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Let’s see how ETS tests this grammar rule:
Lou has been called fickle due to his constant changing preferences.
Step 1: Spot the adjective “constant.”
Step 2: Ask: What is the adjective modifying? Changing.
Step 3: Ask: What part of speech is changing? It’s an adjective! “Changing” is modifying “preferences,”
which is a noun.
Step 4: Change constant to the adverb constantly because adverbs modify adjectives.
Revised sentence: Lou has been called fickle due to his constantly changing preferences.
How about this one:
Jessica describes her trip to Africa vividly in her memoir.
Step 1: Spot the adverb (vividly).
Step 2: Ask: What is vividly modifying? Describes. HOW she describes. Describes is a verb and adverbs
modify verbs so the sentence is correct as is.
Rule #12: Double Negatives ...................................................................
How to Find: Look for the tip-off words hardly, barely, scarcely, none, or but in conjunction with a not
or no.
How to Fix: Either change the not or no to any, or remove the hardly, barely, scarcely, none, or but.
Double negatives are easy to catch with the ear because they sound so wrong. Read the following out loud:
Lucy has hardly no friends.
Step 1: Spot the “hardly no.”
Step 2: We have a double negative on our hands so change the no to any, or remove the hardly.
Revision 1: Lucy has hardly any friends.
Revision 2: Lucy has no friends.
He can’t go to Hawaii without hardly any money.
Step 1: Spot the “without hardly any.”
Step 2: We have a double negative error so change the without to with, or remove the hardly.
Revision 1: He can’t go to Hawaii with hardly any money.
Revision 2: He can’t go to Hawaii without any money.