In the following question, four words are given out of which one word is correctly spelt. Select the correctly spelt word.
precariously
Identifying the Correctly Spelt Word: Precariously
The question asks us to find the word that is spelt correctly among the given options. All the options are variations of the word 'precariously'. Let's examine each option:
- precariousely
- precarriously
- precarriousely
- precariously
The correct spelling is 'precariously'. This word is an adverb derived from the adjective 'precarious'.
Meaning of Precariously
The adverb 'precariously' means in a way that is not securely fixed or held, and is therefore likely to fall or collapse, or in a way that is dependent on chance circumstances; uncertainly.
For example:
- The stack of books was balanced precariously on the edge of the table.
- He lived precariously, never knowing where his next meal would come from.
Analyzing the Options
Let's break down the spelling of each option to see why only one is correct.
| Option | Spelling | Analysis | Correctness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | precariousely | Incorrect suffix. The adverb ending should be '-ly', not '-ely' after '-ous'. | Incorrect |
| 2 | precarriously | Incorrect doubling of 'r'. The base word is 'precarious', which has only one 'r'. | Incorrect |
| 3 | precarriousely | Incorrect doubling of 'r' and incorrect suffix '-ely'. Combines errors from options 1 and 2. | Incorrect |
| 4 | precariously | Correct base word 'precarious' followed by the correct adverb suffix '-ly'. | Correct |
Based on the standard spelling rules and the correct form of the adverb derived from 'precarious', option 4, 'precariously', is the only correctly spelt word.
Revision Table: Common Spelling Errors
| Incorrect Pattern | Correct Pattern/Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| -iousely | -iously (for adverbs) | Adverbs from adjectives ending in '-ious' typically end in '-iously'. E.g., curious > curiously, obvious > obviously, precarious > precariously. |
| Doubled consonant where unnecessary | Single consonant (usually) | Check the base word. If the base word doesn't have a doubled consonant (like 'precarious' has one 'r'), don't add one when adding a suffix unless a specific rule requires it (like doubling the final consonant before adding -ing to a short vowel word). |
Additional Information on Adverb Formation
Many adverbs in English are formed by adding '-ly' to an adjective. However, there are some rules and exceptions:
- If the adjective ends in '-y' preceded by a consonant, change the 'y' to 'i' before adding '-ly' (e.g., happy > happily).
- If the adjective ends in '-le' preceded by a consonant, change the 'le' to 'ly' (e.g., gentle > gently).
- If the adjective ends in '-ic', add '-ally' (e.g., tragic > tragically), but 'public' becomes 'publicly'.
- If the adjective ends in '-l', add '-ly' (e.g., beautiful > beautifully).
- Some adjectives have the same form as their adverb (e.g., fast, hard, late).
In the case of 'precarious', it ends in '-ious'. Adjectives ending in '-ous' typically form adverbs by simply adding '-ly' to the adjective form, resulting in '-ously'. Thus, 'precariously' is formed from 'precarious' + 'ly'.
Important Questions from Spellings
- Select the INCORRECTLY spelt word.
- Select the INCORRECTLY spelt word.
- Select the INCORRECTLY spelt word.
- Select the wrongly spelt word.
- Direction: Select the INCORRECTLY spelt word.
