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Difficulty: MediumAdjective and Adverb Usage

Although the researcher expected the chemical reaction to proceed slowly, the mixture actually changed color surprising fast when exposed to direct sunlight.

Which choice is the most grammatically correct option for the underlined portion?

  1. A
    NO CHANGE
  2. surprisinglyAnswer
  3. C
    surprise
  4. D
    more surprising

Answer

The correct answer is 'surprisingly' because it is an adverb that properly modifies another adverb ('fast').
The correct option is 'surprisingly' because it is an adverb. In the phrase 'surprisingly fast,' the adverb 'fast' modifies the verb 'changed,' and 'surprisingly' correctly modifies 'fast' to show the degree or manner of speed. Standard grammatical rules dictate that adverbs, not adjectives, must be used to modify other adverbs.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the word being modified by the underlined portion.
The underlined word modifies 'fast,' which functions as an adverb describing how the mixture changed color.
Determining the grammatical function of the word being modified helps identify the correct part of speech required for the modifier.
2
Apply the rule for modifiers of adverbs.
In standard written English, only adverbs can modify other adverbs. Adjectives are not permitted to modify adverbs.
This grammatical rule dictates that the adjective 'surprising' must be converted into its adverbial form.
3
Select the option that provides the correct adverb form.
The word 'surprisingly' is the correct adverb form. The noun 'surprise' and the adjective phrase 'more surprising' do not fit grammatically.
This isolates the only choice that maintains standard grammatical conventions.

Key Concept

Adverb Modifying an Adverb
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Adjective and Adverb Usage

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