Spot the error

- Adverbs
- Rules, examples and practice questions
1) Read each sentence given below and find out whether there is an
error in it. The error, if any will be one of the parts of the sentence which
are marked as 1,2,3 and 4. If there is no error, the answer will be (5) i.e.
No error. (Ignore the errors of punctuation, if any).

I cannot ask (1) / my father (2) / for his car without (3) / any vividly
reason. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
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 Here, 'quite' is an adverb because it is qualifying the
intelligent boy. adjective 'intelligent'
He ran very fast. Here, 'very' is an adverb because it is qualifying the
adverb 'fast'.

2) She took (1) / tea and (2) / said that (3) / it tasted sweetly. (4) / No
Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
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)

3) He was exceedingly paid (1) / for how skilful he (2) / handled (3) /
the crowd. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
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.

4) I met her (1) / about ten years ago (2) / and have remembered her
(3) / ever for. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
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 e.g. I met her about five years ago and have
time in the past up to now) remembered her ever since.
2) At or during some time e.g. He told me last month and has spoken of
between then and now it several times since.

5) He is very senior (1) / to me (2) / so I dare not (3) / disrespect him.

(4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
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

6) He said (1) / it was (2) / quite all right (3) / to reject the offer. (4) /
No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
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.

7) She was (1) / heavily fined (2) / last month (3) / for coming lately.
(4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
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)

8) I am too glad (1) / to receive (2) / the offer letter (3) / of this
company. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
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.

9) Her failure (1) / is too much (2) / painful (3) / for our family. (4) /
No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
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

10) The amount which (1) / the Company has paid (2) / to dependents
of the dead worker(3) / is fairly unjustified. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
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

11) She was (1) / hardly-hit (2) / by her (3) / father's death. (4) / No
Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
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.
12) When carefully examined, (1) / it was found (2) / that there (3) /
were some missing pieces.(4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
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 Quantity or
Quality Degree
Simple: Simple: Simple: Simple: Simple:
Now, Then, Here, There, Once, Twice, Thus, So, Very, Much,
Before, Since, Hence, Thence, Thrice, Again, Well, Too, Quite,
Ago, Already, Hither, Thither, Seldom, Never, Ill, Amiss, Almost, Little, A
Soon, In, Out, Within, Sometimes, Badly, Little, Rather,
Presently, Without, Above, Always, Often, Probably, Somewhat,
Instantly, Early Below, Inside, Firstly, Secondly, Certainly, Half, Partly,
Immediately, Under, Outside, Thirdly etc Convenientl Wholly, So etc
Late, Far, Near etc y etc
Afterwards,
Yesterday,
Today,
Tomorrow etc
Interrogative: Interrogative: Interrogative: Interrogati Interrogative:
When, How Whither, Where How Often, How ve: How Far...
Many How Are
You? How
Did....
Example:
1. She 1. She 1. 1. He 1. She is a
has alreadyco went there She often goes spoke loudly. very beautiful girl.
me. 2. His shop to the gym. 2. How 2. We were
2. They is near the 2. Manish did you solve somewhat tired
will soonarrive market. nevertold a lie. the problem? after long walk.
. 3. Where di 3. How
3. How long d you park often do you go
will you remain the car? to gym?
here?