Sample Handmade Responses to Hale’s Sin and Syntax,

Chapters 4-5, Adjectives and Adverbswith corresponding citations from the chapter

Angelo State UniversityEnglish 4361: English GrammarDr. Laurence MusgroveDepartment of English and Modern LanguagesJanuary 28, 2013

www.theillustratedprofessor.com@lemusgro

“Don’t slap on an adjective that merely repeats what the noun or verb makes obvious” (81). “Watch for adverbs that merely repeat the meaning of the verb” (91).

“If you use ‘many’ with a word, use ‘fewer’ with the same word…; if you use ‘much’ with a word, use ‘less’ ….” (84).

“Adjectives are consorts, never attending a party alone, preferring to hook themselves on the arm of a sturdy noun” (75). “Adverbs are more promiscuous than adjectives. They partner loosely, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs” (88).

“Adjectives are consorts, never attending a party alone, preferring to hook themselves on the arm of a sturdy noun” (75). “Adverbs are crashers in the syntax house party. More often than not, they should be deleted when they sneak in the back door” (90).

“Placement is more important than you might think. Sleep deprivation may cause us to ask for ‘a hot cup of coffee’ when what we really want is ‘a cup of hot coffee’” (77).

“that’s the alchemy of adjectives: boiling down excess ideas to the essence of a thing, with words that surprise” (80).