Red Book of Common Error 2 Flashcards
112.✗He plays good than I.
He plays better than I.CThe comparative degree of ‘well’ is ‘better’.
113.✗Hardly I have had any rest since one week.
Hardly have I had any rest for a week.CWhen a sentence begins with ‘hardly’, the first auxiliary of the verb follows it.
114.✗Really speaking it is not hot.
As a matter of fact it is not hot. To speak the truth it is not hot. In truth it is not hot. In fact it is not hot.C’Really’ means ‘in actual fact’, and is not appropriate in this sentence.
115.✗He was very kind enough to invite me.
He was so kind as to invite me. He was kind enough to invite me.CBoth ‘very’ and ‘enough’ cannot be used as the modified of the same adjective.
116.✗To tell in brief.
In short; in brief.C As ‘in brief’ is used to sum up what is being said, ‘to tell’ is superfluous.
117.✗If he fails he will be nowhere.
If he fails he will get into great trouble. If he fails he will be ruined.C’Nowhere’ means ‘not in any place’ and is inappropriate here.
118.✗Just I had gone when he came.
I had just gone when he came.CAs an adverb ‘just’ comes immediately before the main verb.
119.✗Never I have seen such a sight.
Never have I seen such a sight.CIf ‘never’ occurs at the beginning of a sentence, it is followed by an auxiliary verb.
120.✗It is a very good film; I liked it on the whole.
It is a very good film; I liked the whole of it.C’On the whole’ is used to sum up your opinion of something which is good and bad in parts. For instance, ‘The photography of the film was bad but the plot was exciting. On the whole I enjoyed it.
121.’✗Though he is fat yet he runs fast.
Though he is fat, he runs fast.C’Though’ is the conjunction and a second conjunction—’but’, ‘yet’ or ‘still’ is not required.
2.✗If he is fat then he will run slowly.
If he is fat, he will run slowly.CIn a conditional clause, the consequent clause need not have ‘then’.
3.✗As I fired at the tiger at that time he shook my arm.
As I fired at the tiger, he shook my arm.CThe first clause refers to a point of time, its repetition (at that time) is redundant.
4.✗Because he is clever therefore (or so) he gets good marks.
Because he is clever, he gets good marks.CIn a cause-effect sentence, if the cause is indicated by ‘because’, the result clause does not need ‘therefore’.
5.✗He did not come to school. Because he was ill.
He did not come to school because he was ill.CThe clause that indicates the cause cannot be separated from the clause that indicates its effect.
6.✗No sooner I had spoken, than he left.
No sooner had I spoken than he left.CJust like ‘never’, if a sentence begins with ‘no sooner’, the auxiliary precedes the subject.
7.✗I have bought many fireworks as rockets and etc.
I have bought many fireworks, such as rockets.CIt would be good if that overworked Latin abbreviation ‘etc.’ was forbidden in all composition.
8.✗I want to know as to why I have been detained.
I want to know why I have been detained.CIn modern English ‘as to’ is not needed to connect a clause with the main clause.
9.✗This is my friend, he was at school with me.
This is my friend who was at school with me.C ‘Who’ is needed if the relative clause is attached to the noun phrase ‘my friend’.
10.✗This is my servant, I was telling you about him.
This is my servant about whom I was telling you.CAs the second clause is a relative clause, it must be attached by ‘who’ (or ‘that’) to the noun phrase ‘my servant
11.✗Supposing if he fails, what will he do?
Supposing he fails what will he do? If he fails what will he do?CAs supposing and if have the same function, only one of them should be used.
12.✗Until he does not try, he must be punished.
He must be punished until he tries. He must be punished so long as he does not try.CUntil, means ‘up to the point in time or the event mentioned.’ It is normally used in the beginning of the clause.
13.✗Not only he will go, but also he will remain there.
Not only will he go, but he will also remain there.CLike ‘never’ and ‘no sooner’, ‘not only’ attracts the auxiliary verb to its immediate right if it occurs in the beginning of a sentence.
14.✗He neither comes nor he writes.
Neither does he come nor does he write.C’He neither comes nor he writes’ is equally correct and probably more common. But rule that when the first word of the sentence is a negative the auxiliary verb must be inverted, as in a direct question.
15.✗I am fond of all games as for an example cricket.
I am fond of all games, for example, cricket.C’As’ is redundant here because we don’t need a conjunction.
16.✗She called me as a fool.
She called me a fool.CAs is redundant here as well.
17.✗He is the fastest runner and he came last.
He is the fastest runner but he came last.C ‘But’ is the conjunction to be used when the second clause gives information contrary to the one expected by the first clause.
18.✗He was angry therefore I ran away.
He was angry so I ran away.CTherefore refers to a logical conclusion whereas so means ‘and for this reason’.
19.✗I was trying to work, at that time he was disturbing me.
While I was trying to work, he was disturbing me.CWhile signals a point (or period) of time something was happening.
20.✗This is my house, I live here.
This is my house where I live.C’I live here’ defines the house and needs to be relationed.
21.✗This is an interesting book, I am reading it.
The book which I am reading is interesting.CThe relation clause must be attached to the noun it is about.
22.✗I am glad for tomorrow is holiday.
I am glad because tomorrow is a holiday.CAs the second is the reason, it should be attached to the main clause by because, for can be used as a conjunction in place of because or since in some cases.
23.✗This paper is inferior than that.
This paper is inferior to that.CWith ‘inferior’ and ‘superior’, the comparative mark of preposition is ‘to’.
2.✗I am ill since three months.
I have been ill for three months. I have been ill since July.CWhen reckoning from a particular date, we use ‘since’, e.g., ‘since last Friday’, ‘since July 8th’; but we always use ‘for’ for a period, e.g., ‘for a week’, ‘for a long time’.
3.✗This is my first time to play cricket since a long time.
I have not played cricket for a long time. This is my first game of cricket for a long time.C For a period of time without a fixed starting point, we use ‘for’.
4.✗This is different to that.
This is different from that.CDifferent takes the preposition ‘from’.
5.✗This resembles to that.
This resembles that.CNo preposition is used between resembles and its object.
6.✗Everyone should pray God.
Everyone should pray to God.CBetween pray and its object we use ‘to’.
7.✗He wrote me.
He wrote to me.CBetween write and its indirect object we use ‘to’ (e.g. He wrote a letter to me).
8.✗I shall explain them this.
I shall explain this to them. CBetween explain and its indirect object, we use ‘to’.
9.✗Send this letter on my address.
Send this letter to my address.CIf a verb needs a direct (e.g. this letter) and an indirect object, we use ‘to’ before the indirect object (e.g. to me).
10.✗He suggested me this.
He suggested this to me.CIf a verb has a direct and an indirect object, the latter comes after the direct object and is preceded by ‘to’.
11.✗He goes in the school.
He goes to school.CThe destination of movement is indicated by ‘to’.
12.✗He goes on his work.
He goes to his work.CIf the order is changed, ‘to’ is not used, e.g. He gave me a book.
13.✗He called me in dinner.
He invited me to dinner.CInvite is a polite word for a formal request to come. We always invite someone to something.
14.✗He reached to Nairobi.
He reached Nairobi.CBetween the verb reach and its destination, no preposition is used.
15.✗He told to me to go.
He told me to go.CBetween tell and its objects, no preposition is used.
16.✗She did not ask any question to him.
She did not ask him any question.CAsk needs two objects. Usually the indirect object comes first and needs no preposition.
17.✗Harry will be cured from his fever.
Harry will be cured of his fever.CWith cure we use the preposition ‘of’.
18.✗He threw the stick in the river.
He threw the stick into the river.CIf the object thrown is likely to go inside, we use the preposition ‘into’.
19.✗He rides in a cycle.
He rides on a cycle.✗He sat on a tree. He sat in a tree.CWe use ‘on’ when we mean ‘on top of’, e.g., ‘on a horse’. We use ‘in’ when we mean inside something, e.g., ‘in an aeroplane’.
20.✗There is no harm to do this.
There is no harm in doing this.CAfter ‘harm’, the verb of complement is in the present particle form which is preceded by ‘in’.
21.✗Write with ink.
Write in ink.CWe say ‘write with a pen in ink.’
22.✗He rides on a car.
He rides in a car.CIf you use ‘on’ here, the sense will be ‘on top of the car’. But one can ‘ride inside the car’ and not ‘on top of the car’. Here ‘in’ is appropriate.
23.✗This is a comfortable house to live.
This is a comfortable house to live in.CTo live in is a phrasal verb which means ‘to reside’.
24.✗This is the road to go.
This is the road to go by.CWe always go by a road.
25.✗He gave me a gun to shoot.
He gave me a gun to shoot with.CThe full expression is ‘to shoot with a gun’.
26.✗I gave him a chair to sit.
I gave him a chair to sit on.COne sits on (or in) a chair.
27.✗He married with an American lady.
He married an American lady.CIf we are reporting that he took someone as his wife, we say, he married her. ‘He is married to her’ indicates that they are married.
28.✗They are called with different names.
They are called by different names.C’To call by’ means to address (someone) as.
29.✗Harry accompanied with his friends.
Harry accompanied his friends. C In the active voice, ‘accompany’ needs no preposition before its object.
30.✗We should not spend money for luxuries.
We should not spend money on luxuries.CSpend needs ‘on’ before its object.
31.✗He went away for doing some business.
He went away on business.COn business means ‘in some trade or regular profession’.
32.✗He went for riding.
He went for a ride. He went riding.CEither we use ride as a noun (in which case we say, ‘for a ride’) or we use the gerund form of the verb (e.g. riding).
33.✗We discussed on the matter.
We discussed the matter.CDiscuss needs no preposition before its object.
34.✗He is angry on me.✗He is pleased on me.
He is angry with me. He is pleased with me.CWith ‘to be angry’ or ‘pleased’ we use ‘with’.
35.✗He asked a holiday.
He asked for a holiday.CWe always ask someone for something.
36.✗I shall inform them this.
I shall inform them of this.CWe inform someone of something.
37.✗Our college is built by bricks.
Our college is built of bricks.CTo build means to construct something by putting some materials. A building is made of those materials.
38.✗Due to illness, I cannot go to school.
Owing to illness, I cannot go to school.COwing to means ‘on account of’ whereas due to means ‘caused by’.
39.✗He was prevented to come.
He was prevented from coming.C We are always prevented (stopped) from doing something.
40.✗He walked five miles by foot.
He walked five miles on foot.CWe always walk on foot when we do not use any transport.
41.✗I met with your friend there.
I met your friend there.CTo meet means ‘to happen to come in the ‘company of someone’, to meet with means ‘to have a meeting with’.
42.✗My brother is superior than you in strength.
My brother is superior to you in strength.CSuperior and inferior take ‘to’ and not ‘than’ as a comparative mark.
43.✗Diwali corresponds with Christmas.
Diwali corresponds to Christmas.CTo corresponds means ‘to have a close similarity’ whereas to correspond with means ‘to communicate’.
44.✗I am obliged of you by this good turn.
I am obliged to you for this good turn.COblige always takes ‘to’ before its object.
45.✗He went near the station.
He went to the station.CIf his destination was the station, he went to the station; near indicates approximately.
46.✗He was favourite with his friends.
He was a favourite with his friends.CAs a countable noun, favourite, when preferred to all others of the same kind, needs an article.
47.✗From our class he did best.
He did best in our class.CWhen used with a verb (like do), best means ‘the most successful result’.
48.✗The term begins from July 1st.
The term begins on July 1st.CTerm begin refers to a point of starting at a certain time.
49.✗He will be cured from his fever.
He will be cured of his fever.C As a verb ‘cure’ is followed by ‘of’ to link it to its object.
50.✗There are many advantages from this.
The advantages of this are many.CAdvantage (i.e. the opportunity to gain something) needs ‘of’.
51.✗There is a saying in the Hindus.
There is a saying among the Hindus.CAmong means ‘occurring in’ or ‘shared by’.
52.✗We waste much time in trifles.
We waste much time on (or over) trifles.CWe waste time on something, not inside it.
53.✗I pitied on him.
I pitied him.CThe verb pity does not use a preposition before its object.
54.✗He angried on me.
He was angry with me.CAngry cannot be used as a verb. As an adjective, it is accompanied by ‘with’.
55.✗When this was searched it was found.
When this was searched for, it was found.CWe always search for something. Search in the sense of examine needs no ‘for’.
56.✗He went to the back side of the house.
He went behind the house. He went to the back of the house.C’Back’, ‘front’, ‘behind’ indicate side and the use of side is redundant here.
57.✗The post office will compensate the loss.
The post office will compensate us for the loss.CWe always compensate someone for something.
58.✗I must go; there is no help.
I must go; there is no help for it.CHelp here refers to the fact of being useful (for something).
59.✗There was a match between Mumbai against Chennai.
There was a match between Mumbai and Chennai.C This common mistake seems to be caused by mixing up of two expressions. You could say, ‘There was a match, Mumbai against Chennai’.
60.✗There was a fight with Ram and Han yesterday.
There was a fight between Ram and Han yesterday.CBetween suggests a relationship involving two or more parties.
61.✗The First World War was fought during 1914-18.
The First World War was fought between 1914 and 1918.CDuring refers to a duration of time. If two points of time are to be emphasized, ‘between’ is preferred.
62.✗England grew prosperous between Queen Victoria’s reign.
England grew prosperous during Queen Victoria’s reign.CPractise using ‘during’ and ‘between’ correctly. Two points of time must be mentioned if you want to use ‘between
63.✗’How do you do?’—’Quite well, thank you’; ‘Pleased to meet you.’
The correct reply is to repeat ‘How do you do?’ ‘Quite well, thank you.’ ‘How do you do?’CThere is no grammatical error involved, it is the question involving what the native speakers say.
2.✗No more to pen.
(Avoid this usage).CIf necessary, we can say, that’s all.
3.✗He is running sixteen.
He is fifteen. He is in his sixteenth year.CThe verb run is not used in the context of age.
4.✗He is sixteen complete.
He is over sixteen.CWhen completion is to be emphasised we say he has completed sixteen.
5.✗No mention.
Please do not mention it.CThat is the way it is spoken by the native speakers.
6.✗Mr L.B. Joshi, Esq.
Mr L.B. Joshi. L.B. Joshi, Esq.
7.✗Dr L.B. Joshi, Esq.
Dr L.B. Joshi.
8.✗Professor L.B. Joshi, Esq.
Professor L.B. Joshi.
9.✗Rai Sahib L.B. Joshi, Esq.
Rai Sahib L.B. Joshi.CPersonally, I do not see why any Indian should ever be addressed as Esquire. There are many more suitable Indian prefixes to suggest respect or politeness.
10.✗In my opinion I think it is wrong.
In my opinion it is wrong. I think it is wrong. C’In my opinion’ and ‘I think’ refer to the same situation.
11.✗Sir Bose.
Sir J.C. Bose.CSir is used either with the full names or with only the first name.
12.✗Your sincerely.✗Your’s sincerely of
Yours sincerely.CThe possession form (your) can not be used with an adverb but ‘yours’ is used in a formula ending a letter, e.g., yours truly.
13.✗He feared that it would not rain.
He wanted it to rain.CFear means ‘to be afraid of’ and carries a negative impact suggested by ‘its complement’.
14.✗He feared that it would rain.
He did not want it to rain.CIf he did not want it to rain, he should say so rather than use fear which suggests that the complement is harmful.
15.✗I hope it will rain.
I think it will rain and I want it to.CTo hope for something means ‘to want something to happen’. If one is expressing what is going to happen, ‘I think’ is more appropriate.
16.✗I fear it will rain.
I think it will rain but I do not want it to.CSee notes on (13) and (14).
17.✗Excuse for the troubles.
Forgive my troubling you.CTo excuse means ‘to forgive’ or ‘to seek forgiveness’. In either case it is followed by an object, so is forgive.
18.✗’Will you have some lemonade?’—’I don’t mind.’
The correct answer is ‘Thank you’ or ‘No, thank you’.C’I don’t mind’ is rude. This reply connotes indifference; that the person invited does not care whether he drinks lemonade or not. The expression should be used only when it is permissible to indicate no strong preference. For instance: ‘Shall we walk or go in a tonga?’ ‘I don’t mind.’
19.✗I am fond of outdoor games; for instance, hockey, football and others and so on and such like.
I am fond of outdoor games, for example, football.CAfter ‘for instance’ and ‘for example’ only one or at the most two examples are usually required and additions like ‘and others, etc.,’ ‘and so on should be omitted.
20.✗No, please.
No, sir, or No, thank you. (depending on the context.)C’No, please’ is not used. ‘Yes, please’ and ‘No, thank you’ are the polite replies when accepting and declining some offer. ‘No, sir’ is a polite reply to a question asking for information, e.g., ‘Has the letter gone?’ ‘No, sir
21.✗Invite she for the picnic.
Invite her for the picnic.CIf a personal pronoun (e.g she) is the object to a verb, it is used in its objective form (e.g. her.)
2.✗He and me are going to the movie today.✗Her and me were eating.
He and I are going to the movie today. She and I were eating.C’I’ is one of the subjective forms and should not be put in the objective form (e.g. me), if it is the subject.
3.✗Them and I participated in the competition together.
They and I participated in the competition together.CThe subjective form of them is ‘they’.
4.✗This should be kept between you and she.
This should be kept between you and her.CThe objective form of she is ‘her’; it is object to the preposition between.
5.✗I and my wife were declared the best couple dancer.
My wife and I were declared the best couple dancer.CIf ‘I’ is one of the conjoined subjects, it comes at the last element of the conjoined noun phrase.
6.✗Us students have boycotted the examinations.
We students have boycotted the examinations.C’We’ is the subject of the sentence and cannot be in the objective form.
7.✗Why do you always have to come between she and I?
Why do you always have to come between her and me?CThe object to the preposition ‘between’ is to be in objective form, i.e. me.
8.✗We thought that you and her would come to receive us at the airport.
We thought that you and she would come to receive us at the airport. CThe expression ‘you and she’ is the subject of the embedded clause.
9.✗What did they present you and she?
What did they present you and her?C’Her’ is the object to the verb ‘present’, and will be in the objective form.
10.✗His girls look just like he.
His girls look just like him.C’Him’ is the object to the phrasal verb ‘look like’.
11.✗Let him and we show them what we are.
Let him and us show them what we are.CLet means ‘allows’ and the noun phrase that follows it him and me is its object.
12.✗I and he are living together.
He and I are living together.CCourtesy demands that the speaker puts himself as the last continent of the subject noun phrase (e.g. he and I).
13.✗You are as mean as me.
You are as mean as I.CThe full expression is ‘you are as mean as I am’.
14.✗It was her who was standing there!
It was she who was standing there!C’She’ is referred to by ‘who’, which is the subject of the embedded sentence. The sentence is basically of the form ‘she was standing there’.
15.✗I was very sure that his would come to meet me.
I was very sure that he would come to meet me.CAs ‘he’ is the subject of the embedded clause, it cannot be in the possessive form.
16.✗His lecture was better than me.
His lecture was better than mine.C’Mine’ stands for ‘my lecture’, which is in the predicative possession form.
17.✗It was me who dumped him.
It was I who dumped him.CI stands for ‘who’, the subject of the sentence.
18.✗None of them have listened to what was said.
None of them has listened to what was said.C None (not anyone) is singular and needs a singular verb.
19.✗There is a lot of dissimilarity between you and he.
There is a lot of dissimilarity between you and him.CBoth ‘you’ and ‘him’ are objects to the preposition between.
20.✗You should call our brother to the party.
You should call your brother to the party.CThe reference is to the other.
21.✗Each must contribute what they can.
Each must contribute what he can.C’Each’ refers to a singular entity and the appropriate personal pronoun is he or she.
22.✗I, you and he should start something together.
You, he and I should start something together.CAs a matter of courtesy, ‘I’ should be the last element of the subject noun phrase.
23.✗You, he and me will remain like this forever.
You, he and I will remain like this forever.C Since, ‘me’ is a part of the noun phrase which is the subject of the sentence, it should be ‘I’.
24.✗Whom, according to you has stolen the gold?
Who, according to you has stolen the gold?C’Whom’ is the object form of who; it cannot be used in the subject positive.
25.✗Whom do you think will top this year?
Who do you think will top this year?C’Who’ is the subject of the predicate ‘will top this year’ and should be formally a subject (who, not whom).
26.✗Did you see whom he was?
Did you see who he was?CSince it is the subject of the embedded clause it should be ‘who’.
27.✗Were you expecting her and I at the party?
Were you expecting her and me at the party?CAs an object to the verb ‘expect’, ‘I’ becomes ‘me’.
28.✗I looked at she and she at I.
I looked at her and she at me.C In the embedded clause ‘I’ is the object of ‘look at’ and should have the objective form ‘me’.
29.✗Everyone donated something, except he.
Everyone donated something, except him.C’He’ is the subject of the deleted embedded clause, but is the object to the preposition except, hence, him.
30.✗He is careless about her belongings.
He is careless about his belongings.C’Her’ is wrong only if he is talking about his belongings, and not of his wife’s.
31.✗Who were you looking at?
Whom were you looking at?CWhom is the object to the verb ‘look at’. However, in such constructions ‘who’ is also used.
32.✗Who did you see in the hall?
Whom did you see in the hall?CFormally, whom is the objective form of who. As in both the sentences, ‘who’ is the object to the verb ‘see’, it should be whom. However, in modern English, we use ‘who’ if the objective form occurs in the beginning of a sentence.
33.✗Don’t you know whom was awarded last year on the same night?
Don’t you know who was awarded last year on the same night?C’Who’ occurs in the subject position in the embedded clause and cannot be replaced by ‘whom’.
34.✗Who would you select as your leader?
Whom would you select as your leader?CThough ‘whom’ is formally correct, ‘who’ is used more frequently these days.
35.✗Whom do you think will be the most suitable for the position?
Who do you think will be the most suitable for the position?C’Who’ is the subject of the embedded clause (…will be…) and cannot be replaced by ‘whom’.
36.✗Whom do you think was the best actor in the play?
Who do you think was the best actor in the play?C Who is the subject of the embedded clause.
37.✗Who do you want to see now?
Whom do you want to see now?CThough ‘whom’ (the objective form) is formally correct, ‘who’ is frequently used.
38.✗Who do you wish to talk with?
Whom do you wish to talk with?CAs in (36).
39.✗Let me know whom do you like the best.
Let me know who do you like the best.CThough ‘whom’ is the object of ‘like’, ‘who’ is the frequently used form now.
40.✗Whom do you think is a real-life heroine?
Who do you think is a real-life heroine?C’Who’ is the subject of the embedded clause and cannot be replaced by ‘whom’.
41.✗We all hated each other.
We all hated one another.C’We all’ suggests more than two, ‘one another’ is the only appropriate option.
42.✗Whom do you think has done this to us?
Who do you think has done this to us?CWho is the subject of the embedded clause.
43.✗If I were him, I would have run away a long time back.
If I were he, I would have run away a long time back.CIn equation sentences, i.e., with verb to be both pronouns will have the same form, i.e., subjective I and he.
44.✗Rita was as good a singer as her.
Rita was as good a singer as she.C’She’ is the subject of the deleted predicate ‘was a good singer’.
45.✗You cannot tell us people what to drink.✗You cannot tell we people what to drink.
You cannot tell us what to drink.CIn ‘us’, ‘people’ is redundant.
46.✗When I called Harry, he said that he was not feeling finely.
When I called Harry, he said that he was not feeling fine.CFinely does not exist as an adverb, fine is both an adjective and an adverb.
2.✗I need a large piece of a course cloth.
I need a large piece of a coarse cloth.CCourse means ‘direction’ and is a noun. Coarse neans ‘rough’ and is the correct word in this context.
3.✗He threw a party on his birthday as usually.
He threw a party on his birthday as usual.CUsually, an adverb, means ‘habitually’, Usual is an adjective. We can say ‘as usual’ but not ‘as usually’.
4.✗I dislike cleverly children.
I dislike clever children.CCleverly, an adverb, cannot qualify a noun.
5.✗’Any’ women were dancing on the floor.
✗Some women were dancing on the floor.C’Any’ usually carries a negative sense. It means anyone and cannot go with a plural noun women.
6.✗He never gave me some food.
He never gave me any food.CIn a negative sentence we use ‘any’ rather than ‘some’.
7.✗Few people can do what they want in life.
A few people can do what they want in life.CFew means ‘hardly any’ whereas ‘a few’ means ‘some’.
8.✗I have to buy any articles from the market.
I have to buy some articles from the market.CIn a positive sense, we use ‘some’ rather than ‘any’.
9.✗I will not eat something.
I will not eat anything.CIn a negative sentence, we use the quantifier ‘any’ rather than ‘some’.
10.✗Have you some of the books that we borrowed from the library yesterday?
Have you any of the books that we borrowed from the library yesterday?CIn questions ‘any’ is used, as a quantifier, though in some contexts, ‘some’ is used (e.g. will you have some tea?)
11.✗Little knowledge can be dangerous.
A little knowledge can be dangerous.CLittle means ‘hardly any’ and a little means ‘some amount of’.
12.✗A little persons donated for the needy.
A few persons donated for the needy.CWith countable nouns we use ‘a few’ rather than ‘a little’. ‘Some’ is used with both mass and countable nouns.
13.✗I want little milk.
I want some milk.CLittle is inappropriate because it means ‘almost no.’
14.✗All the people, who came, were well.
All the people, who came, were good.CWhere we need a predicative adjective we use ‘good’; when we need an adverb, we need ‘well’.
15.✗He is very good, thank you.
He is very well, thank you.CAs in (14).
16.✗Good begun is half done.
Well begun is half done.C’Well’ is the modifier of the verb begin here; ‘good’ cannot be used to modify a verb.
17.✗All is good that ends good.
All is well that ends well.CWe need the modifier of the verb, i.e. well.
18.✗Even without asking, she gave me many advice.
Even without asking, she gave me much advice.CAdvice is a mass noun and needs ‘much’. ‘Many’ occurs with countable nouns.
19.✗Too much salt in a dish makes it taste bitterly.
Too much salt in a dish makes it taste bitter.C’Bitter’ refers to the dish and not the verb ‘taste’. ‘Bitterly’ can refer only to the verb.
20.✗He is used to talking much nonsense.
He is used to talking such nonsense.CSuch means ‘of the type previously mentioned’ and can be used with nonsense. As nonsense means ‘words which have no sense’ it does not make sense to quantify it by much.
21.✗Prevention is good than cure.
Prevention is better than cure.CAs we are comparing prevention with cure, we have to use the comparative marker.
22.✗The flowers smell more sweetly in the morning.
The flowers smell more sweet in the morning.CSweet is the predicative adjective for flowers.
23.✗You are actually the tall man in the family!
You are actually the tallest man in the family!CAs we are comparing all members of the family, tallest is the appropriate adjective.
24.✗This is the eldest monument in the world.
This is the oldest monument in the world.CEldest is used in the sense of oldest only when we compare close relatives.
25.✗This plan is more better.
This plan is better.CBetter is the comparative of good and does not need another comparative marker.
26.✗My boss is senior than me by five years.
My boss is senior to me by five years.CThe comparative forms senior and junior take ‘to’ rather than ‘than’.
27.✗Sam is junior than me.
Sam is junior to me.CAs explained in (27).
28.✗The quality of this bed is inferior than that.
The quality of this bed is inferior to that.CInferior and superior take ‘to’ (rather than ‘than’) as the comparative marker.
29.✗I prefer bread than rice.
I prefer bread to rice.CPrefer is followed by the preposition ‘to’, and not ‘than’.
30.✗Have you met the eldest woman of the village?
Have you met the oldest woman of the village?CEldest is used only when we are comparing the members of the same family.
31.✗He is better talented than any other man.
He is more talented than any other man.CBetter is the comparative of good. The comparative of talented will be more talented.
32.✗This is the best of the two options available.
This is better of the two options available.CAs we are comparing only two options, we have to use ‘better’.
33.✗Rita and Natasha are sisters. The latter is elder than Rita.
Rita and Natasha are sisters. The latter is elder to Rita.CElder and younger are followed by ‘to’, not ‘than’.
34.✗This is the last that I can do for you.
This is the least that I can do for you.CLeast means ‘smallest amount’ whereas last means ‘final’. Last is inappropriate in this context.
35.✗Whole country was celebrating its independence.
The whole country was celebrating its independence.CThe expression ‘whole country’ has a countable noun as its head. As it is a definite expression, it must have ‘the’ preceding it.
36.✗We can give you an appointment only for Sunday next.
We can give you an appointment only for next Sunday.CThe qualifier ‘next’ must precede the noun Sunday. In almost all cases, adjectives precede the nouns they qualify.
37.✗Ruby is precious than any other stone.
Ruby is more precious than any other stone.CAs there is a comparison between ruby and any other stone, we must have the comparative marker ‘than’ between them.
38.✗Rich should not look down upon poor.
The rich should not look down upon the poor.CWhen adjectives are used as common (generic) norms, they are preceded by ‘the’.
39.✗Hardly had I left it snowed.
Hardly had I left before it snowed.CThe two clauses ‘I had left’ and ‘it snowed’ need to be formally joined (as here by before).
2.✗The butter melted quite fastly in the sun.
The butter melted quite fast in the sun.CFast can be used as an adverb. There is no adverb form ‘fastly’.
3.✗She sang lovely.
She sang a lovely song.CLovely is an adjective and can be used only to qualify a noun (e.g. song).
4.✗The performance was mostly over, when I reached.
The performance was almost over, when I reached.CAlmost means ‘very nearly’ whereas mostly means ‘usually’.
