The Infinitive, Verbal

Noun And The

Participles:

The infinitive without to is used after dare and

need in the negative and interrogative forms.
I need not tell.
Dare you speak like that?

(Not to tell)
(Not to speak)

The infinitive without to is used after the

phrases had better, had rather, as soon as
e.g.
You had better not stay here.
I had rather take this than that.

 If two separate ideas are better expressed by two

infinitives repeat the infinitive.
He helped me to progress and prosper.
But
It lies in my power to succeed or to fail.

When the infinitive is made to qualify a noun, it

must be accompanied by the appropriate
preposition, e.g.
I have no pen to write.
I have no pen to write with.

(wrong)
(Correct)

 The noun or pronoun governing a gerund should be

put in the possessive case.
I dislike my friend coming so early.
(Wrong)
I dislike my friends coming so early.
(Correct)
Please excuse me being late.
(Wrong)
Please excuse my being late.
(Correct)

The participle should not be left without proper

agreement. It must be attached with a noun or
pronoun to which it refers, e.g.
Sitting on the grass, a snake bit him. (Wrong, say,
While he was sitting on the grass, a snake bit him).
Being a very hot day, I remained indoors. (Wrong, say,
it being a very hot day..).

Adjectives
Do not use an adjective in the comparative degree
when no comparison, expressed or implied, is made.
He is more intelligent student in the class. (Wrong)
He is very intelligent student, or he is the most
intelligent student in the class).

Some adjectives like following are not compared, nor

most be used with them.
Perfect, unique, full, infinite, chief, perpetual, ideal,
entire, complete, universal, empty, impossible,
preferable, unanimous, square, round, golden, etc.
He is more perfect than his brother.
(Wrong)

Perfect expresses the quality to the utmost

extent. (Say, he is perfect)

Adjectives Cont...
The comparative adjectives, superior, inferior,
senor, junior, prior, anterior, posterior, prefer,
preferable are followed by to instead of them.
He is senior to me. (not than me).

Avoid double comparatives, e.g.

It is rather more important. (Wrong : the word
rather comparative). Say, It is rather important
or It is more important.
His brother is a more better singer than he.
(Obviously wrong).

Adjectives Cont...
When two persons or two things are compare, it is
important to see that the comparison is restricted
to the only two that are compared.
The population of India is greater than the USA. (It is
obviously wrong. Say than that of; otherwise, your
sentence will give the impression that you are
comparing Indian Population with the USA---- A
country).

When a comparison is introduced, followed by

than , the things compared must be always be
excluded from the class of things with which it is
compared, by using other. E.g.
Calcutta is larger than any city in India. (Wrong, say,
any other city in India)

Adjectives Cont...
Do not use other or any in the superlative degree. e.g.
He is the wisest of all other students in his class. (Wrong,
say, he is wisest of all).

Use an adjective of the superlative degree, only when

the noun it qualifies indicates the possession of a quality
to a higher degree than any other member of the same
class.
He wrote a best book.( Wrong, say, he wrote an excellent
book).

An adjective in the superlative degree normally takes

the and not a or an before it.
This is a worst example of incompetence I have ever come
across. (Wrong, say, this is the worst.).

Adjectives Cont...
When two adjectives refer to the same noun and
one of them is in the superlative degree, the other
adjective must also be in superlative degree. The
same is the case with the comparatives.
He is the best and honest minister in parliament.
(Wrong : Insert the most before honest).
He is both charitable and richer than you. (Wrong,
say, richer and more charitable).

The two first is a meaningless expression, for it

implies that two things may be first.
The first two chapters of the novel are done. (Wrong:
say, the first two).

Adjectives Cont...
Use some in affirmative sentences and any in
negative and interrogative sentences.
I shall buy some books.
(Not any)
I shall not buy any books. (Not some)
Have you bought any book?
(Not some)

later and latest refer to time. latter and last

refer to position.
He came latter than I. (Wrong, say, later)
Between these two books, the later is more
interesting. (Wrong, say, the latter).
Of the three, tea, coffee and cocoa, the latter is my
favorite. (Wrong, say, the last).

Adjectives Cont...

Farther means more distant or advanced, further

means additional.
Calcutta is farther (not further) from the equator than
Colombo.
After this, he made no further (not Farther) remarks.
Dont speak of farther places. (Wrong: farther is not used as
an adjective in the positive degree. Say, distant, instead).

Older and oldest may be used for persons or things,

but elder and eldest apply to persons only. E.g.
Babubhai was older (not elder) than Chinubhai.
He will inherit the property after the death of his elder (not
older) brother.
He is the oldest (not eldest) inhabitant of this village.

Adjectives Cont...

Little, a little and the little are correctly used

as follows:
There is little hope of recovery. (Not likely to
recover) (Say hardly any hope)
There is a little hope of recovery. (May possibly
recover)
Dont waste the little energy you possess. (The
small amount, whatever it is)

Adjectives Cont...
Few, a few, and the few are correctly used as
follows:
Few women can keep a secret. (hardly any woman can
keep secret)
A few were present. (Some).
The few members who came for the show had to
return disappointed. (not many, but all there are).

Less refers to quantity, whereas fewer denotes

number. E.g.
No less than 50 persons were killed in the accident.
(Wrong : say, no fewer than)
We dont sell fewer than 10 kg. Of ghee. (Wrong: say,
less than .)