it is an adverb. Use this test to confirm if a word is an adverb. For example, in 'He ran *incredibly* fast,' 'fast' is an adverb modifying 'ran' (h...

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Sample Practice Questions

Challenging

In *Their Eyes Were Watching God*, Zora Neale Hurston writes, 'She had an elaborate pile of glistening hair.' A student argues that 'glistening' is an adjective modifying 'hair'. Another argues it is part of a verb phrase. Which analysis is most accurate?

A.It is a verb; the hair is actively glistening.

B.It is an adverb modifying 'pile'.

C.It is a participle acting as an adjective, modifying 'hair' to create a vivid, almost divine image that enhances Janie's characterization.

D.It is a predicate adjective describing 'She'.

Challenging

A thesis for an essay on *The Crucible* is: 'Arthur Miller uses contrasting modifiers in dialogue and attributive tags to juxtapose characters' internal morality with their public performance.' Which piece of evidence provides the strongest, most relevant support?

A.John Proctor states, 'I have made a bell of my honor!' where the adjective 'my' shows possession.

B.Abigail Williams, speaking of Elizabeth Proctor, says 'She is a cold, sniveling woman,' using the adjective 'cold' to project her own malice onto her rival.

C.Reverend Hale arrives with 'heavy books,' where the adjective 'heavy' symbolizes the weight of authority he carries.

D.Proctor says quietly, 'I am a good man,' but later screams 'hysterically' at the court. The adverb 'quietly' suggests his internal, fragile belief in his own morality, which is later shattered, as shown by the contrasting adverb 'hysterically'.

Easy

In the attributive tag, 'he whispered softly,' what grammatical function does the word 'softly' serve?

A.It is an adjective modifying 'he'.

B.It is an adverb modifying the verb 'whispered'.

C.It is a noun acting as the object of the verb.

D.It is a predicate adjective describing the subject.

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