WASSCE English Language · Paper 1 style

Word class

One sample question with the full working. 2 more in the app, with instant feedback and repair sessions for the traps below.

In the sentence 'She sings beautifully', the word 'beautifully' is

Aan adverb
Ban adjective
Ca noun
Da verb

Show the answer and working

Answer: A

Adverb.

Trap B Misidentifies word class/function: Ask what the word does in the sentence: describes a noun (adjective), modifies a verb/adjective (adverb), -ing as a noun (gerund), -ing describing (participle).

Trap C Confuses word classes: Decide what class the gap needs (after 'the' → noun; modifying a verb → adverb) and pick the option of that class.

Trap D Goes by a surface cue instead of the grammar: Ask what the word is DOING in this sentence (subject? modifier? object?) and what the rule says, not what its ending or look suggests.

Traps in Word class

Misidentifies word class/function
Ask what the word does in the sentence: describes a noun (adjective), modifies a verb/adjective (adverb), -ing as a noun (gerund), -ing describing (participle).
Confuses word classes
Decide what class the gap needs (after 'the' → noun; modifying a verb → adverb) and pick the option of that class.
Goes by a surface cue instead of the grammar
Ask what the word is DOING in this sentence (subject? modifier? object?) and what the rule says, not what its ending or look suggests.
Uses the wrong form of the verb or word
Identify the structure the frame demands (past perfect after 'by the time … arrived'; passive 'will be + past participle'; 'refuse to + verb') and check the option fills it exactly.

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