Adjective and Adverb Errors - Part 2/2

This section of our course will review those errors most commonly presented in the CPE and teach you what to look for. We will not review here the basic rules of grammar, such as the formation and use of the different tenses and the passive voice, the subjective and objective cases of pronouns, the position of adjectives and adverbs, and the like. We assume that a candidate for the CPE is familiar with basic grammar, and we will concentrate on error recognition based on that knowledge.

4. Errors in Parallel Comparisons

In parallel comparisons, check if the correct form has been used.

INCORRECT

The more you practice, you will get better.

CORRECT

The more you practice, the better you will get.

INCORRECT

The earlier we leave, we will get there earlier.

CORRECT

The earlier we leave, the earlier we will get there.

INCORRECT

The busier you become, lesser time you have for reading.

CORRECT

The busier you become, the less time you have for reading.

5. Errors of Illogical Comparatives

Check comparisons to make sure they make sense.

INCORRECT

Texas is bigger than any state in the United States.

CORRECT

Texas is bigger than any other state in the United States. (If Texas were bigger than any state, it would be bigger than itself!)

INCORRECT

That is the most important of any other reason.

CORRECT

That is the most important reason.

INCORRECT

Of the two books, this one is best.

CORRECT

Of the two books, this one is better.

6. Errors of Identical Comparisons

Something can be the same as OR like something else.
Do not mix up the two forms.

INCORRECT

Your dress is the same like mine.

CORRECT

Your dress is like mine.

OR

CORRECT

Your dress is the same as mine.

7. Errors in Idioms Using Comparative Structures

Some idiomatic terms are formed like comparatives, although they are not true comparisons:

INCORRECT

You may have to spend so much as two hours waiting.

CORRECT

You may have to spend as much as two hours waiting.

INCORRECT

It cost twice more than I thought it would.

CORRECT

It cost twice as much as I thought it would.

8. Errors in Noun-Adjectives

When a NOUN is used as an ADJECTIVE, treat it as an adjective. Do not pluralize or add 's.

INCORRECT

You're talking like a two-years-old child!

CORRECT

You're talking like a two-year-old child!

INCORRECT

OM Personal English developed a 800-pages course.

CORRECT

OM Personal English developed a 800-page course.

9. Errors in Ordinal and Cardinal Numbers

Ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.) are preceded by the, but cardinal numbers (one, two, three, etc.) are NOT.
Example: We missed the first act. We missed Act One.

NOTE: Ordinarily, either form is correct, but there are two exceptions:

a) In dates use only ordinal numbers:
May first (not May one) the first of May
b) In terms dealing with travel, use only cardinal numbers:
For example, as "Gate Three" may not actually be the third gate, the correct form is It is Gate Number Three.

INCORRECT

We leave from the second pier.

CORRECT

We leave from Pier Two.

INCORRECT

His birthday is on February twenty-two.

CORRECT

His birthday is on February twenty-second.

10. Errors in Modifying Countable and Noncountable Nouns

a) If a noun can be preceded by a number, it is a countable noun and will be modified by these words:

b) If a noun cannot be preceded by a number, it is noncountable noun and will be modified by these words:

INCORRECT

They all were surprised by the large amount of people who came.

CORRECT

They were all surprised by the large number of people who came.

INCORRECT

You need only a little eggs in this recipe.

CORRECT

You need only a few eggs in this recipe.