SAT Writing: Adverbs
March 2, 2009 by Adam
Filed under All Posts, SAT Strategies, SAT Unlocked, Writing, Writing Multiple Choice
About once per test, an SAT Error ID question will leave the ‘ly’ off the end of an adverb. An adverb is a word, usually ending in ‘ly’ (like ‘clearly’, ‘mostly’ or ‘faithfully’), that helps describe (or modify) an adjective, a verb, or another adverb.
Incorrect:
Researchers examined the constant changing river bed for signs of invasive species.Problem: The adverb ‘constant’ is missing ‘ly’.
(The river bed can not both be ‘constant’ and ‘changing’ at the same time.)Correct:
Researchers examined the constantly changing river bed for signs of invasive species.
Tip: The phrase ‘constant changing’ is an SAT favorite when testing adverbs.
From SAT Unlocked, which includes a complete list of the practice questions in The Official SAT Study Guide that test this SAT Writing rule.
This is an error that even adults still make. Thanks for the information on this post, it will help me speak better english.
Please checkout some of the tools concerning SAT Vocabulary at that website. They have great information as well!
Thanks for the information that will be helpful in test prep and everyday writing. I see this error [ly] often when reading (student) papers.
Great adverb tip. This is a common question found on the SAT.
Here is one of my common grammar mistakes kids make on the SAT. Feel free to share this:
http://preppedandpolished.com/avoid-this-common-sat-grammar-mistake/
Alexis Avila, Founder of Prepped & Polished, LLC