When I posted my comment with a clip from the OED, I didn't go on to answer your question. I would say the sentences vary in the skill with which they use "aware." Sentence 4 is the only one that struck me right off as unexceptionable, and it happens to be the one that conforms to the OED's description in having an adverb modifying "aware." Even though 1 meets this condition as well, with "very" and "more," these are function words rather than content words and so less clearly adverbial. The writer should have worked harder to find an appropriate synonym for "aware." 3 is the least acceptable, and it also is the one with no modifier at all. 2 is almost as good as 1, with the coordinate adjective providing the same support the adverb does. So I'd put 1 clearly under B, 4 definitely under A, 2 probably under A, and 3 under B although it's the weakest example. Herb -----Original Message----- From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of William Hillaker Sent: 2009-02-20 06:00 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: aware + N Mike, I prefer B, if 'alert' is an adequate synonym. Grace and Peace, William R. D. Hillaker, M.Div English Flint Central High School [log in to unmask] 810.760.4032 Producing life long learners as a goal is short-sighted sloganeering. Everyone who remains conscious and in reasonable command of his faculties learns throughout life. I teach faithful students who will teach other faithful students. >>> "R. Michael Medley (WW)" <[log in to unmask]> 02/19/09 5:55 PM >>> Dear Grammarians, Could you lend me your grammaticality judgment on the following sentences? If a student in one of your classes used "aware" as an attributive modifier of nouns, how would you advise the student? Please use one the following ratings for each of the sentences below: A - perfectly acceptable B - grammatically acceptable but not stylistically optimal C - not grammatically acceptable 1. He was a very aware person, and he got more aware as he got older. 2. Knowledgeable and aware nurses can participate in institutional infection control programs. 3. Music, perhaps more than any other art, appealed directly to the aware mind, and stirred special emotions in it. 4. Another prerequisite for the success of this comprehensive model is an educationally aware administration. If you could let me know your answers by noon tomorrow (Friday) I would be grateful. Thanks, Mike Mike Medley Eastern Mennonite University 540-432-4051 [log in to unmask] >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> "We are citizens of the world, and the tragedy of our times is that we do not know it." Woodrow Wilson To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ Scanned by GenNET AV in ̃YH*******************************************************************************************************************************************************STATEMENT OF CONFIDENTIALITY: This e-mail transmission may contain confidential information regarding the Flint Community Schools or students of the Flint Community School system. This e-mail and any attached files are intended only for the use of the person/s or entity to which it is addressed and should be considered confidential. If this e-mail was sent to you in error, please immediately notify the sender via the e-mail address shown and delete this message from your mail system. *********************************************************************************************************************************************************** *********************************************************************************************************************************************************** STATEMENT OF CONFIDENTIALITY: This e-mail transmission may contain confidential information regarding the Flint Community Schools or students of the Flint Community School system. This e-mail and any attached files are intended only for the use of the person/s or entity to which it is addressed and should be considered confidential. If this e-mail was sent to you in error, please immediately notify the sender via the e-mail address shown and delete this message from your mail system. *********************************************************************************************************************************************************** Scanned by GenNET AV out