Analyzing the Sentence Structure and Grammar

The sentence to analyze is: "Tarika dances swiftest than others and misses all the steps." The underlined part is "swiftest". We need to select the option that best improves this underlined part.

Let's break down the sentence:

• "Tarika dances" - Here, "dances" is a verb.
• "swiftest" - This word modifies the verb "dances", describing how Tarika dances. Therefore, it should function as an adverb.
• "than others" - This phrase indicates a comparison is being made between how Tarika dances and how others dance. The structure "than others" requires a comparative form (either of an adjective or an adverb).

Since the word modifies the verb "dances", we need a comparative adverb. The word "swift" can act as an adjective (e.g., a swift runner) or, less commonly, as an adverb (meaning quickly). The standard adverb form is "swiftly".

Let's look at the comparative forms:

• Adjective: swift (base), swifter (comparative), swiftest (superlative).
• Adverb: swiftly (base). The comparative form is typically "more swiftly", and the superlative is "most swiftly". However, when "swift" is used adverbially, its comparative form can sometimes be "swifter" and superlative "swiftest", especially in less formal contexts or older usage.

Evaluating the Options for Sentence Improvement

We need a comparative form (because of "than others") that functions as an adverb (modifying "dances").

1. Swiftiest: This is an incorrect spelling. The superlative form of the adjective "swift" is "swiftest". It is not a comparative form and is misspelled.
2. Swift: This is the base form, typically an adjective. It is not a comparative form needed for "than others". While "swift" can sometimes be used adverbially, it is not in the comparative form required here.
3. Swifter: This is the comparative form of the adjective "swift". However, given the context, it is likely intended to be used as the comparative adverb form of "swift". While "more swiftly" is the more standard comparative adverb form, "swifter" is an accepted, albeit less common, comparative adverb for "swift". It fits the comparative structure required by "than others".
4. Swiftly: This is the standard base adverb form. It is not a comparative form, so it cannot be used with "than others".

Considering the options and the requirement for a comparative form modifying the verb "dances", "Swifter" is the most suitable choice provided, acting as a comparative adverb.

The improved sentence would be: "Tarika dances swifter than others and misses all the steps."

Revision Table: Comparative Forms

Additional Information on Adverbs and Comparison

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They tell us how, when, where, why, or to what extent an action is performed.

• Regular Adverbs: Most adverbs ending in -ly (like quickly, carefully, softly) form their comparative using "more" and superlative using "most" (more quickly, most quickly).
• Irregular Adverbs: Some adverbs have irregular comparative and superlative forms (e.g., well, better, best; badly, worse, worst).
• Adverbs without -ly: Some words can function as both adjectives and adverbs without adding -ly (e.g., fast, hard, high, low, near, straight, swift). For many of these, the comparative and superlative forms are the same as their adjective counterparts (faster, fastest; harder, hardest; higher, highest; lower, lowest; nearer, nearest; straighter, straightest; swifter, swiftest). This is why "swifter" can function as a comparative adverb.

In the original sentence, the use of "swiftest" with "than others" is incorrect because "swiftest" is the superlative form, used when comparing three or more things, not two (Tarika vs. others). The structure "than others" requires a comparative form.