Correct the following sentences and state your reasons for doing so.

1. It was bitter cold.

2. I couldn’t help not crying.

3. He will pay dear for this mistake.

4. She is too beautiful.

5. I haven’t got no money.

6. He ate the sweets greedy.

7. I am much happy to see you.

8. No one can write as neat as he does.

9. I can’t by no means allow you to do that.

10. I don’t know nothing about this.

Answers

1. It was bitterly cold. (We use an adverb (bitterly),and not an adjective (bitter) to modify another adjective (cold)).

2. I couldn’t help crying. (Two negatives should not be used in the same sentence because they destroy each other.)

3. He will pay dearly for this mistake. (Adjective wrongly used in the place of adverb)

4. She is very beautiful. (The adverb too means ‘more than enough’. It should not be used instead of very or much.)

5. I have got no money. OR I haven’t got any money. (Two negatives destroy each other.)

6. He ate the sweets greedily. (Adjective wrongly used in the place of adverb)

7. I am very happy to see you. (Much should not be used with adjectives in the positive degree.)

8. No one can write as neatly as he does. (Adjective wrongly used in the place of adverb)

9. I can’t by any means allow you to do it. OR I can by no means allow you to do it. (Double negatives)

10. I don’t know anything about this. OR I know nothing about this. (Double negatives)