Correction of Errors

 Common Errors in English

 Subject-Verb agreement
 Use of Articles
 Prepositions
 Tense and aspect
I. COMMON ERRORS IN ENGLISH
Objective:
To improve the learners’ ability to understand eight common types of
errors found in their spoken and written English.
1. 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.
1. 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 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
mellifluously."
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. The line at the bank was very slow, which made me late. Wrong
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 cannot
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)
Exercise – I
The following passage 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.
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.
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.
21. He is adept at cricket, badminton, playing basket ball.
22. Neither his followers nor he were welcomed by the society.
23. Some of you will have to get their own id cards for inspection.
24. If anyone peeps into the room, capture their photographs.
25. It must have been him who has sent this mail.
26. One should respect your motherland.
27. It happen only rarely in life.
28. Children is plucking flowers in the garden.
29. They purchased a new air conditioner next month.
30. They is quarrelling over a trifle.
31. It begin to rain as soon as we stepped out of the house.
32. The mother was pray for her ailing child.
33. Among the two sisters, Habiba is a better dancer
34. The officer has given orders to his soldiers yesterday.
35. The girl sat down besides the lake.
36. The two brothers are quarrelling with one another
37. The three business partners are leading their business amicably with each
other.
38. Easily, we opened the box.
39. Please write legible.
40. Everyone greatly admired my performance.
41. He did all his work satisfactory.
42. They used to played cricket during their childhood.
43. Varsha saw a lots of swans at the lake.
44. Is there some tea in the flask?
45. The building does not have much windows, and so it is dark and gloomy
inside.
46. They did not gave him any ideas for his presentation.
47. Eight kilometers are not a long distance for a man who is an athlete.
48. The transformer we have just installed silently unlike this noisy generators
we had earlier.
49. The climate of Lahore is better than Hyderabad.
50. A pair of gloves are lying on the bed.