Spot the error in Adverbs - Rules, examples and practice questions

ANSWER: 4

Explanation:
Replace 'vividly' with 'vivid'.

Here, 'vividly' is an adverb, which cannot qualify a noun i.e. 'reason'.

The correct way should be - 'vivid' as an adjective.

The correct sentence should be: I cannot ask my father for his car without any vivid reason.

Let us see the proper application of adverb 'vividly'


Adverb is a word that qualifies -

1. a verb
2. an adjective
3. another adverb
4. a preposition

Example	Explanation
He eats fast.	Here, 'fast' is an adverb because it is qualifying the verb 'eats'.
He is quite an intelligent boy.	Here, 'quite' is an adverb because it is qualifying the adjective 'intelligent'
He ran very fast.	Here, 'very' is an adverb because it is qualifying the adverb 'fast'.

ANSWER: 4

Explanation:
Replace 'sweetly' with 'sweet'.

After the words - taste, feel, seem, appear, look, smell, remain, adjective should be used, not adverb.

The correct sentence should be: She took tea and said that it tasted sweet.

Few examples are:

(i) Honey tastes sweet. (not sweetly)
(ii) A flower smells sweet. (not sweetly)
(iii) She looks beautiful. (not beautifully)

ANSWER: 2

Explanation:
Replace 'skilful' with 'skilfully'.

'Skilfully' is an adverb that qualifies the verb 'handled' here.

The correct sentence should be: He was exceedingly paid for how skilfully he handled the crowd.

ANSWER: 4

Explanation:
Replace 'for' with 'since'.

'Since' is used with 'ever' as an adverb. The proper way should be 'ever since'.

The correct sentence should be: I met her about ten years ago and have remembered her ever since.

Since is used in different ways- (i) as an adverb of time (ii) conjunction of time (iii) preposition of time.

As an adverb, it has two meanings.

1) From then (i.e. from some time in the past up to now)

e.g. I met her about five years ago and have remembered her ever since.

2) At or during some time between then and now

e.g. He told me last month and has spoken of it several times since.

ANSWER: 1

Explanation:
Replace 'very' with 'much'.

'Very' should be used before Positive degree and 'much' should be used before Comparative degree.

The correct sentence should be: He is much senior to me so I dare not disrespect him.

Use of 'Much' and 'Very'

(i) 'Much' qualifies adjectives or adverbs in the Comparative degree - much better, much wiser, much luckier

'Very' should be used with the Positive degree - very good, very wise, very lucky

e.g. He is much better than you.

He spoke very loudly.

(ii) 'Much' qualifies past participle - much amazed, much surprised, much admired

'Very' qualifies present participle - very daring, very perplexing, very challenging, very entertaining

e.g. He was much annoyed at your behaviour.

This report is very interesting.

‘Very’ should not be used with past participle, but there are some exceptions -

very tired, very dejected, very contented, very discontented, very pleased, very drunk, very limited, very delighted

ANSWER: 3

Explanation:
'Quite all' cannot be used together.

Either 'quite right' or 'all right' should be used.

The correct sentence should be: He said it was quite right to reject the offer.

Difference between 'Quite' and 'Very'

'Quite' denotes 'perfectly, completely'. It cannot be used to replace 'very'.

Don't say: She is quite lovely.

Say: She is very lovely.

Don't say: He is quite handsome.

Say: He is very handsome.

Note: 'Quite' is used with positive degree as follows -

quite chilly, quite cool, quite warm, quite rift, quite wrong, quite alone, quite well.

ANSWER: 4

Explanation:
Replace 'lately' with 'late'.

'Lately' is an adverb that denotes 'recently'.

'Late' denotes 'after the fixed, right or usual time'.

The correct sentence should be: She was heavily fined last month for coming late.

Observe the difference in the meaning of the sentences,

e.g. Has he come lately? (Recently)
Did he come late? (After the fixed time)

ANSWER: 1

Explanation:
Replace 'too' with 'very'.

'Too' denotes 'more than required'. It is generally used with unpleasant adjectives. e.g. too ugly, too bad, too wicked etc.

The correct sentence should be: I am very glad to receive the offer letter of this company.

Don't say: I am too glad to meet you.
Say: I am very glad to meet you.

Note: Too happy, too healthy, too pleased etc should not be used with 'too' as you don’t really mean “more than required happy” or “healthy - more than required”.

Similarly, Let us see the use of 'Too....to'

'Too...to' can be used with pleasant adjectives

e.g. He is too intelligent to be cheated.

ANSWER: 2

Explanation:
Replace 'too much' with 'much too'.

Here, painful is an adjective.

'Much too' is followed by 'adjective'; whereas 'too much' is followed by 'noun'.

The correct sentence should be: Her failure is much too painful for our family.

Much too

Rule:

much too + unpleasant adjectives

e.g. much too careless, much too reckless, much too painful

Too much

Rule:

too much + noun

e.g. too much carelessness, too much recklessness, too much pain

ANSWER: 4

Explanation:
Replace 'fairly' with 'rather'.

'Fairly' is used with pleasant adjectives e.g. fairly good, fairly wise etc.

'Rather' is used with unpleasant adjectives e.g. rather dull, rather difficult etc.

The correct sentence should be: “The amount which the Company has paid to the dependents of the dead worker is rather unjustified.”

Use of 'Fairly' and 'Rather'

A + Fairly + Adjective + Noun

e.g. a fairly good book

A + Rather + Adjective + Noun

e.g. a rather difficult question

Rather + A/An + Adjective + Noun

e.g. rather a difficult problem

Fairly is used with positive degree only - fairly good, fairly beautiful etc.

Rather is used with positive and comparative degree - rather bad, rather difficult, rather hotter etc.

Note: Use of 'Fairly too ..... ' is incorrect, 'Rather..... too......' is correct and should be used.

Don't say: Fairly too good
Say: Rather too good

ANSWER: 2

Explanation:
Replace 'hardly' with 'hard'.

'Hardly' denotes barely or scarcely, whereas 'hard' means 'firm/ tough'.

The correct sentence should be: She was hard-hit by her father's death.

Observe the difference in use of 'hard' and 'hardly',

e.g. He works hard.

He hardly works. (means “He barely works.”)

Don't say: This hardly-won supremacy was not to be lost.
Say: This hard-won supremacy was not to be lost.

ANSWER: 1

Explanation:
'Carefully' will come after 'examined'. Carefully is an adverb of manner and should be used after the verb.

The correct sentence should be: When examined carefully, it was found that there were some missing pieces.

Same applies for,

Carefully, Critically, Beautifully, Lovingly, Peacefully

e.g. He sleeps peacefully.

He examined it critically.

Kinds of Adverbs

Adverbs are sub-divided into different classes. There are different kinds of adverbs expressing different meaning.

Following are the kinds of adverbs commonly used:

Adverb of -

Time	Place	Number	Manner or Quality	Quantity or Degree
Simple: Now, Then, Before, Since, Ago, Already, Soon, Presently, Instantly, Early Immediately, Late, Afterwards, Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow etc	Simple: Here, There, Hence, Thence, Hither, Thither, In, Out, Within, Without, Above, Below, Inside, Under, Outside, Far, Near etc	Simple: Once, Twice, Thrice, Again, Seldom, Never, Sometimes, Always, Often, Firstly, Secondly, Thirdly etc	Simple: Thus, So, Well, Ill, Amiss, Badly, Probably, Certainly, Conveniently etc	Simple: Very, Much, Too, Quite, Almost, Little, A Little, Rather, Somewhat, Half, Partly, Wholly, So etc
Interrogative: When, How	Interrogative: Whither, Where	Interrogative: How Often, How Many	Interrogative: How Are You? How Did....	Interrogative: How Far...

Example:

1. She has already come. 2. They will soon arrive. 3. How long will you remain here?

1. She went there 2. His shop is near the market. 3. Where did you park the car?

1. She often goes to the gym. 2. Manish never told a lie. 3. How often do you go to gym?

1. He spoke loudly. 2. How did you solve the problem?

1. She is a very beautiful girl. 2. We were somewhat tired after long walk.