Adjectives with verbs

An adjective can be used with a verb when some quality of the subject, rather than the action of the verb is to be expressed.
Read the sentences given below:

Pronouns used as complements of to be

Grammarians formerly recommended that a pronoun used as the complement of the verb to be should be in the nominative case. Today the use of the nominative case in such cases is considered extremely formal and over-correct. Instead, we use the objective case.

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.

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

Avoid the use of double negatives

Two negatives should not be used in the same sentence because they destroy each other.

We should say:

Incorrect: He loves with me.
Correct: He loves me.

Incorrect: We discussed about the matter.
Correct: We discussed the matter.

Incorrect: We reached at the airport at 9 pm.

Correct: We reached the airport at 9 pm.

Incorrect: I have ordered for his dismissal.
Correct: I have ordered his dismissal.

Amount and number

Use amount with uncountable nouns like rice, water, wheat etc. Use number with countable nouns.

He bought a large amount of rice. (Rice is uncountable.)

He bought a large number of apples. (Apples are countable.)

Anxious and eager

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 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.

Incorrect: He denied to go.
Correct: He refused to go.

Explanation

‘To deny’ is to say that something is not true. ‘To refuse’ is to show unwillingness.

Incorrect: All day I was putting on a sweater.
Correct: All day I was wearing a sweater.

Explanation