adj/adv

No, neither word modifies or describes the action of a verb. "Wide open" is an adjectival phrase.

Thanks, Setanta.

I believe you are correct, Young Liat. An adverb can not only modify a verb but can also modify an adjective or another adverb. "Open" is an adjective modifying the noun "eyes", and "wide" is an adverb defining the degree of openness of the eyes. Together they do constitute an adjectival phrase.

The only problem you have there, Flyboy, is that "wide" is an adjective, not an adverb. The same applies to "open," which is an adjective, and not an adverb (when it is not actually functioning as a verb).

Wide can be either an adjective or an adverb. One of it's adverbial definitions being "so as to leave much space or distance between". If wide is used as an adjective in Yoong's sentence it would have to define the eyes themselves meaning they were wide as opposed to narrow.

Actually, "wide" cannot be an adverb, until it is modified into widely. Common usage would be to say: "He opened his mouth wide." But it would be incorrect, the correct usage being "He opened his mouth widely."



That is precisely how it is used. Both "wide" and "open" are used to describe the old lady's eyes. Neither word is used to describe or modify the action of a verb.

An adverb can be used to modify an adjective, as in "extremely tall," but adjectives do not become adverbs, or even adverbial adjectives, without being modified, most commonly by adding the suffix "ly." (I am just being cautious in that statement--it were possible that an adjective could be modified in another manner to become an adverb, but i can't think of any other example than the suffix "ly.")

The example I used showing wide used as an adverb was from a Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of wide (adverb). Admittedly, widely is the more common form when using wide as an adverb (the opinions were widely diverse); however the expression "eyes widely open" is one rarely heard.

Certainly it is rarely heard, because in that locution it functions as an adjective. However, "eyes widely opened" would work, because then the adverb "widely" would modify the past participle of the verb "to open."

My response to Flyboy was not based upon your sentence, YL.

However, no we could not correctly say: "The door is wide opened." In that case, "wide" is incorrect because it modifies "opened," which is the past participle of the verb "to open." Therefore, it must be rendered "The door is widely opened."

I suggest that Flyboy and i will not agree on this matter, and that perhaps you will need to wait until others weigh in with their opinions, or seek another source for an answer to your question.

I will assert, however, once more and for the last time that "wide" is not an adverb. "Widely" is an adverb, but "wide" is an adjective.

EYES is noun
open is an adjective
wide is an adverb modifying open (tells HOW open they are)