Question

He used to run very good, but since the injury last year he has not been good at running. A. run very good, but since the injury last year he has not been good at running. B. be a good runner, but since the injury last year he has not run so well. C. run very well, but since the injury last year he has not run any good. D. run very good, but since the injury last year he has not run so good. E. be a very good runner, but since the injury last year he used to be better

Short answer

Option B

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Problem

The sentence needs to be rewritten to be grammatically correct and to use appropriate verb forms and adjectives/adverbs.

Analyze Each Option

Examine each provided option to determine if it fixes the original sentence properly.

Evaluate Option A

Option A: 'run very good, but since the injury last year he has not been good at running.' This option contains the grammatical error of using 'good' instead of 'well' when modifying the verb 'run'.

Evaluate Option B

Option B: 'be a good runner, but since the injury last year he has not run so well.' This option is grammatically correct and logically consistent. It uses 'well' to modify the verb 'run' which is the correct form.

Evaluate Option C

Option C: 'run very well, but since the injury last year he has not run any good.' Incorrect because 'any good' is not proper. It should be 'well' instead of 'any good'.

Evaluate Option D

Option D: 'run very good, but since the injury last year he has not run so good.' This option also incorrectly uses 'good' instead of 'well' when modifying the verb 'run'.

Evaluate Option E

Option E: 'be a very good runner, but since the injury last year he used to be better.' This option is awkward and does not properly convey the intended meaning. It should mention his current running ability.

Conclusion

Based on the evaluation, Option B is the most appropriate choice as it corrects the grammatical errors and conveys the intended meaning.

Key concepts

Grammar Rules

Understanding grammar rules is key to constructing clear and correct sentences. In the context of this exercise, it’s important to recognize the difference between adjectives and adverbs, as well as the appropriate use of verb forms.

An adjective describes a noun, while an adverb modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. For instance, 'good' is an adjective, but 'well' is an adverb. Thus, when describing 'run,' which is a verb, we should use 'well.'

Another essential rule is ensuring subject-verb agreement. This means the verb must properly match the subject in both number and tense. Paying close attention to these rules helps make sentences grammatically correct and improves clarity.

Sentence Analysis

When analyzing sentences for correctness, break down the individual parts.
Evaluation should cover:

• Subject-Verb Agreement
• Proper use of adjectives and adverbs
• Logical consistency

Let's examine the original sentence: 'He used to run very good, but since the injury last year he has not been good at running.'

Analysis reveals the incorrect use of 'good' instead of 'well.' Also, 'used to run' denotes a past habit, while the second part of the sentence needs a present perfect tense to properly convey the current state affected by the past event ('has not run so well').

Comparing all options, only Option B ('be a good runner, but since the injury last year he has not run so well.') adheres to these analysis criteria.

Verb Forms

Verb forms are pivotal in creating time-related clarity in sentences.
They must correctly match the time frame being described.

Consider 'He used to run very good.' Here, 'used to run' indicates a past habit. In the second part, 'but since the injury last year he has not been good at running,' what's required is present perfect tense ('has not run') to indicate the effect of the past injury on the current capability.

Option B correctly uses 'has not run,' ensuring clarity about his current running state based on the injury.
Always choose the verb form that correctly reflects the time frame and maintains the intended meaning of the sentence.

Adjectives and Adverbs

Distinguishing between adjectives and adverbs is crucial for proper sentence structure.
Use:

• Adjectives to describe nouns (e.g., 'He is a good runner.')
• Adverbs to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs (e.g., 'He runs well.')

In the original sentence, 'very good' incorrectly uses 'good' (an adjective) to modify 'run' (a verb); it should be 'very well' (using an adverb).

Options A, C, and D failed as they used 'good' instead of 'well.' Only Option B ('be a good runner, but since the injury last year he has not run so well.') correctly applied 'well' as an adverb to 'run.'

Always ensure adjectives and adverbs are used appropriately based on what you aim to describe or modify.