Examkin

Adjective and Adverb Usage

36 questions

All types36Multiple choice19True / False10Fill in the blank7
Question 1Question →

Read the following sentence from a passage about mountaineering and answer the question:

'The mountaineering team completed its unusual rapid descent before the blizzard struck, securing their safety at the base camp.'

Which choice best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: its unusually rapid

Answer

its unusually rapid
The correct option correctly uses the possessive pronoun 'its' to refer to the team, and the adverb 'unusually' to modify the adjective 'rapid' which describes the noun 'descent'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the grammatical roles of the words in the underlined phrase.
In the phrase, 'descent' is a noun, 'rapid' is an adjective modifying 'descent', and the first modifier describes the degree of rapidity.
Understanding the parts of speech helps determine whether an adjective or adverb form is required.
2
Determine the correct form of the modifier modifying 'rapid'.
Since 'rapid' is an adjective, it must be modified by the adverb 'unusually' rather than the adjective 'unusual'.
Adverbs, not adjectives, are used to modify adjectives.
3
Evaluate the choices for pronoun correctness and conciseness.
The possessive pronoun 'its' is required to show possession of the descent by the team, and adding 'and quick' creates redundant phrasing.
Using 'it's' introduces a contraction error, and adding synonym modifiers violates the rule of conciseness.

Key Concept

Adjective and Adverb Usage
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 2Question →

Read the passage below and select the best answer for the underlined portion.

Although the runner started the race strong, she finished more slower than her training partner.

Which choice is the correct form of the underlined phrase in the sentence above?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: more slowly

Answer

more slowly
The correct answer is 'more slowly' because the action verb 'finished' requires an adverb modifier, and comparing two runners requires a comparative form.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the part of speech required to modify the action verb 'finished'. Since it is an action verb, it must be modified by an adverb rather than an adjective.
An adverb form is required.
Adverbs modify verbs, whereas adjectives modify nouns.
2
Determine the comparative context. The sentence compares two entities (the runner and her training partner) using 'than', which requires a comparative form.
A comparative adverb is required.
Comparative forms are used to compare two things, while superlative forms are used for three or more.
3
Select the correct comparative adverb form. The adverb 'slowly' forms its comparative using 'more' ('more slowly').
The correct form is 'more slowly'.
Combining 'more' and '-er' creates an ungrammatical double comparative.

Key Concept

Selecting between adjective and adverb forms and using correct comparative modifiers to construct logical comparisons.
Question 3Question →

In the sentence 'Although the newly tuned organ sounded strangely in the cavernous cathedral, the music director refused to halt the recital,' the underlined modifier is used correctly.

Show answer & explanation

Answer: False

Answer

The statement is false because 'sounded' is a linking verb and requires the predicate adjective 'strange' instead of the adverb 'strangely'.
The statement is false because the verb 'sounded' functions as a linking verb in this sentence, describing a quality of the subject 'organ'. Linking verbs must be followed by predicate adjectives (such as 'strange') rather than adverbs (such as 'strangely').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the underlined modifier and the word it modifies.
The underlined adverb 'strangely' modifies the verb 'sounded'.
To determine if a modifier is used correctly, we must identify its part of speech and what it is modifying.
2
Analyze the function of the verb 'sounded' in this context.
The verb 'sounded' functions as a linking verb connecting the subject 'organ' to a descriptive quality.
Linking verbs (like seem, look, smell, sound) connect the subject to a subject complement that describes it, rather than representing an action.
3
Determine the correct grammatical form for a subject complement following a linking verb.
A subject complement following a linking verb must be an adjective ('strange') rather than an adverb ('strangely').
Adverbs modify actions, whereas adjectives describe nouns or pronouns. Since 'sounded' links the description to the noun 'organ', the adjective 'strange' is required.

Key Concept

Adjective vs. Adverb Usage with Linking Verbs
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 4Question →

In the sentence 'The young musician played the piano beautiful during the recital,' the underlined modifier is used correctly.

Show answer & explanation

Answer: False

Answer

The statement is false because the adjective 'beautiful' incorrectly modifies the verb 'played'.
The statement is false because the adjective 'beautiful' is incorrectly modifying the verb 'played'. To correct the sentence, the adverb 'beautifully' must be used.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the word being modified by the underlined term 'beautiful'.
The word 'beautiful' describes how the musician 'played' (a verb).
Determining what word is being modified helps identify whether an adjective or an adverb is needed.
2
Apply the rule for adjectives and adverbs.
Adjectives modify nouns, while adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
Since 'played' is a verb, the modifier must be an adverb.
3
Determine the correct form of the modifier.
The adverb form of 'beautiful' is 'beautifully'. Therefore, 'beautiful' is incorrect.
This confirms that the statement claiming the modifier is used correctly is false.

Key Concept

Adjective and Adverb Usage
Question 5Question →

The software developer tested the new application thorough before submitting it to the quality assurance team.

Which of the following options is the best correction for the underlined portion of the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: thoroughly

Answer

The correct option is 'thoroughly' because it is the adverbial form needed to modify the verb 'tested'.
The correct option is 'thoroughly' because it is an adverb, which is required to modify the verb 'tested'. Adverbs answer the question of how an action was performed, so 'tested thoroughly' is the grammatically correct phrasing.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the word being modified in the sentence.
The underlined word 'thorough' is positioned to modify the verb 'tested'.
Understanding what word is being modified determines whether an adjective or an adverb is required.
2
Determine the correct part of speech needed.
Since verbs must be modified by adverbs rather than adjectives, the adjective 'thorough' must be changed to its adverb form.
Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, while adjectives modify nouns.
3
Select the option that provides the correct adverbial form.
The adverb form of 'thorough' is 'thoroughly'.
Choosing 'thoroughly' correctly completes the sentence with proper grammatical usage.

Key Concept

Adjective and Adverb Usage
Estimated Time:45s
Question 6Question →

During the late nineteenth century, physicists debated the nature of light. Of the two primary theories proposed to explain its behavior, the wave theory was eventually favored by the scientific community because it accounted for diffraction patterns more clearer than the particle theory.

Which of the following options is the best replacement for the underlined portion of the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: more clearly

Answer

more clearly
The correct option is 'more clearly' because it uses the adverb form 'clearly' to modify the verb phrase 'accounted for,' and it uses the comparative modifier 'more' which is appropriate for comparing exactly two theories (the wave theory and the particle theory).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the part of speech modified by the underlined portion.
The underlined phrase describes how the wave theory 'accounted for' diffraction patterns. Since it modifies a verb phrase, an adverb is required rather than an adjective.
Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, while adjectives modify nouns.
2
Determine the number of items being compared to choose between comparative and superlative forms.
The passage compares exactly 'two primary theories' (the wave theory and the particle theory). Therefore, the comparative form ('more') is required instead of the superlative form ('most').
Comparative modifiers compare two things, while superlative modifiers are used for three or more things.
3
Identify and eliminate any grammatical errors such as double comparatives or incorrect adjective usage.
The option 'more clearly' satisfies all criteria, as it uses the comparative adverb 'more' and the adverb 'clearly' without creating a double comparative error.
Double comparatives like 'more clearer' are grammatically incorrect, as are adjectives used as adverbs.

Key Concept

Adjective and Adverb Usage with Comparative and Superlative Modifiers
Question 7Question →

Complete the sentence by filling in the blank with the correct form of the adjective in parentheses.

Fill in the blanks below

Of the two routes to the mountain peak, the northern path is the (safe) option.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

safer
The sentence establishes a comparison between exactly two items ('the two routes'). When comparing two items, the comparative form of the adjective is required. For the one-syllable adjective 'safe', the comparative form is 'safer'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the number of items being compared.
Two items (the two routes) are being compared.
This determines whether to use the comparative or superlative form.
2
Determine the correct grammatical form based on the number of items.
The comparative form is required because exactly two items are compared.
Comparative adjectives are used for comparing two items, whereas superlative adjectives are used for three or more.
3
Apply the rule for forming the comparative of the adjective 'safe'.
The comparative form is 'safer'.
One-syllable adjectives form their comparative by adding the suffix '-er'.

Key Concept

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
Question 8Question →

In the sentence 'The environmental biologist documented the growth of the new plant species regular, recording measurements at the same time each morning,' the underlined modifier is used correctly.

Show answer & explanation

Answer: False

Answer

False
The statement is false because the underlined modifier 'regular' is an adjective that is incorrectly used to modify the verb 'documented.' To modify a verb, the adverb form 'regularly' is required.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine which word the underlined modifier is describing.
The word 'regular' describes the verb 'documented.'
To choose the correct modifier form, you must first identify the part of speech of the word being modified.
2
Identify the grammatical rule for modifying a verb.
Verbs must be modified by adverbs, not adjectives.
This determines whether the modifier needs to be an adjective or an adverb.
3
Evaluate the form of the underlined word.
The word 'regular' is an adjective, and its adverb form is 'regularly.' Since it modifies the verb 'documented,' the adjective form 'regular' is incorrect.
This determines the truth value of the statement in the stem.

Key Concept

Adjective and Adverb Usage
Estimated Time:45s
Question 9Question →

During the dinner rush, the chef prepared the signature pasta dish more quicker than the sous chef.

Which choice best replaces the underlined phrase to ensure the sentence is grammatically correct?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: more quickly

Answer

more quickly
The correct answer uses the adverb 'quickly' to modify the verb 'prepared' and correctly applies the comparative modifier 'more' for a comparison between two entities (the chef and the sous chef).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the word being modified by the underlined phrase.
The phrase modifies the verb 'prepared'.
Determining what is being modified identifies whether an adjective or an adverb is required.
2
Determine whether an adjective or an adverb is needed to modify the verb 'prepared'.
An adverb is needed because adverbs modify verbs, whereas adjectives modify nouns.
Applying the correct part of speech ensures grammatical accuracy.
3
Identify the correct comparative form for comparing two entities.
Since two people (the chef and the sous chef) are being compared, the comparative form 'more quickly' is correct, rather than the superlative 'quickest' or the double comparative 'more quicker'.
Selecting the correct degree of comparison ensures the sentence is logical and grammatically sound.

Key Concept

Adjective and Adverb Usage
Question 10Question →

The following passage is an excerpt from an essay about modern architecture.

Although the two architectural firms presented highly innovative concepts for the new civic center, the committee ultimately selected the design from the local firm because it integrated the surrounding landscape more seamless than there competitor's design.

Which of the following alternatives to the underlined portion is grammatically correct?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: more seamlessly than their

Answer

The correct answer is the choice that uses the adverb 'seamlessly' to modify the verb 'integrated' and the possessive pronoun 'their' to show ownership of the competitor's design, which is 'more seamlessly than their'.
The correct choice is 'more seamlessly than their' because the adverb 'seamlessly' is required to modify the verb 'integrated'. Furthermore, since the sentence compares two architectural firms, the comparative adverb 'more' is grammatically correct. Finally, the possessive pronoun 'their' correctly indicates ownership of the competitor's design.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the word being modified by the modifier in question.
The modifier describes how the design 'integrated' the landscape. Since 'integrated' is a verb, we must use an adverb ('seamlessly') rather than an adjective ('seamless').
Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs, while adjectives modify nouns.
2
Determine the number of items being compared to choose between comparative and superlative forms.
The sentence compares exactly two items ('the design from the local firm' and 'the competitor's design'). Therefore, we must use the comparative form 'more' instead of the superlative form 'most'.
Comparative forms are used for comparing two things, whereas superlative forms are used for three or more.
3
Determine the correct homophone for the possessive reference to the competitor.
We need the possessive determiner 'their' to modify the noun phrase 'competitor's design' (indicating it belongs to them), rather than the adverb of place 'there'.
'Their' indicates possession, whereas 'there' refers to a place.

Key Concept

Adjective and Adverb Modifier Distinctions and Logical Comparisons
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 11Question →

In the sentence 'The newly designed spaceship performed remarkable well during its initial simulated flight,' the underlined word 'remarkable' is used correctly. Is this statement true or false?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: False

Answer

False
The statement is false because 'remarkable' is an adjective, but it is functioning as a modifier for the adverb 'well'. In English grammar, a modifier that describes an adverb must also be an adverb. Therefore, 'remarkable' must be changed to 'remarkably' to be grammatically correct.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the word being modified by 'remarkable' in the sentence.
The word 'remarkable' is modifying 'well', which describes the verb 'performed'.
Understanding what word a modifier describes is necessary to determine if it should be an adjective or an adverb.
2
Determine the part of speech of the modified word 'well' and the correct form of the modifier.
The word 'well' is an adverb. Adverbs modifying other adverbs must themselves be adverbs.
Adjectives modify nouns, whereas adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
3
Evaluate whether 'remarkable' is in its adverb form.
'remarkable' is an adjective. Its adverb form is 'remarkably'. Therefore, the usage is incorrect, and the statement is false.
To conclude whether the statement is true or false based on grammatical rules.

Key Concept

Adjective and Adverb Usage
Question 12Question →

The amateur astronomer pointed the telescope toward the northern sky, hoping to catch a glimpse of the passing comet. Through the lens, the comet's glowing tail could be seen clear, even though thin clouds had begun to drift across the horizon.

Which choice best replaces the underlined word?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: clearly

Answer

The adverb 'clearly' should be used to modify the verb phrase 'could be seen'.
The correct option correctly uses the adverb 'clearly' to modify the verb phrase 'could be seen'. Adverbs are used to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, whereas adjectives are used to modify nouns.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine what part of speech the underlined word modifies.
The word modifies the verb phrase 'could be seen'.
Identifying the target of the modification tells us whether we need an adjective or an adverb.
2
Apply the rule for adjectives and adverbs.
Adverbs modify verbs, whereas adjectives modify nouns. Therefore, the adverb form 'clearly' is needed.
Since 'could be seen' is a verb phrase, using the adjective 'clear' is grammatically incorrect.
3
Evaluate the choices for grammatical correctness.
The option 'clearly' is the correct adverb. The option 'more clearer' is a double comparative, and 'clearest' is a superlative adjective that does not fit the context.
Ensures the selected option has no other grammatical errors.

Key Concept

Adjective and Adverb Usage
Estimated Time:45s
Question 13Question →

In the sentence 'Although the presentation went well, the public relations team was extreme cautious about releasing the sales figures prematurely,' is the underlined word 'extreme' used correctly?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: False

Answer

The statement is false; the underlined word is used incorrectly.
The correct answer is False because the adjective 'extreme' is modifying the adjective 'cautious'. Under English grammar rules, adverbs must be used to modify adjectives, so the correct form is 'extremely'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the syntactic role of the underlined word 'extreme' in the sentence.
The word 'extreme' modifies the adjective 'cautious' rather than the noun 'team'.
Identifying the target word being modified is the first step in determining the correct modifier form.
2
Determine the grammatical rule for modifying an adjective.
Adjectives cannot modify other adjectives; only adverbs can perform this function.
This establishes the grammatical standard required for the modifier in this context.
3
Apply the rule to select the correct modifier form.
The adjective 'extreme' must be changed to the adverb 'extremely'.
Converting 'extreme' to 'extremely' corrects the modifier error, rendering the original sentence incorrect.

Key Concept

Adjectives cannot modify other adjectives; adverbs must be used instead.
Question 14Question →

Despite the sudden drop in temperature, the engine of the vintage tractor started surprising easy on the first try.

Which choice best replaces the underlined portion of the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: surprisingly easily

Answer

surprisingly easily
The correct answer is 'surprisingly easily' because the verb 'started' must be modified by the adverb 'easily' to describe the action, and 'easily' must be modified by the adverb 'surprisingly' to describe the degree.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the grammatical role of the underlined phrase.
The phrase modifies the action verb 'started' to describe how the action occurred.
Identifying the verb determines what part of speech is required to modify it.
2
Determine the correct word forms for the modifiers.
The verb 'started' requires the adverb 'easily.' In turn, 'easily' must be modified by the adverb 'surprisingly' rather than the adjective 'surprising.'
Adverbs are required to modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.
3
Compare the options to find the one that uses correct adverbs without introducing wordiness or spelling errors.
The option 'surprisingly easily' is grammatically correct and concise.
This option avoids the adjective-adverb confusion of the original phrase, the redundancy of 'easily and without difficulty,' and the homophone and double comparative errors in 'more easier then expected.'

Key Concept

Adjective and Adverb Usage
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 15Question →

A student is revising a draft about a recent engineering project. To ensure the sentence uses correct adjective and adverb forms, which words should fill the blanks to correctly modify the words in parentheses?

Fill in the blanks below

Although the project seemed (impossible) complex, the engineers resolved the issues (quick) than their supervisors expected.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

impossibly for the first blank, and more quickly for the second blank
For the first blank, 'impossibly' is the adverbial form needed to modify the adjective 'complex'. For the second blank, 'more quickly' is the comparative adverbial form needed to modify the verb 'resolved' in a comparison introduced by 'than'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the correct modifier form for the first blank.
The word must modify the adjective 'complex', so it must be the adverb 'impossibly'.
Adverbs, not adjectives, are used to modify other adjectives.
2
Determine the correct modifier form for the second blank.
The word must modify the verb 'resolved', so it must be the adverbial form 'quickly'.
Adverbs are required to modify verbs.
3
Apply the comparative rules to the second blank.
Since the sentence compares two actions using 'than', we use the comparative adverb 'more quickly'.
Comparative adverbs are used when comparing two actions or states.

Key Concept

Adjectives modify nouns or pronouns, while adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. When comparing actions, use comparative adverbs.
Question 16Question →

The following passage is an excerpt from a technical report on renewable energy systems:

Designed to minimize thermal loss, the new solar panel array performed more efficient than its predecessor, generating power even on overcast days.

Which choice best replaces the underlined portion of the sentence to ensure it is grammatically correct and appropriate for the context?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: array performed more efficiently than its

Answer

The correct choice is the option that replaces the underlined text with 'array performed more efficiently than its', which correctly uses the adverbial form 'efficiently' to modify the verb 'performed', retains the correct possessive pronoun 'its', and avoids a dangling modifier by keeping the noun 'array' as the subject of the clause.
The correct choice is the option that replaces the underlined text with 'array performed more efficiently than its' because it uses the adverb 'efficiently' to modify the action verb 'performed'. It also correctly uses the possessive pronoun 'its' to refer to the predecessor, and it maintains 'array' as the subject of the main clause, which correctly aligns with the introductory modifier 'Designed to minimize thermal loss'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the role of the modifier following the verb 'performed'.
The word modifies 'performed', which is an action verb.
An adverb is required to modify a verb, meaning the adjective 'efficient' must be changed to the adverb 'efficiently'.
2
Evaluate the homophone choice between 'its' and 'it's'.
The sentence requires a possessive pronoun to modify 'predecessor'.
'its' is the possessive pronoun, whereas 'it's' is a contraction for 'it is', making 'its' the grammatically correct choice.
3
Check the relationship between the introductory phrase and the subject of the main clause.
The introductory phrase 'Designed to minimize thermal loss' must modify 'the new solar panel array'.
Placing 'engineers' as the subject of the main clause creates a dangling modifier because engineers cannot be designed to minimize thermal loss.

Key Concept

Adjective and Adverb Usage
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 17Question →

Because the software update caused the processor to run too quick, the computer frequently overheated during intensive tasks.

Which choice best replaces the underlined portion to ensure standard English conventions?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: too quickly

Answer

too quickly
The correct answer is 'too quickly' because the verb 'run' must be modified by an adverb ('quickly') rather than an adjective ('quick'). Additionally, the adverb 'too' is correctly used and spelled to indicate excess.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the part of speech of the word being modified.
The word being modified is the action verb 'run'.
Verbs must be modified by adverbs rather than adjectives.
2
Choose the correct adverbial forms for the modifiers.
The adjective 'quick' must be changed to the adverb 'quickly', and it must be preceded by the adverb 'too'.
This correctly creates an adverbial phrase modifying the verb.
3
Ensure there are no spelling, homophone, or redundancy errors.
Using the phrase 'too quickly' is concise, grammatically correct, and uses the correct spelling of 'too'.
This avoids homophone confusion with 'to' and avoids redundant phrasing like 'too quickly and rapidly'.

Key Concept

Adverbs must be used to modify verbs, and they must be spelled correctly without introducing redundant words.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 18Question →

In the sentence, 'Because the chemicals in the laboratory were highly reactive, the technician handled the samples extremely cautious,' the word 'cautious' is grammatically correct. Is this statement true or false?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: False

Answer

The statement is false because the adjective 'cautious' is incorrectly used to modify the verb 'handled' and should be replaced by the adverb 'cautiously'.
The statement is false because the adjective 'cautious' is used to modify the verb 'handled', which requires the adverb 'cautiously' to describe the action.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the word that 'cautious' modifies in the sentence.
The word 'cautious' describes the manner in which the technician 'handled' the samples.
Determining the target of modification is necessary to choose the correct modifier form.
2
Determine whether the modified word is a noun/pronoun or a verb/adjective/adverb.
The modified word 'handled' is a verb.
Adjectives modify nouns, while adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
3
Select the correct grammatical form and check the sentence's structure.
The adverb 'cautiously' is required. The correct phrase is 'handled the samples extremely cautiously.'
Using the adverb form corrects the adjective-adverb confusion error.

Key Concept

Adjectives describe nouns or pronouns, whereas adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
Estimated Time:45s
Question 19Question →

In the sentence 'The newly appointed director looked skeptical at the ambitious proposal, questioning the feasibility of the projected timeline,' the underlined word 'skeptical' is used correctly.

Show answer & explanation

Answer: False

Answer

The statement is false because 'skeptical' is an adjective, but the action verb phrase 'looked at' requires the adverb 'skeptically' to modify it.
The correct answer is false because the adjective 'skeptical' is incorrectly used to modify the action verb phrase 'looked at,' which requires the adverb 'skeptically.'

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the syntactic role of the underlined word and the verb it modifies.
The word 'skeptical' is an adjective trying to modify the verb 'looked' in the phrase 'looked... at.'
To determine correctness, we must analyze whether the verb requires an adjective or an adverb.
2
Determine if the verb functions as a linking verb or an action verb in this specific context.
Because it is followed by the preposition 'at' and has a direct object ('proposal'), 'looked' is an action verb representing the physical act of looking.
Linking verbs (meaning 'seemed' or 'appeared') take adjectives, whereas action verbs require adverbs.
3
Apply the appropriate modifier rule to the sentence.
The action verb phrase 'looked at' must be modified by the adverb 'skeptically' instead of the adjective 'skeptical.' Therefore, the usage is incorrect and the statement is false.
This completes the evaluation of the statement's truth value.

Key Concept

Adjective and Adverb Usage
Question 20Question →

In the sentence below, the underlined modifier is used correctly:

'As the deadline approached, the team members grew anxiously about their ability to complete the project on time.'

Show answer & explanation

Answer: False

Answer

The statement is false because the adverb 'anxiously' is used incorrectly where the predicate adjective 'anxious' is required.
The statement is false because 'grew' functions as a linking verb in this context, meaning 'became.' It must connect the subject 'team members' to the predicate adjective 'anxious' to describe their state, making the adverb 'anxiously' grammatically incorrect.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the verb and the underlined modifier in the target clause.
The verb is 'grew' and the modifier is 'anxiously.'
Analyzing the specific elements and their grammatical roles is necessary to determine usage correctness.
2
Determine whether the verb 'grew' functions as an action verb or a linking verb in this context.
The verb 'grew' is used here to mean 'became,' describing the changing emotional state of the subject 'team members' rather than a physical action.
Verbs like 'grow,' 'feel,' and 'remain' can be linking or action verbs depending on the meaning of the sentence.
3
Apply the modifier rule for linking verbs.
Because 'grew' acts as a linking verb, it must link the subject to a predicate adjective ('anxious') rather than an adverb ('anxiously').
Adverbs modify actions, whereas linking verbs connect the subject to a predicate adjective describing that subject.

Key Concept

Adjective and Adverb Usage with Linking Verbs
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