Question: 13 ?of 37
The pumpkin crop was incredibly small this year because of excessive rain in the spring and heat in the summer. Which of the following parts of speech describes the word “incredibly” as used in the sentence above?
Adverb
Preposition
Pronoun
Adjective
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: Adverb
Explanation:
In the sentence:
“The pumpkin crop was incredibly small this year because of excessive rain in the spring and heat in the summer.”
The word “incredibly” functions as an adverb because it modifies the adjective “small.”
Understanding Adverbs:
An adverb is a part of speech that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Adverbs often describe how, when, where, or to what extent something happens. Many adverbs end in “-ly,” though not all of them do.
How “Incredibly” Functions as an Adverb:
- The adjective in the sentence is “small.”
- The word “incredibly” is modifying “small” by describing to what extent the pumpkin crop was small.
- Since “incredibly” describes the degree or intensity of “small,” it is functioning as an adverb.
Examples of Similar Usage:
- The test was extremely difficult. (“Extremely” modifies “difficult.”)
- She was very happy. (“Very” modifies “happy.”)
- It is surprisingly cold today. (“Surprisingly” modifies “cold.”)
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:
- Preposition: Prepositions show relationships between words, like “in,” “on,” “under,” or “before.” “Incredibly” does not function this way.
- Pronoun: A pronoun replaces a noun (e.g., “he,” “she,” “it”), but “incredibly” does not replace anything.
- Adjective: Adjectives modify nouns, but “incredibly” is modifying an adjective (“small”), making it an adverb.
Thus, the correct answer is Adverb because “incredibly” describes how small the crop was.