Adverbs – Common Mistakes

January 30th, 2010 in Common Mistakes

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

1.    It was bitter cold.
2.    I couldn’t help not overhearing their conversation.
3.    I ever remember having seen a more interesting film.
4.    The story was too interesting.
5.    She hasn’t got no children.
6.    This hardly won liberty cannot be lightly abandoned.
7.    I am much happy to see you.
8.    No one writes as neat as he does.
9.    I cannot by no means allow you to do so.
10.    She sang sweet.
11.    I felt so lonely.
12.    I don’t know nothing about the matter.

Answers

1.    It was bitterly cold. (Wrong use of adjective in place of adverb)
2.    I couldn’t help overhearing their conversation. (Double negative)
3.    I never remember having seen a more interesting film. (Wrong use of ever and never)
4.     The story was very interesting. (Too means ‘more than enough’. It should not be used in the sense of very or much.)
5.    She hasn’t got any children. OR She has got no children. (Double negative)
6.    This hard won liberty cannot be lightly abandoned. (hardly confused with hard)
7.    I am very happy to see you. (Happy is an adjective. Much cannot be used with adjectives.)
8.    No one writes as neatly as he does. (Wrong use of adjective in place of adverb)
9.    I cannot by any means allow you to do so. OR I can by no means allow you to do so. (Double negative)
10.    She sang sweetly. (Wrong use of adjective in place of adverb)
11.    I felt very lonely. (Wrong use of so instead of very)
12.    I don’t know anything about the matter. OR I know nothing about the matter. (Double negative)