Correct usage of ADJECTIVES:
a. The Adjective is correctly used with a verb when some quality of the subject, rather than that of the action of the verb, is to be expressed.
Example:
He feels happily.1
He feels happy.2
Her words sound sweetly.1
Her words sound sweet. 2
Note: If any phrase denoting manner could be substituted, the adverb should be used; but if some part of the verb 'to be' could be employed as a connective, the Adjective is required.
Example:(In this 2 one is correct,1 is wrong)
The woman appeared sudden.1
The woman's sudden appearance gave me a shock.2
The boss spoke angry.1
The angry boss spoke loudly.2
The boss looked angrily.1
The boss looked angry.2
b. The words 'superior, inferior, senior, junior, prior, anterior, and posterior,' take 'to' instead of 'than'.
Example:
Swetha is senior than me.1
Swetha is senior to me.2
As a writer of science fiction, Arthur C. Clarke is superior than Isaac Asimov.1
As a writer of science fiction, Arthur C. Clarke is superior to Isaac Asimov.2
c. When a comparison is instituted by means of a Comparative followed by 'than', the noun compared must always be excluded from the class of things with which it is compared, by using 'other' or some such words.
Example:
She is more beautiful than any woman living. ( as this suggests that she is more beautiful than herself, which is absurd)1
She is more beautiful than any other woman living. ( by saying so, she herself is excluded)2
Hercules was stronger than all men.1
Hercules was stronger than all other men.2
d. 'of any' is often used incorrectly in conjunction with a Superlative.
Example:
She has the softest touch of any woman.1
She has a softer touch than any other woman.2
(Or)
No other woman has so soft a touch.
e. One common error with Adjectives is illustrated below:
Example:
The temperature of Ramagundam is more than any other town in India.1
The temperature of Ramagundam is more than that of any other town in India.2
The population of Hyderabad is greater than any other city in Andhra Pradesh.1
The population of Hyderabad is greater than that of any other city in Andhra Pradesh.2
Of the two currency notes, choose the least.1
Of the two currency notes, choose the lesser.2
m. In a comparison by means of a Superlative, the latter term should include the former.
Example:
The elephant is the strongest of all other herbivorous animals.1
The elephant is the strongest of all herbivorous animals.2
The Himalayas are the tallest of all other mountains.1
The Himalayas are the tallest of all mountains.2
n. Double Comparatives and Superlatives are to be avoided, though their use was once common in English.
Example:
I haven't seen a more costlier set of furniture.1
I haven't seen a costlier set of furniture.2
She is the most dullest student in the class.1
She is the dullest student in the class.2
o. Avoid using 'less' when actually 'fewer' is to be used. 'Less' can refer to quantity only, whereas 'fewer' denotes number.
Example:
No less than thirty students were present in the class.1
No fewer than thirty students were present in the class.2
The shopkeeper does not sell fewer than 100gms of sugar.1
The shopkeeper does not sell less than 100gms of sugar.2
p. 'Older' and 'Oldest' may be said either of persons or of things, while 'elder' and 'eldest' apply to persons only, and are usually, confined to members of the same family.
Example:
Hariram was older than Dhaniram.
This is the eldest of all trees in the garden.1
This is the oldest of all trees in the garden. 2
Sita is the oldest of the family.1
Sita is the eldest of the family.2
q. 'Few' and 'a few' have different meanings, so they should be used carefully. 'Few' has a negative connotation, and is equivalent to: 'not many, hardly any'. 'A few' has a positive connotation and is equivalent to: 'some'.
Example:
A few books were given to the students. (Some books)1
Few books were given to the students. (Hardly any books)2
Note: Similarly, 'little', meaning 'not much' and 'a little' meaning 'some, though not much' also should be used carefully.
Example:
A little help would have meant a lot to him.1
He has little hope of succeeding in the exam.2
r. 'Verbal' is often wrongly used for 'oral'. 'Verbal' means 'of or pertaining to words' and 'oral' means 'delivered by word of mouth, not written'.
Example:
My written statements do not differ much from my verbal statements.1
My written statements do not differ much from my oral statements.2
There are quite a few oral differences in the two paragraphs.1
There are quite a few verbal differences in the two paragraphs.2
a. The Adjective is correctly used with a verb when some quality of the subject, rather than that of the action of the verb, is to be expressed.
Example:
He feels happily.1
He feels happy.2
Her words sound sweetly.1
Her words sound sweet. 2
Note: If any phrase denoting manner could be substituted, the adverb should be used; but if some part of the verb 'to be' could be employed as a connective, the Adjective is required.
Example:(In this 2 one is correct,1 is wrong)
The woman appeared sudden.1
The woman's sudden appearance gave me a shock.2
The boss spoke angry.1
The angry boss spoke loudly.2
The boss looked angrily.1
The boss looked angry.2
b. The words 'superior, inferior, senior, junior, prior, anterior, and posterior,' take 'to' instead of 'than'.
Example:
Swetha is senior than me.1
Swetha is senior to me.2
As a writer of science fiction, Arthur C. Clarke is superior than Isaac Asimov.1
As a writer of science fiction, Arthur C. Clarke is superior to Isaac Asimov.2
c. When a comparison is instituted by means of a Comparative followed by 'than', the noun compared must always be excluded from the class of things with which it is compared, by using 'other' or some such words.
Example:
She is more beautiful than any woman living. ( as this suggests that she is more beautiful than herself, which is absurd)1
She is more beautiful than any other woman living. ( by saying so, she herself is excluded)2
Hercules was stronger than all men.1
Hercules was stronger than all other men.2
d. 'of any' is often used incorrectly in conjunction with a Superlative.
Example:
She has the softest touch of any woman.1
She has a softer touch than any other woman.2
(Or)
No other woman has so soft a touch.
e. One common error with Adjectives is illustrated below:
Example:
The temperature of Ramagundam is more than any other town in India.1
The temperature of Ramagundam is more than that of any other town in India.2
The population of Hyderabad is greater than any other city in Andhra Pradesh.1
The population of Hyderabad is greater than that of any other city in Andhra Pradesh.2
Of the two currency notes, choose the least.1
Of the two currency notes, choose the lesser.2
m. In a comparison by means of a Superlative, the latter term should include the former.
Example:
The elephant is the strongest of all other herbivorous animals.1
The elephant is the strongest of all herbivorous animals.2
The Himalayas are the tallest of all other mountains.1
The Himalayas are the tallest of all mountains.2
n. Double Comparatives and Superlatives are to be avoided, though their use was once common in English.
Example:
I haven't seen a more costlier set of furniture.1
I haven't seen a costlier set of furniture.2
She is the most dullest student in the class.1
She is the dullest student in the class.2
o. Avoid using 'less' when actually 'fewer' is to be used. 'Less' can refer to quantity only, whereas 'fewer' denotes number.
Example:
No less than thirty students were present in the class.1
No fewer than thirty students were present in the class.2
The shopkeeper does not sell fewer than 100gms of sugar.1
The shopkeeper does not sell less than 100gms of sugar.2
p. 'Older' and 'Oldest' may be said either of persons or of things, while 'elder' and 'eldest' apply to persons only, and are usually, confined to members of the same family.
Example:
Hariram was older than Dhaniram.
This is the eldest of all trees in the garden.1
This is the oldest of all trees in the garden. 2
Sita is the oldest of the family.1
Sita is the eldest of the family.2
q. 'Few' and 'a few' have different meanings, so they should be used carefully. 'Few' has a negative connotation, and is equivalent to: 'not many, hardly any'. 'A few' has a positive connotation and is equivalent to: 'some'.
Example:
A few books were given to the students. (Some books)1
Few books were given to the students. (Hardly any books)2
Note: Similarly, 'little', meaning 'not much' and 'a little' meaning 'some, though not much' also should be used carefully.
Example:
A little help would have meant a lot to him.1
He has little hope of succeeding in the exam.2
r. 'Verbal' is often wrongly used for 'oral'. 'Verbal' means 'of or pertaining to words' and 'oral' means 'delivered by word of mouth, not written'.
Example:
My written statements do not differ much from my verbal statements.1
My written statements do not differ much from my oral statements.2
There are quite a few oral differences in the two paragraphs.1
There are quite a few verbal differences in the two paragraphs.2
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