There are eight generally recognized parts of speech in the English language. For the purposes of the CLT, we will focus on the four that are most commonly confused with each other: noun, verb, adjective, and adverb. The reason these three forms can be confused is that the same root can often be rendered as any of these four parts of speech. Consider the ideas in all the words in the word group direct. The word itself could be either an adjective or a verb, while directly constitutes an adverbial form of the same idea. Meanwhile, direction is a noun related to the verb form. This doesn’t even include other related forms like directive and directory. Because the same root idea can be associated with so many parts of speech, the CLT will test you to see if you can recognize the proper part of speech for a particular context.
Approach Question
Should you leave the sentence below as it is or opt for one of the three alternatives listed in the answer choices?
The boy, hoping to avoid detection and play a prank, crept silent into his sister’s room.
A. NO CHANGE
B. silently
C. silence
D. silencing
We know that the boy was all about silence in this situation, but what form fits the grammar of the sentence? We know that a sentence requires a main verb, but it has the main verb “crept” already. The only verb in the answer choices is “silencing”, which doesn’t belong right after the main verb “crept”. (That’s if we don’t consider the answer choice “silence” a verb, but if it were, there would be no place for it since the main verb is already present.)
We don’t need a noun after the verb “crept”; this verb is known as intransitive because it does not take an object. Unlike a verb like “love”, which normally needs an object to describe the person or thing that is loved, “crept” stands on its own. So the noun “silence” would not work right after “crept”.
That leaves the two most likely answers: the adjective and the adverb. The adjective “silent” could certainly describe the boy, but the sentence does not describe the boy as silent so much as his creeping. The way he creeps is silent, which means we need an adverb here since an adverb is used to modify a verb (it can also modify an adjective or an adverb). Adverbs (except for irregular forms like “well” in “she did well”) end in “-ly”. “Silently” is the best answer.
General Strategy
Know your parts of speech.
Nouns name a person, place, thing, or idea.
Nouns may be singular or plural.
The park is a great place to play.
Love is one of life’s great joys.
Verbs indicate action or state.
She runs daily.
Tulips are my favorite flower.
Adjectives describe nouns.
He is my best friend.
This view is sublime.
Adjectives modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
I want to do better than I did last time.
This book is vastly superior to the last one I read.
I’m afraid you did extremelypoorly on this assignment.
Try this question now.
Should you leave the sentence below as it is or opt for one of the three alternatives listed in the answer choices?
The decade of the 1880’s in France brought the advent of “protective cruisers” which, due to their modest armored sloped decks, afforded significant protection against enemy fire.
A. NO CHANGE
B. modesty
C. modestly
D. model
(spoiler)
The original answer here, “modest armored sloped decks,” might strike you as fairly solid. If we stick with that formation, though, we would likely need a comma to break up the adjectives. But the more important consideration is that we always have three alternatives to the original, and we should certainly consult those alternatives.
Without doubt, the noun “modesty” doesn’t make sense here; what would “modesty armored” mean? The word “model” departs from the other options (you may occasionally see something like on the CLT); “model” doesn’t seem to fit the context at all.
That leaves us to consider the option of “modestly”. Should we say “modest armored” or “modestly armored.” When we put those choices side by side, it becomes clearer that we need an adverb to modify the adjective “armored.” The “-ly” form is the adverb, so the answer is C.
Distinguish adjectives from adverbs.
Incorrect Example: You did really good.
Correct Example: You did really well.
Incorrect Example: I’ve been sick for a week and still feel badly.
Correct Example: I’ve been sick for a week and still feel bad.
Look at the context to determine the function of the word in question.
Try this question now.
Should you leave the sentence below as it is or opt for one of the three alternatives listed in the answer choices?
The CLT proctor will make sure to instructive you about the tools allowable on the official CLT.
A. NO CHANGE
B. instruct
C. instruction
D. instructively
(spoiler)
Some form of the word “instruct” needs to follow the verbal phrase “make sure to …” What kind of word follows such a phrase? A verb would make most sense–specifically, the infinitive form of a verb. The choices present an adjective (“instructive”), a noun (“instruction”), and an adverb (“constructively”), but the verb “instruct” is needed. This is confirmed by the direct object “you” immediately following; only “instruct you” could make sense, considering the other options. The answer is B.
Ask what other words or phrases the word describes, modifies, or governs.
Check endings to identify part of speech (e.g., “-ly for adverbs)._
Try this question now.
Should you leave the sentence below as it is or opt for one of the three alternatives listed in the answer choices?
The Republic of Estonia declared neutrality during World War II but, after the war was over, was annexed and turned into an administration subunit of the USSR.
A. NO CHANGE
B. administer
C. administrative
D. administratively
(spoiler)
If we don’t read carefully here, we might be tempted by “administration”, because it is a noun form, and a noun would go well after “turned into …” However, “subunit” is already present, providing the noun needed after “turned into …” What the question requires is the adjective that will modify the noun “subunit”. The words are long, but focus on the endings: “-ive” is the ending representing an adjective, and “administrative subunit” goes well together. The answer is C.
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