Learn English common errors: Set-220

Learn English common errors:

Subject – Verb Agreement:

The verb and subject must agree with each other. If the subject is singular, then the verb must be singular.

If the subject is plural, then the verb must be plural.

i. If a singular subject is separated by a comma then the following sentence remains singular:

1. The child, together with his grandmother and his parents, is going to the beach. (Right)

2. Frank, accompanied by his student, were at the studio. (Wrong)

3. Frank, accompanied by his student, was at the studio. (Right)

2. Collective nouns, such as family, majority, audience, and committee are singular when they act

as one group. They are plural when they act as individuals.

1. A majority of the shareholders wants the merger.

2. The jury were in disagreement.

3. All phrases separated by and are plural; phrases separated by or are singular.

1. Ted, John, and I are going.

2. Mary, Sheela and Peter are waiting at the reception.

4. Neither/nor and either/or are a exceptional case. If two subjects are joined by or or nor, the verb

should agree with the subject that is near to it.

1. Neither the supervisor nor the staff members were able to calm the distressed client.

2. Neither the staff members nor the supervisor was able to calm the distressed client.

5. Choose the right subject in sentences in which the verb comes before the subject.

1. There is many reasons why I can't help you. (Wrong)

2. There are many reasons why I can't help you. (Right)

2. Modifiers:

1. Use of Adjectives and Adverbs in correction of sentences.

An Adjective describes a noun and gives explanations for questions like how many, which one

and what kind

She is a good tennis player. (What kind of tennis player?)

An Adverb describes a verb or an adjective and explains the questions beginning with when,

where, why, in what manner, and to what extent.

i. She plays cricket well. (She plays cricket how?)

ii. This problem is reasonably simple. (How simple?)

Generally adverbs do end with -ly to the adjective, like, "She sang melifluously."

She is a real good swimmer. (Wrong)

She is a really good swimmer. (Right)

"really" is acting as an adverb to modify the adjective "good"

The new student speaks bad. (Wrong)

The new student speaks badly. (Right)

"Badly" changes how the student speaks.

2. Corrections in the use of Adjectives with Verbs of Sense.

The below given is the list of verbs of perception which are described by Adjectives:

look, smell, taste, seem, taste, hear etc.

After the three week vacation, she looked very well. (Wrong)

After the three week vacation, she looked very good. (Right)

Explanation: "She is well" means "She is healthy" or describes a person's well-being.

The strawberry shortcake tastes deliciously. (Wrong)

The strawberry shortcake tastes delicious. (Right)

3. Pronoun Agreement:

It is similar to subject – verb agreement rule. Pronoun that is used should agree with its subject. The

following is the list of pronouns used in subject and object positions.

Subject Object

1. I         Me

2. We     Us

3. You   You

4. He     Him

5. She   Her

6. It        It

7. They Them

1. Pronoun Subject/Object.

Depending on pronoun’s position in a sentence, its form should also be changed.

1. How could she blame you and he for the accident? wrong

2. How could she blame you and him for the accident? right

2. A pronoun’s agreement of its Subject:

1. Everyone on the project have to come to the meeting. wrong

2. Everyone on the project has to come to the meeting. right

3. The singular forms of "either... or" and "neither...nor" take a singular verb. However, if the noun

near to the verb in the "neither…nor" or "either...or" it takes plural.

1. Neither his bodyguards nor he were there. wrong

2. Neither his bodyguards nor he was there. right

4. All Possessive pronouns should agree in person and number.

1. Some of you will have to bear their own responsibility. wrong

2. Some of you will have to bear your own responsibility. right

Some is singular:

3. If anyone seems suspicious over, take their details. wrong

4. If anyone seems suspicious, take his details. right

5. Use of relative pronoun like which, that or who. They link the words before it:

1. The line at the bank was very slow, which made me late. wrong

2. I was late because of the line at the bank. (or) The line at the bank made me late. Right

6. Use of Indefinite pronouns:

1. One should have their teeth checked every six months. Wrong

2. One should have one's/his or her teeth checked six months. (OR) You should have your teeth

checked every six months. Right

1. One should take your responsibilities seriously. wrong

2. One should take one's/his or her responsibilities seriously. (OR)

You should take your responsibilities seriously. Right

4. Similarities / Comparisons:

Irrelevant comparisons lead to errors in sentences. For instance, a person can not be compared to a quality

or an item to a group. Comparison can be made between two individuals, two qualities and two groups

only.

Some common and significant comparisons are made with…

Like, as, compared to, less than, more than, other, that of, those of etc.

Some constructions often state ideas in similar form. Their grammatical structure depends on the subjects

being used between them. They are…

Either…or...

Neither…nor...

Not only… but also...

1. The vision from this building is not nearly as impressive as from that mountain lodge. Wrong

2. The vision from this building is not nearly as impressive as the one from that mountain lodge. Right

EXERCISES FOR PRACTICE

Exercise – I

The following passage is not edited. It contains an error in each sentence. Identify the incorrect

word and write the correct form of it.

The city police have decided to taking stern action against drivers which attempt to overtake in the left side

in the city roads. All drivers who violate this rule will be punish. This is a strict order issue by the police

department for safety of all drivers.

Answer:

The city police have decided to take stern action against drivers who attempt to overtake on the left side

on the city roads. All drivers who violate this rule will be punished. This is a strict order issued by the

police department for safety of all drivers.

Exercise – II

Correction of Sentences for Practice

1. John has been working on the pilot project since two years.

2. When he entered the classroom the lecture already was beginning.

3. Rama has returned back her book in the library.

4. If Peter works hard he would get distinction in the exam.

5. They turn up with the flying colours if they practiced well.

6. If he told them about the route they would not have missed their way.

7. She would not have sent the mail if you did not instruct her.

8. If I had painted the picture well it would cost a great deal.

9. If the Manager had received your project on time he would not fire you.

10. The boy, together with his teachers and friends, are going to the ground.

11. A group of people are rushing into the hall.

12. The team is divided in different perspectives on the issue.

13. Neither the party leader nor the party workers was able to calm the distressed people.

14. Data is being collected by the media.

15. She is a real good singer.

16. All Computer science students should learn computer operating, typing, and how to

programme computers.

17. The Lawyer has been warning his clients for the last Sunday.

18. Everybody on the board have to come to the discussion sessions.

19. How could they threaten you and she for this issue?

20. She prefers studying individually than studying collaboratively.

Answers for exercise 2:

1. John has been working on the pilot project for two years.

2. When he entered the classroom the lecture had already begun.

3. Rama has returned her book in the library.

4. If Peter works hard he will get distinction in the exam.

5. They would turn up with the flying colours if they practiced well.

6. If he told them about the route they would not miss their way.

7. She would not send the mail if you did not instruct her.

8. If I had painted the picture well it would have cost a great deal.

9. If the Manager had received your project on time he would not have fired you.

___ The boy, together with his teachers and friends, is going to the ground.

11. A group of people is rushing into the hall.

12. The team are divided in different perspectives on the issue.

13. Neither the party leader nor the party workers were able to calm the distressed people.

14. Data are being collected by the media.

15. She is really a good singer.

16. All Computer science students should learn computer operating, typing, and computer

programming.

17. The Lawyer has been warning his clients since the last Sunday.

18. Everybody on the board has to come to the discussion sessions.

19. How could they threaten you and her for this issue?

20. She prefers studying individually to studying collaboratively.