English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
ISSUES AROUND WORD USAGES
1. The words “cowardly” and “scholarly” are adjectives and should only be used to qualify nouns or pronouns; not to modify verbs:
That was a cowardly behaviour (right).
You are so cowardly (right).
He behaves cowardly (wrong).
This is a scholarly paper (right).
The presentation was scholarly (right).
He talks scholarly (wrong).
2. The word “mediocre” is an adjective and should not be used as a noun.
Kunle is mediocre (right).
Kunle is a mediocre (wrong).
3. The word “outright” is both an adjective and an adverb and it does not attract -ly.
It was an outright rejection (right).
It was rejected outright (right).
It was rejected outrightly (wrong).
GAB
We are really enjoyed the English language class. More ink to your pen.