Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 21

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1.  
• Hardly had I left it snowed.  (wrong)
• Hardly had I left before it snowed.  (correct)
• Explanation : The two clauses 'I had left' and 'it snowed' need to be formally joined (as here by before). 
2.  
• The butter melted quite fastly in the sun.   (wrong)
• The butter melted quite fast in the sun.  (correct)
• Explanation : Fast can be used as an adverb. There is no adverb form 'fastly'. 
3.  
• She sang lovely.  (wrong)
• She sang a lovely song.  (correct)
• Explanation : Lovely is an adjective and can be used only to qualify a noun (e.g. song).
4.  
• The performance was mostly over, when I reached.   (wrong)
• The performance was almost over, when I reached.  (correct)
• Explanation : Almost means 'very nearly' whereas mostly means 'usually'. 
5.  
• After lunch, we slept good.  (wrong)
  
• After lunch, we slept well. (correct)
• Explanation : Well is used to modify the verb 'sleep'. Good is an adjective. 
6.  
• We must never think bad of anyone.   (wrong)
• We must never think ill of anyone.  (correct)
• Explanation : As an adverb, ill means 'badly' or 'wrongly'. Bad cannot be used as a n adverb. 
7.  
• He fared quite bad in the first paper.   (wrong)
• He fared quite badly in the first paper.  (correct)
• Explanation : Badly is an adverb which modifies fared. The adjective cannot do so. 
8.  
• She was looking quite good and healthy after the break she took.  (wrong)
• She was looking quite well and healthy after the break she took.  (correct)
• Explanation : One looks well but appears to be good. Well is an adverb which modifies the verb look. Good refers to a noun or pronoun. 
9.  
• Do you always read so fastly ?  (wrong)
• Explanation : Do you always read so fast ? (correct)
• Fast is an adjective as well as an adverb. As an adverb, it modifies read. 
10.  
• He plays chess good.  (wrong)
• Explanation : He plays chess well. (correct)
• Well modifies the verb 'plays'. An adjective cannot do so. 
11.  
• I do not hardly thought about it.   (wrong)
• Explanation : I hardly thought about it. (correct)
• Hardly means 'scarcely' or an 'insignificant degree'. It carries a negative sense.

Shared by Bhargav Gupta Yechuri

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