The given sentence is divided into four segments. Select the option that has the segment with an adverbial usage error.
Elizabeth brightly / accepted the award / given by / the President.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is option 3 i.e. Elizabeth brightly.
Error concept: Error in adverb usage.
What is wrong: The adverb 'brightly' means shining with light or in a cheerful manner, but it cannot logically describe the verb 'accepted' in this context.
Grammatical concept: Adverbs must logically and grammatically match the verb they modify. The correct adverb here should be 'gratefully', 'happily', or 'proudly' to show the manner of acceptance.
Incorrectness of the concept in context: Using 'brightly' with 'accepted' makes the sentence awkward and illogical.
How to correct: Replace 'brightly' with a suitable adverb like 'gratefully' or 'happily'.
Correction: Elizabeth gratefully accepted the award.
Final sentence: Elizabeth gratefully accepted the award given by the President.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.