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In any government exam or banking exam, spotting the error is an exercise to be done by students. Every aspirant must be able to spot the errors and correct them.
Having a good command of English is an essential thing. Be it any specific job or any gathering, we all are asked to speak, and the moment we speak incorrect English, the situation becomes very embarrassing. A sentence is left with no meaning the moment we commit mistakes. So always remember to have a habit of practicing. Let’s learn more about adverbs and rules and tips to resolve errors.
Meaning of Adverb
An adverb modifies a verb, adjective, another adverb, determiner, clause, preposition, or sentence.
Adverbs express things like when? Where? How? and to what extent? Adverbs are used to express things like place, time, frequency, manner, degree, level of certainty, etc. This is known as the adverbial function, and it can be carried out by single words (adverbs) or multi-word adverbial phrases and clauses.
Rules for spotting errors in Adverbs
Rule 1
Too means more than required, and it is used with unpleasant adjectives.
Example:
I am too happy to see you – Wrong.
I am very happy to see you – Right.
Rule 2
A noun and a verb are modified by too much.
Much too modifies an adjective or adverb
Example:
His rudeness is too much painful for me – Wrong.
His rudeness is much too painful for me – Right.
His son’s rude behavior gives him much pain – Wrong.
His son’s rude behavior gives him too much pain – Right.
Rule 3
Quite and all are not used together.
Example:
He is quite all correct in his opinion – Wrong.
He is quite correct in his opinion – Right.
Rule 4
Too and so can not be in the same sentence
Example:
He is too sick that he cannot go to the office – Wrong.
He is too sick to go to the office – Right.
He is so sick that he cannot go to the office.
Rule 5
Enough, when used as an adverb, is preceded by a positive degree Adjective or adverb
Example:
She is older enough to earn a living – Wrong.
She is old enough to earn a living – Right.
Rule 6
Pleasant adjective – “Fairly.”
Unpleasant adjective – “rather.”
(A/An + Fairly + Adjective + Noun
Rather + A + Adjective)
Example:
It was rather a good trip – Wrong.
It was a fairly good trip – Right.
Rule 7
Two negatives should not be used in the same sentence.
I have not received anything – Wrong.
I have not received anything – Right.
Rule 8
Hardly – Scarcely at all
Hard – diligently
Example:
He tried hard to pass the exam – Wrong.
He tried hard to pass the exam – Right.
Rule 9
‘Much’ is used before past participles and Adjectives or Adverbs of comparative degree.
‘Very’ is used before the present participle and adjectives and adverbs of positive degree.
Example:
This result is much surprising – Wrong.
This result is very surprising – Right.
This result was very surprising – Wrong.
This result was very surprising – Right.
Rule 10
“Early” means “just after the beginning of anything.”
“Soon” means “just after a point in time.”
Example:
Flowers bloomed soon this spring – Wrong.
Flowers bloomed early this spring – Right.
Rule 11
Ago is always used with Past Indefinite Tense.
Example:
The result of IBPS PO came a month ago – Wrong.
The result of IBPS PO came a month ago – Right.
Rule 12
At present means at this moment, and it is used with the present tense.
Presently and shortly are used for future action and generally used with future indefinite tense.
Example:
Presently he is in Connaught place Branch – Wrong
At present, he is in Connaught place Branch – Right
Rule 13
The sentence starts with seldom, never, hardly, rarely, or scarcely takes an inverse structure.
Verb+ Subject
Example:
Seldom had I seen such a beautiful sight – Wrong.
Seldom had I seen such a beautiful sight – Right.
Common Mistakes :
I have good news for you – Wrong.
I have good news for you – Right.
She plays tennis well – Wrong.
She plays tennis we’ll – Right.
She was very foolish enough to trust him/- Wrong.
She was so foolish to trust him – Right.
I felt so lonely – Wrong.
I felt very lonely – Right.
She sang sweet – Wrong.
She sang sweetly – Right.
Mark told the story in detail – Wrong
Mark told the story in detail – Right
Conclusion:
So far in this article, we have seen what an adverb is and how one can spot errors and avoid common mistakes. Exercises that have been mentioned in this article for resolving adverbial errors might be of great help to students. There can be confusion in identifying adverbs to maintain first place because they can appear in different places, but with more and more practice, one can be sure of it.
Correct spoken and written English helps gain confidence, which is how an aspirant can score more marks. I hope this article helped, and in the future, all the rules will help you all score maximum.
