16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsEasy–MediumAdjective versus adverb

Standard English Conventions practice question

The nurse spoke ____ to the frightened child until he stopped crying.

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

  1. A. gentlyCorrect
  2. B. gentle
  3. C. more gentle
  4. D. gentleness

Answer: A. gently

An adverb modifies "spoke".

Why the other answers are wrong

B. gentle
An adjective cannot modify a verb.
C. more gentle
Still an adjective.
D. gentleness
A noun.

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