WOW Online Portfolio

Assignment 4 Mechanics 1

Assignment for Session Four
As you did on the self test for this lesson, indicate whether the italicized modifiers in the following sentences are correct (by writing "C") or incorrect (by providing the corrected modifier). Prepare your answers in the following format:
1. corrected modifier form
2. C
3. corrected modifier form
4. etc.

1. different
2. C
3. C
4. satisfactorily
5. smarter
6. thus
7. angrily
8. C
9. C
10. badly
11. awfully
12. really (second one)
13. slowly, fast
14. sad
15. fewer ounces
16. fast
17. older
18. meanly (second one)
19. more smooth
20. more quickly
21. casually
22. clearly
23. really (second one)
24. C
25. carefully

1. I thought the tryouts would be a snap, but I found out differently.
2. Oh, is it silk? I feel so badly with my right hand since my stroke, you know.
3. None of their work was satisfactory.
4. Not one of them did his work satisfactory.
5. If you want my opinion about Mr. and Mrs. Bledsoe, I think Joyce is the smartest.
6. I am justly alarmed and will thusly change my vote.
7. I threw open the door and looked angry at the mob.
8. I threw open the door and looked at the angry mob.
9. Heart attacks and strokes are both serious, but a heart attack is more fatal.
10. Do you realize how bad your grades may suffer if you don't do your homework?
11. My barber is awful opinionated about how this country ought to be run.
12. This rule is of no real importance; it isn't real important to follow it.
13. We should drive slow through this residential area; you may drive fastly when we're back on the interstate.
14. It was a sad affair, and I feel sadly about it.
15. This glass has less milk in it because, though it is larger than the other one, it holds less ounces.
16. Our savings, I fear, are fastly going down the drain.
17. Both sisters are older than I, yet I intend to marry the oldest of them.
18. Your pit bull may be gentle, but he looks mean; in fact, he looks mean at everyone who walks by.
19. The lawn mower is running smoother since I oiled it.
20. Ike finished the job quicker than he expected.
21. You can dress casual if you like, but nobody will take you serious. 22. Please speak clear enough to be understood.
23. It was a real treat; we had a real nice time.
24. After my last arrest, I realized that I had to be more careful.
25. After my last arrest, I realized that I had to drive more careful.

Optional Writing Assignment for Lesson Four: Adjectives and Adverbs
Write a passage of up to 250 words that describes an event in a particular setting (an outdoor wedding, a baseball game, a cocktail party at an elegant home, a jazz concert at a small club, etc.) Pay particular attention to adjectives and adverbs, but don't overdo it. Modifiers are like spices—too many can be overwhelming. Focus on quality over quantity; get out your thesaurus and look for unusual and interesting words—words that enhance the beauty of your writing as well as its meaning.

Instructor's Feedback/Discussion (ascending order)

Instructor Giorgio: Hi, Janine,
I received your assignment and will get back to you on it shortly.
3/20/2006 11:44:27 AM

Instructor Giorgio: Hi, Janine,
Here are my comments on this week’s assignment:

6. The correct answer is "I am justly alarmed and will thus change my vote." Here's why. “Justly" modifies the verb "alarmed," clarifying that the writer feels justified in his alarm. Adverbs modify verbs, never nouns.
9. The answer is "more often fatal." It is not correct as "more fatal." "Fatal" means that a person will die from it. Therefore, fatal is an absolute. One condition can not be more fatal than another, because one person can't be more dead than another. Either you're dead or you're not (the mystery writer in me is loving this discussion). Also, not each and every heart attack is fatal, so you couldn't just strike the word "more" because sometimes a stroke can be fatal, so the comparison is the fatality rate.
19. The correct modifier is “more smoothly,” not “more smooth.” “More smoothly” modifies the verb “running,” so it has to be an adverb. “More smooth” is a variation on “smoother” and is an adjective. It would be correct if modifying a noun, as in “Smoother cream comes from Carnation’s contented cows.”
21. The second modifier is “seriously,” not “serious.” Again, look at what the modifier is modifying. “Seriously” modifies “will take,” and requires the use of an adverb. “Serious” is an adjective, as in “Serious fevers are often fatal.”

3/21/2006 11:44:08 PM

website created by Janine Bouyssounouse. Last updated 02/07/07