Choose the most suitable option to replace the underlined part of the sentence. If the sentence is already correct, select 'No substitution required'.
The impact of the new regulations on small businesses is likely to be even more severely than initially anticipated.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Correct Answer
even more severe than initially anticipated
Explanation
The sentence requires a predicate adjective to modify the noun "impact" following the linking verb "is likely to be." The original sentence incorrectly uses the adverb "severely." Additionally, the comparative structure requires the conjunction "than" to make a comparison, making "even more severe than" the grammatically correct choice.
To break down why the other choices do not fit the definition:
"even more severe as initially anticipated" incorrectly pairs the comparative modifier "more" with the conjunction "as" instead of "than."
"even severer than initially anticipated" uses the non-standard comparative form "severer" instead of the proper multi-syllable comparative form "more severe."
"No substitution required" is incorrect because the original adverb "severely" cannot function as a predicate adjective in this syntactic structure.
Key Points
Core Definition Predicate adjectives modify the subject of a sentence when following a linking verb structure.
Grammatical Role Correct usage of an adjective phrase combined with a comparative conjunction to establish a parallel comparison.