English Grammer | we do not use the question mark after an?

May 1, 2023 / 04:14 PM IST

24 ఏప్రిల్‌ తరువాయి

Common Errors in the Use of Verbs – Part II

Explanation

In a surgical sense, the verb operate is only used in the active voice followed by on.
The doctor operated on the patient.
The patient has had an operation. (BUT NOT The patient has been operated.)
Incorrect: I must revenge my brother.
Correct: I must avenge my brother.
Explanation
The verbs avenge and revenge are often confused.’ To avenge my brother’ is to punish someone who has hurt my brother.
Incorrect: I must revenge my enemy.
Correct: I must take revenge on my enemy.
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.
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: 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.

Adverbs – Common Mistakes

Correct the following sentences and state your reason for doing so.

1. It was bitter cold.
2. I couldn’t help not overhearing their conversation.
3. I ever remember having seen a more interesting film.
4. The story was too interesting.
5. She hasn’t got no children.
6. This hardly won liberty cannot be lightly abandoned.
7. I am much happy to see you.
8. No one writes as neat as he does.
9. I cannot by no means allow you to do so.
10. She sang sweet.
11. I felt so lonely.
12. I don’t know nothing about the matter.

Answers
1. It was bitterly cold. (Wrong use of adjective in place of adverb)
2. I couldn’t help overhearing their conversation. (Double negative)
3. I never remember having seen a more interesting film. (Wrong use of ever and never)
4. The story was very interesting. (Too means ‘more than enough’. It should not be used in the sense of very or much.)
5. She hasn’t got any children. OR She has got no children. (Double negative)
6. This hard won liberty cannot be lightly abandoned. (hardly con fused with hard)
7. I am very happy to see you. (Happy is an adjective. Much cannot be used with adjectives.)
8. No one writes as neatly as he does. (Wrong use of adjective in place of adverb)
9. I cannot by any means allow you to do so. OR I can by no
means allow you to do so. (Double negative)
10. She sang sweetly. (Wrong use of adjective in place of adverb)
11. I felt very lonely. (Wrong use of so instead of very)
12. I don’t know anything about the matter. OR I know nothing about the matter. (Double negative)

Correct Use of Nouns and Pronouns
Countable and uncountable nouns

Words like flower, book, tree, chair and pen are countable nouns because they refer to objects that can be counted. Countable nouns can have plural forms. They can also be used with numbers and the articles a/an.
There is a book on the table.
There are two books on the table.
She sat in a chair.
We need to buy some chairs.
Words like milk, water, knowledge and wisdom are uncountable nouns because they refer to objects or qualities that cannot be counted. Uncountable nouns do not normally have plural forms. They are also not used with the articles a/an.
Milk is rich in nutrients. (NOT A milk/milks …)
We subsist on rice. (NOT … a rice/rices.)
Water is essential for the existence of life.
Some common uncountable nouns are: furniture, advice, news, information, business, work, weather, traffic, scenery and bread. Note that many of these nouns are countable in several other languages and therefore ESL students often wrongly use them with articles and in the plural.
Wrong: He gave me an advice.
Right: He gave me a piece of advice. OR He gave me some advice.
We normally use a phrase like a piece of/ a bottle of to talk about a unit of an uncountable thing.