Mistakes in the use of adjectives
This grammar exercise tests your ability to use adjectives correctly.
1. She is …………………………….. than her sister.
stronger
more stronger
2. Bombay is …………………………………. from Delhi than Agra.
further
farther
3. You have …………………………………… books.
much
many
4. I have ………………………………… work to do.
many
much
5. She is growing ………………………………….. everyday.
more and more strong
stronger and stronger
6. Let’s go ……………………………………
somewhere quiet
quiet somewhere
7. Tell me the ……………………………….. news.
last
latest
8. I have …………………………………… worries than you.
fewer
less
lesser
9. He wasted ………………………………………
his all wealth
all his wealth
PLAY AGAIN !
Here is a list of errors that ESL students often make in the use of adjectives.
Incorrect: She is more stronger than her sister.
Correct: She is stronger than her sister.
Avoid double comparatives. Adjectives of one syllable usually form their comparatives by
adding –er to the positive. Longer adjectives take more.
Incorrect: Bombay is further from Delhi than Agra.
Correct: Bombay is farther from Delhi than Agra.
Further means ‘additional’. Farther is used to talk about distance.
Incorrect: You have much books.
Correct: You have many books.
Incorrect: I have many work to do.
Correct: I have much work to do.
Use much with uncountable nouns. Use many with countable nouns.
Incorrect: She is growing strong and strong everyday.
Correct: She is growing stronger and stronger everyday.
The comparative form of the adjective is used in structures like these.
Incorrect: Let’s go quiet somewhere.
Correct: Let’s go somewhere quiet.
The adjective usually goes after expressions like somewhere.
Incorrect: I can’t afford that a big car.
Correct: I can’t afford that big a car.
Note the pattern: that + adjective + a/an + noun
Incorrect: Tell me the last news.
Correct: Tell me the latest news.
Latest means ‘the most recent’. Last means ‘the previous one’.
Incorrect: I have less worries than you.
Correct: I have fewer worries than you.
Use less with uncountable nouns. Use fewer with countable nouns.
Incorrect: He wasted his all wealth.
Correct: He wasted all his wealth.
Quantifiers like all, both and half go before possessives.