Here are some rules for using adverb which can be very useful for finding errors in competitive exams.
Rule: The adverb ‘too much’ is used with nouns and adverb ‘much too’ is used with adjective.
Ex:
- His elbow injury gives him too much pain.
(Here pain is a noun) - He is much too careless.
(Here careless is adjective)
Rule: Generally fairly is used with positive sense and rather is used with negative or unfavourable sense.
Ex:
- Garima is fairly smart.
- This is rather boring movie.
Rule: Enough should be preceded by an adjective.
Ex:
- Richa is now strong enough to lift this bag. (Correct)
Richa is now enough strong to lift this bag. (Incorrect) - Sudha is intelligent enough to clear this exam. (Correct)
Sudha is enough intelligent to clear this exam. (Incorrect)
Rule: Adverb ‘very’ is used in positive degree while adverb ‘much’ is used in comparative degree.
Ex:
- Hardik is very intelligent.
- Cheetah is much faster than elephant.
Rule: Late shows period of time and lately shows recently.
Ex:
- You should not come late. (Correct)
You should not come lately. (Incorrect) - Sumitra lately had an elbow surgery. (Correct)
Sumitra late had an elbow surgery. (Incorrect)
Rule: If the sentence is beginning with hardly, never, seldom, scarcely, rarely, no sooner etc. then the verb is used in inverted form.
Ex:
- No sooner had they entered the theatre than the movie started. (Correct)
No sooner they had entered the theatre than the movie started. (Incorrect) - Hardly does he go to gym. (Correct)
Hardly he goes to gym. (Incorrect)
Definition and types of adverb.
