Celebrity English

Samuel makes an error in modifier confusion

"If I hit a bad shot, people five fairways away know it because I'm yelling [his favorite curse word], but if I hit a good shot, I'm yelling too. Everybody knows the difference in the yelling. Either Sam is playing well, or he's playing bad." - Samuel L. Jackson, in People, about his behavior on the golf course

Samuel has made an error in modifier confusion: he has used an adjective to modify a verb. Only an adverb can modify a verb.

In the last sentence, the second instance of the verb "playing" is modified by the adjective "bad." This is incorrect because an adjective cannot modify a verb. To correct the error, replace the adjective with an adverb.

"Either Sam is playing well, or he's playing badly."

"Either Sam is playing well, or he's playing poorly."

adjectives used to describe tone

adjectives, tone

The tone of a piece of writing refers to the stylistic manner in which opinions and emotions are expressed. Consider using these adjectives when analyzing compositions.

This entry continues with a list of adjectives to describe tone.

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Usage: Dakota chooses an adjective instead of an adverb.

adjectives, adverbs, modifier confusion

Proper diction requires an understanding of words that are misused.

"I sing to myself and my sister looks at me weird." - Dakota Fanning in BOP

This quote contains an error in modifier form.

Dakota used an adjective to modify a verb, and only adverbs can modify verbs.

"Weird" is an adjective used, in this sentence, to describe how Dakota's sister looks at her. Since "looks" is a verb, an adverb should modify this action. Change "weird" to "weirdly."

"I sing to myself and my sister looks at me weirdly."

Note that the verb "look" can function either as an action verb, as in this sentence, or as a linking verb. A linking verb can connect a subject with an adjective, as in the following sentence:

"When I sing to myself, I look weird to my sister."

dangling participles

adjectives, dangling participles

A dangling participle is a participle or a participial phrase that does not clearly and logically modify any word or phrase in a sentence.

Reading the question carefully, it was obvious that there was a grammatical error.

When you encounter a participial phrase ("Reading the question carefully"), ask yourself, "Who is doing the action?" and then find the subject in the sentence. If the subject is doing the action, the sentence is correct. If not, you must correct the dangling participle.

In the example, the subject is "it." "It" was not reading - a person has to do the reading.

This entry continues with an explanation of how to correct dangling participles.

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interrogative pronouns

adjectives, pronouns

A pronoun is a word that substitutes for a noun or a noun phrase. Pronouns are classified into 6 types: personal pronouns; demonstrative pronouns; indefinite pronouns; relative pronouns; interrogative pronouns; and reflexive and intensive pronouns.

Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions.

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Demonstrative Pronouns

adjectives, pronouns

A pronoun is a word that substitutes for a noun or a noun phrase. Pronouns are classified into 6 types: personal pronouns; demonstrative pronouns; indefinite pronouns; relative pronouns; interrogative pronouns; and reflexive and intensive pronouns.

Demonstrative pronouns identify people or things by directing attention to them.

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Personal Pronouns

adjectives, case, pronouns

A pronoun is a word that substitutes for a noun or a noun phrase. Pronouns are classified into 6 types: personal pronouns; demonstrative pronouns; indefinite pronouns; relative pronouns; interrogative pronouns; and reflexive and intensive pronouns.

Personal pronouns designate specific people or things.

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Avoiding Vague Expressions and Empty Modifiers

adjectives, adverbs, colloquial

Some words and phrases tend to weaken the effect of a piece of writing because they do not enhance the meaning of the document. These terms may be easy to overlook because they are common in colloquial speech. Try to notice these vague expressions and "empty" modifiers and consider avoiding terms that add little value to your writing.

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Adjectives

adjectives

An adjective is a word or group of words used to describe a noun.

The red apple was in a glass bowl.

The adjectives in this sentence are "red" and "glass." "Red" modifies the noun "apple" and "glass" modifies the noun "bowl."

A prepositional phrase can act as an adjective.

The apple was in a bowl on the table.

The prepositional phrase "on the table" acts as an adjective to describe the noun "bowl."

A linking verb links a subject with a predicate. When a subject is linked to an adjective, the modifier is called a predicate adjective.

The apple tastes sweet.

The verb "tastes" links the subject, "apple," with the predicate adjective, "sweet."

Adjectives used for comparison are either comparative or superlative.

A comparative adjective is used to compare two people or things. Comparative adjectives generally end in "-er" or are themselves modified by "more" or "less."

An apple is sweeter than a lemon.

I think that apples are more delicious than bananas.

A superlative adjective is used to compare more than two people or things. Superlative adjectives generally end in "-est" or are themselves modified by "most" or "least."

Apples, bananas, and peaches are all sweet, but peaches are sweetest.

Apples, bananas, and peaches are all tasty, but I think peaches are the most delicious.

Do not confuse comparative and superlative adjectives. Comparative adjectives can only be used to compare two people or things, and superlative adjectives can only be used to compare more than two people or things.

Apples and peaches are delicious, but peaches are best.

"Best" is a superlative adjective that means "surpassing all others." Since this sentence contains a comparison of only two things, use the comparative "better."

Apples and peaches are delicious, but peaches are better.

Do not use a comparative adjective when comparing more than two people or things, as in the following sentence:

After eating an apple, a banana, and a peach, I decided that the peach was better.

"Better" is a comparative adjective incorrectly used in this sentence to compare three things. Use the superlative "best" in this context.

After eating an apple, a banana, and a peach, I decided that I the peach was best.