interjection Flashcards
1.Scarcely had I completed the paragraph than the lightswent off.
1.The correlative conjunction of scarcely is when. Than isusually used with adjectives in the comparativedegree. So, Correct:Scarcely had I completed the paragraph when the lights went off.
2.He is not honest and not truthful.
2.Let us see some combinations of adjectives, for example honest and truthful. (i)Split:He is honest. He is truthful. Combined:He is both honest and truthful. (ii)Split:He is honest. He is not truthful. Combined:He is honest but not truthful. (iii)Split:He is honest. He is truthful. (Only one of the two may apply at a time.) Combined:He is either honest or truthful. (iv)Split:He is not honest. He is not truthful. Combined:He is neither honest nor truthful. (This was our question.)
3.It is nothing else than a trick being played upon you.
3.When you say nothing else, you are excluding things. This exclusion is done with the help of but. So, Correct:It is nothing else but a trick being played upon you.
4.No sooner had I reached the office when I got thenews of your arrival.
4.No sooner … when is an incorrect correlative pair. The moment you see a comparative degree (sooner), it naturally occurs to you that the proper correlative should be than. So, Correct:No sooner had I reached the office than I got the news of your arrival.
5.He will return on either Saturday or Monday.
5.The preposition here is not a part of the verb but of the words that follow either … or. So, Correct:He will return either on Saturday or on Monday.
6.He has no other business but to play with computers.
6.Than, not but, goes with other. Besides, prepositions (here than is a preposition) are generally followed by the gerund, not by the infinitive. So, Correct:He has no other business than playing with computers.
7.India seldom or ever wins a medal at the Olympics.
7.Seldom is closer to never than to ever (always). So, Correct:India seldom or never wins a medal at the Olympics.
8.They had hardly finished their meals that at once theyresumed their duty.
8.Hardly may be used as a substitute for scarcely. So, its correlative is when, not than. Besides, at once should be deleted because hardly … when itself implies these words. So, Correct:They had hardly finished their meals when they resumed their duty.
9.I don’t know whether Ramakant is equally good asVijay.
“9.What is wrong with this sentence? Let us analyse. The given sentence becomes ““I don’t know whether X”” where X = Ramakant is equally good as Vijay. Here, X is a combination of two sentences: (i) Vijay is good. (ii) Ramakant is equally good. To combine such sentences we use as … as conjunction pair where the first as comes for equally. So, Correct:I don’t know whether Ramakant is as good as Vijay.”
10.I have not only looked after my children but also mysister’s.
10.Correlative conjunctions are followed by the same parts of speech. Looked after is a verb common to both the parts. So, Correct:I have looked after not only my children but also my sister’s.
11.Both he and as well as I footed the bill.
11.Both and and as well as carry similar meanings. However, with both, which denotes equal emphasis, and is the appropriate usage, not as well as. So as well as should be deleted. Thus, Correct:Both he and I footed the bill.
12.He has no choice than to start his own business.
12.Than should not be used without the comparative degree. Use but (meaning except). Correct:He has no choice but to start his own business.
13.Neither Sanjay or Rahul loves his work.
13.Neither is followed by nor, not or. Correct:Neither Sanjay nor Rahul loves his work.
14.It is nothing else than a wicked desire.
14.See Q. 12. Correct:It is nothing else but a wicked desire.
15.She asked me that I could answer her question.
15.Since the verb is asked, the subordinate clause is expected to begin with an interrogative word, not that. So, Correct:She asked me whether I could answer her question.
