English Grammar | Adjectives are used to modify ____?

March 13, 2023 / 03:59 PM IST

Common mistakes with pronouns

మార్చి 6 తరువాయి

Correct Use of Some Adverbs

Avoid the use of double negatives
Two negatives should not be used in the same sentence because they destroy each other.
We should say:
I couldn’t find the keys anywhere. OR I could find the keys nowhere. (NOT I couldn’t find the keys nowhere.)
He hasn’t got any friends. OR He has got no friends. (NOT He hasn’t got no friends.)
I couldn’t find anything impressive about that painting. OR I could find nothing impressive about that painting. (NOT I couldn’t find nothing impressive about that painting.)

Ever and never
Ever is sometimes misused for never.
I have never been to the US. (NOT I have ever been to the US.)
I am never late for office. (NOT I am ever late for office.)
Note that the expressions ‘seldom or never’ and ‘seldom if ever’ are both correct.
These goods are made for export and are seldom or never sold in the country. OR These goods are made for export and are seldom if ever sold in the country. (BUT NOT These goods are made for export and are seldom or ever sold in the country.)

Else
The adverb else should be followed by but.
It is nothing else but pride.

Never and not
The use of never for not is incorrect.
Kipling was not born in London. (NOT Kipling was never born in London.)
I met him yesterday but he did not refer to the matter. (NOT I met him yesterday but he never referred to the matter.)
I do not remember ever having met him. (NOT I never remember having met him.)

So and very
So as an adverb of degree must not be used without a correlative.
Compare:
I am very weak. (NOT I am so weak.)
She is very beautiful. (NOT She is so beautiful.)
I am so weak that I cannot work.
She was so beautiful that he wanted to marry her.

Common Errors with Verbs and Adverbs

Incorrect: Just I had finished the lesson.
Correct: I had just finished the lesson.
Explanation
The adverb just goes between the auxiliary verb and the main verb. When there are two auxiliary verbs, just goes after the first.
He has just been promoted.
Incorrect: He plays good.
Correct: He plays well.
Explanation
Adjectives are used to modify nouns and adverbs are used to modify verbs. Good is an adjective. The adverb for this meaning is well.
She is a good girl. (Here the adjective good modifies the noun girl.)
She studies well. (Here the adverb well modifies the verb studies.)
He is a good player.
He plays well.
He Incorrect: Never I have seen such a mess.
Correct: Never have I seen such a mess.
Correct: I have never seen such a mess.
Incorrect: Hardly I have had any rest since morning.
Correct: Hardly have I had any rest since morning.
Correct: I have hardly had any rest since morning.
Explanation
We use inverted word order (verb before the subject) in sentences beginning with a negative word such as hardly, never, seldom etc.
Incorrect: Really speaking the movie isn’t very good.
Correct: In truth the movie isn’t very good. OR As a matter of fact, the movie isn’t very good. OR In fact, the movie isn’t very good. OR To speak the truth, the movie isn’t very good.
Incorrect: It is a very good novel; I liked it on the whole.
Correct: It is a very good novel; I liked the whole of it.
Explanation
Use ‘on the whole’ to sum up your opinion of something which is good and bad in parts.
Compare:
The script of the film was excellent but the photography was bad. On the whole I enjoyed it. (The film was good and bad in parts, but on the whole I enjoyed it.)
The photography of the film was excellent, so was the script. I enjoyed the whole of it. (The film was good in every aspect, so I enjoyed the whole of it.)
Incorrect: She was deadly injured in the accident.
Correct: She was fatally injured in the accident.
Explanation
Deadly is an adjective. It is used to modify nouns. The adverb for this meaning is fatally.
Incorrect: I haven’t been to the theater much late.
Correct: I haven’t been to the theater much lately.
Explanation
Late means after an expected or arranged time.
We are already late.
Lately means recently.
Incorrect: He wondered how was it made.
Correct: He wondered how it was made.
Explanation
In a direct question we put the auxiliary verb before the subject. In an indirect question we put the auxiliary verb after the subject. Note that we do not use the question mark after an indirect question.
I wonder why she doesn’t listen to me. (Indirect question)
Why doesn’t she listen to me? (Direct question)
I can’t figure out what she means. (Indirect question)
What does she mean? (Direct question)
Incorrect: He asked if I am coming.
Correct: He asked if I was coming.
Incorrect: The teacher asked the students if they have learned their lessons.
Correct: The teacher asked the students if they had learned their lessons.
Explanation
When the principal clause is in the past tense, the subordinate clause also must be in the past tense.
Incorrect: He choosed a book.
Correct: He chose a book.
Explanation : The past tense of choose is chose, and not choosed.
Incorrect: He loosed his keys.
Correct: He lost his keys.
Explanation
The past tense of lose is lost, and not loosed.
Incorrect: She is very much beautiful.
Correct: She is very beautiful.
Incorrect: He is very much sorry.
Correct: He is very sorry.
Explanation
Much can be used after very, but we do not use very much before an adjective.
Compare:
I love her very much.
Thank you very much.
I am very happy.
(BUT NOT I am very much happy.)
Incorrect: He was very kind enough to help me.
Correct: He was kind enough to help me.
Correct: He was so kind to help me.
Incorrect: The story is too interesting.
Correct: The story is very interesting.
Explanation
Too means ‘more than it ought to be’. It is usually followed by a to-infinitive.
It is too hot to go out.
She is too tired to walk.
Incorrect: He behaved cowardly.
Correct: He behaved in a cowardly manner.
Correct: He behaved like a coward.
Explanation
Cowardly is an adjective. Adjectives are not used to modify verbs. There is no adverb for this meaning. Therefore, we use an adverb phrase like ‘in a cowardly manner’.
Incorrect: They live miserly.
Correct: They live in a miserly way.
Explanation
Not all words ending in –ly are adverbs. Miserly, for example, is an adjective.
Incorrect: He said to me to go.
Correct: He told me to go.
Incorrect: She said to me that she would be late.
Correct: She told me that she would be late.
Explanation
We use tell when there is a personal object; we use say when there is no personal object.
Compare:
She said that she would be late. (No personal object)
She told me that she would be late. (Personal object – me)
Incorrect: I asked my maid to bring water.
Correct: I told my maid to bring water.
Incorrect: I told the master to excuse me.
Correct: I asked the master to excuse me.
Explanation
Use ‘I told him to…’ towards a person to whom you have a right to give an order.
Examples
I told my servant to prepare dinner.
I told the peon to bring me the file.
I told my subordinates to work hard.
Use ‘I asked him to…’ towards a person of whom you can or want to make a request only.
Examples
I asked my boss to let me go. (= I requested my boss to let me go.)
I asked the hostess to bring me a glass of water. (= I requested the hostess to bring…)
Incorrect: My foot is paining.
Correct: My foot is hurting.
Incorrect: My tooth is paining.
Correct: My tooth is aching.
Explanation
The verb pain is transitive. It must have an object.
Incorrect: She gave a speech.
Correct: She made a speech.
Incorrect: She made a lecture.
Correct: She gave a speech.
Incorrect: She gave her examination.
Correct: She sat for her examination.
OR She did her examination.
OR She took her examination.