16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsHardAdjective after a linking verb

Standard English Conventions practice question

After the long climb the water from the spring tasted ____ than anything from a bottle.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A. sweeterCorrect
  2. B. more sweetly
  3. C. sweetest
  4. D. sweetly

Answer: A. sweeter

'Tasted' is a linking verb and takes an adjective; the comparison takes the comparative.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. more sweetly
An adverb does not follow a linking verb here.
C. sweetest
Superlative, but 'than' calls for the comparative.
D. sweetly
An adverb, and no comparison.

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