IELTS vocabulary – note on the use of adjectives and adverbs
Verbs and nouns used to describe trends are often qualified by adverbs and adjectives. Note that adverbs are used to modify verbs. Most of them end in –ly. Adjectives, on the other hand, are used to modify nouns. Adjectives usually go before the nouns they modify. In some cases, they go after a verb.
Study the following examples.
Incorrect: There has been a significantly rise in the price of gold.
Correct: There has been a significant rise in the price of gold.
Significantly is an adverb, whereas significant is an adjective. To modify the noun rise, we have to use the adjective significant.
Now study the following examples:
Incorrect: Prices of vegetables have risen significant.
Correct: Prices of vegetables have risen significantly.
To modify the verb risen, we have to use the adverb significantly.
IELTS vocabulary exercise
Complete the following sentences using appropriate adjectives or adverbs.
1. There has been a ————————– drop in the price of onions.
a) sharp b) sharply
2. Prices of onion have fallen ————————–
a) sharply b) sharp
3. We are experiencing a —————————- rise in temperature.
a) dramatic b) dramatically
4. ———————— the temperature dropped.
a) sudden b) suddenly
5. There is a ———————- increase in profits.
a) marginal b) marginally
Answers
1. There has been a sharp drop in the price of onions.
2. Prices of onion have fallen sharply.
3. We are experiencing a dramatic rise in temperature.
4. Suddenly the temperature dropped.
5. There is a marginal increase in profits.
