Still comes in affirmative sentences whereas yet comes in negative sentences.

He is still in confusion.

I have not received your documents yet.

Difference between presently/ shortly and just now

Presently/ shortly are used as adverb of time in future tense.

Manish will return presently/shortly.

Just now can be used with past tense for giving the sense of recent happening.

He called me just now for today’s meeting.

Difference between fairly and quite/rather

After fairly some positive adjectives come whereas after quite/rather negative adjectives may come.

This deal is fairly good.

Ramesh is fairly honest in his deals.

Raju is fairly clever in such discussions.

After quite/rather both type of adjectives good or bad may come

Mona is quite firm in her decisions.

They are quite mean in their business.

This show is rather entertaining.

This movie is rather banal.

• Before the usage of quite no other adjective or adverb is required.

Almost quite right

Almost very right

• When enough is used as an adverb of quantity, it is always used after the adjective.

Intelligent enough

Kind enough

Helpful enough

Fast enough

Note: as an adjective enough comes before a noun it qualifies.

Enough boys

Enough money

In some cases enough as an adjective can also be used after noun.

Have I got time enough to go to the bank?

• Use of since as an adverb

As an adverb ‘since’ is used with ever and since comes at the last of the sentence. The ‘ever since’ clause in present perfect whereas the previous clause is in past indefinite.

I saw him two years ago and have remembered him ever since.

• Usage of only/almost/even

These adjectives are used just before the words which are to be emphasized.

• Hardly/ scarcely/ rarely / seldom

H.V. comes right after these negative adverbs.

Hardly/ scarcely are followed by when.

• ‘too much ’ + Noun

‘much too’ + adjective

It gives me too much pain.

It is much too painful.

• Fortunately, unfortunately, frankly are the adverbs used before the sentence.

Frankly speaking, you are fit to the criteria.

Unfortunately, he was wounded in the head.

• If how/when/where/what are used after the word ‘know’, the usage of ‘to’ is required after it.

• I know how to edit this pic.

• He knows when to do this work.

• My father knows what to do in this situation.

• Very is used with tired, contended, dejected, drunk even if the sentence is in past participle. Generally much is used with the sentences of past participle but with these four words very is to be used.

For example much surprised, much shocked

I found him very dejected.

Note: pleased is an exception case. With it both are appropriate whether we say very pleased or much pleased.

Anita is very pleased to see you here.

Your father is much pleased with your achievements.

• In cause-effect relationship, the adverb ‘so’ is used. Sometimes questions are given with some adverb so it is to be kept in mind.

Rohit is perspicacious, so he understands it.

Ankit was late, so he was penalized.   

• Some of the most frequently used copular verbs are: be, feel, seem, appear, look, sound, smell, taste, become, get. Adjectives follow copular verbs, not adverbs.

Sugar tastes sweet.

A rose smells sweet.

She looks beautiful.

Note: she looks at him suspiciously.

• Nothing + never is a wrong combination whereas nothing + ever is a correct combination.

• Quite and all can’t be used together. One of them can be used meaningfully.

For example

Manoj is quite right.

Reshma is all right.

Shubham is quite all right. (X)

• ‘very’ and ‘much’ both are used before the superlative degree.

The + very + Superlative degree + Noun

Much + the + superlative degree + Noun

Much the best boy.

• Hardly ever is a right expression which means very seldom.

• Using else with where is superfluous.

• The H.V. comes first if the sentences begin with hardly, scarcely, rarely, seldom, not only but also, never before, never.

• The H.V. comes first if the sentences begin with so + adverb of manner for example so beautifully, so tactfully.

• Eastward is an adjective whereas eastwards is an adverb.

• The H.V. is used first if a sentence begins with ‘under no circumstances’

This subject is hard. (ADJ)

Hardly had I discussed the topic when he left for his meeting.

Hardly/ scarcely – MUSHKIL SE HI, AISA HO BHI NA PAYA THA

• Hardly had I written the sentences when the board was switched off.

• Scarcely had I talked to my friend when he got ready for the departure.

Inversion rule- if a sentence begins with a negative adverb, the helping verb comes first.

Seldom he comes to the institute for the classes.

Seldom does he come to the institute for the classes.

Spotting Errors

1. Somebody reported to (a)/ the contractor that his partner (b)/ had only died a week before. (c)/ No Error (d)

Correct Answer: c)

Explanation: the adverb ‘only’ is at wrong place. It should be before ‘a week before’.

The right sentence is

Somebody reported to the contractor that his partner had died only a week before.

Only you can do it.

You can only do it.

You can do only it.

1. He asked me to (a)/ completely forget her, (b)/ but only I know how easy it is to say so. (c)/ No Error (d)

Correct Answer: b)

Explanation: ‘Adverb of manner’ comes after the verb so the right sentence is

He asked me to forget her completely, but only I know how easy it is to say so.

1. When carefully examined, (a)/ it will give us (b)/ a clue to the mystery of the case. (c)/ No Error (d)

Correct Answer: a)

Explanation: ‘Adverb of manner’ comes after the verb.

1. She looked at him (a)/ lovely but he (b)/ did not respond to her. (c)/ No Error (d)

Correct Answer: b)

Explanation: lovingly should be used in place of lovely.

Lovely is an adjective whereas lovingly is an adverb.

What a lovely hand writing you have!

You write to your father lovingly.

1. He never liked to treat (a)/ his brothers friendly, that’s why (b)/ he could not win their love and favor.(c)/ No Error (d)

Correct Answer: d)

1. They are very senior (a)/ to me; so I dare not (b)/ play a joke on them.(c)/ No Error (d)

Correct Answer: a)

Explanation: Use ‘much’ in place of very.  

very | much

1. I hardly ever see him (a)/ because in my opinion he (b)/ is not a man to be admired. (c)/ No Error (d)

Correct Answer: d)

Explanation: hardly ever is a correct expression.

1. Who will believe that (a)/ she was not hardly-hit (b)/ by her husband’s death. (c)/ No Error (d)

Correct Answer: b)

Explanation:

Who will believe that she was hardly hit by her husband’s death.

‘Hard-hit’ is an expression which means to be very astonished.

Who will believe that she was not hard-hit by her husband’s death.

1. Before the game she felt surely of winning (a)/ but after five minutes she realized that (b)/ it was going to be so easy. (c)/ No Error (d)

Correct Answer: a)

Explanation: Use ‘sure’ in place of ‘surely’

Appear, taste, smell, look, feel are the copular verbs which require adjective right after them not the adverb.

It tastes sweet.

It smells fragrant.

He looks confused.

Harshita looked at AC astonishingly.

I looked at him angrily.

1. I know that eventually he will succumb to me (a)/ and confess that he has (b)/ committed a crime. (c)/ No Error (d)

Correct Answer: d)  

Fortunately, we got an easy paper.

Eventually, he accepted the proposal.

Ultimately, you will gain success in your career.