GRAMMAR and CORRECT USAGE

A Career Service
Examination
Reviewer
Mary Ann J. Bullagay
 How many blocks are grammatically correct?

We will going to discuss

about grammar.
A pleasant good afternoon Everybody did their job
to you. yesterday.
•We will be going to
discuss grammar.

We delivered the report in

Grammar will help us,
the office printed in bold She is taller than he.
isn’t it?
letters.
 Commonly Misused Words
 

Advice vs. advise

Advice – is a noun meaning an opinion given
Advise – is a verb which means to give an opinion.
Say: Please ________me. I need your expert ________.
 
Affect vs. effect
Affect – is a verb which means to act on or to influence
something/someone.
Effect – is a noun which means a result
Say: The low score on the test will _______the student and its
________ on him is evident in his silence.
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  Commonly Misused Words

Afraid vs. frightened

Afraid – is a long time feeling of fear
Frightened – means feeling a sudden fear
Say: I have long been ________ of snakes and now you ________
me with one.
Aggravate vs. irritate
Aggravate – means to make worse
Irritate – means to annoy
Say: Do not ________ me. You will just __________ my already ill
temper.
 
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  Commonly Misused Words
 

All together vs. altogether

All together – means at the same time
Altogether – means wholly or entirely
I was ________ surprised that you were _________on my birthday.
 
Ascent, Accent, Assent
Ascent – means rise or upward movement
Accent – means stress in pronunciation
Assent –means to agree.
Say: I _______with the team that we _______ the highest
mountain regardless of our language or _______.

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  Commonly Misused Words
 

Beside vs. besides

Beside – means at the side of
Besides – means moreover
Say: Please stay beside me; besides; we are partners in this
talk show.
 
Between vs. among
Between – involves two nouns
Among – involves three or more nouns
Say: Between Terry and Jim, I trust Terry because among my
friends, she has never turned her back on me.
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Commonly Misused Words Commonly Misused Words
 

Bring vs. fetch

Bring – means to come (with something or someone) from a distant place to
a nearer place
Fetch – means to go and get somebody or something and to bring it back
Say: Please bring home the trophy and fetch your sister when you come
here.
 
Borrow vs. lend
Borrow – means to use something (e.g. money) after asking permission
Lend – means to allow somebody to borrow something
Say: The manager lends money for his secretary’s son because this manager
remembers how he used to borrow some during his difficult years, too.
 

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Commonly Misused Words   Commonly Misused Words
Can vs. may
Can – implies ability
May – implies asking permission
Say: Everybody can speak any time but not everybody may do
so.
 
Compare vs. contrast
Compare – means pointing the similarities between nouns
Contrast – means pointing the differences between nouns
Say: A lovely lady is compared to a rose and is contrasted to a
wild animal.
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Commonly Misused Words Commonly Misused Words
 

 
Continual vs. continuous
Continual – implies an action occurring frequently/
regularly
Continuous – means continuing without stopping
Say: There was a _______ rainfall last July but just as
our hearts beat ________, our hope for better days
never stops.
 

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Commonly Misused Words Commonly Misused Words
 

Desert vs. dessert

Desert – is a dry land area, consisting of sand; an action word
which means to abandon someone
Dessert – sweet food usually eaten after meal
Say: If you are in a _______, imagine eating your favorite _______
while you are with a friend who will never _______ you. 
Discover vs. invent
Discover – means to find out about something
Invent – means to create something new
Say: We ________ that our classmate can ______ a bubble gum
out of baking soda.

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Commonly Misused Words Commonly Misused Words
 

Elicit vs. illicit

Elicit – means to provoke or produce a reaction
Illicit – means illegal
Say: An ______ affair between a married man and another woman
will always _______ a negative reaction from the people.
 
In vs. into
In – means inside
Into – implies a movement from the outside going inside
Say: We were _______the canteen when we saw the stranger’s car
move ______ the gate.

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Commonly Misused Words Commonly Misused Words
 

Its vs. it’s

Its – is a pronoun showing ownership
It’s - is a contraction for it is
_____ a fact that a dog is faithful to _____ master.
 
Legible vs. readable
Legible – means clear enough to be read
Readable – means able to be read with pleasure
Say: The child’s handwriting is ______ and his short
story is ______.
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 Commonly Misused Words
 

Less vs. few

Less – is for mass noun
Few – is for count noun
Say: The problem has _____ complication because _____ people are
involved.
 
Migrate vs. immigrate
Migrate – means to move from one region to another
Immigrate – means to move to another country to stay there for good
Say: He will ______to Hongkong this year but his long-term plan is
to _____ and live in Canada.
 
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 Commonly Misused Words
 

More vs. most

More – is used to compare only two persons, places, things…
Most – is used to compare more than two persons…
Say: He is _____considerate than his companion, but she is
the _____ considerate of them all.
 
Oral vs. verbal
Oral – is always spoken
Verbal – may be spoken or written
Say: The orator’s _____skill is commendable and his _____
delivery is superb.
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  Commonly Misused Words
 

Persecute vs. prosecute

Persecute – means to oppress others
Prosecute – means to try one in court
Say: Many _____d Jesus but He did not _______ anyone.
 
Peace, piece, peas
Peace – means calm, freedom from war or conflict
Piece – means part of a whole
Peas – round green seeds
Say: A ______ of white cloth with a V-sign is a sign of ______.

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 Commonly Misused Words
 

Pupil vs. student

Pupil – refers to younger learners
Student – refers to all who go to school/ college/ university
Say: The college _____s took care of the grade 1 ____s.
 
Recollect vs. remember
Recollect – means to remember with effort
Remember – can be done subconsciously
Say: We need to focus to ________ our thoughts and sift
through what we usually _______.
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  Commonly Misused Words
 

Right, rite, write

Right – means correct
Rite – refers to a ceremonial act
Write – is to put one’s thoughts on paper
Say: The authors ______ about the _____of a person to conduct the
______ of passage.
 
Same vs. similar
Same – means alike or identical
Similar – means having likeness but not identical
Say: The identical twins look the ______ but they are only _____ in
few respects.
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  Commonly Misused Words
 

Their, they’re and there

Their – is a possessive pronoun
They’re - is a contraction for they are
There – is an adverb of place; may also be used to start a sentence
Say: _____ the artists whom I admire because of _____ talent and humility.
_____are many fans who look up to them here and there.
 
Two, to, and too
Two – refers to the number 2
To – is a preposition
Too – means also, or very
Say: _____teams battled for the championship. They both wanted _____ win
so that they could go _____the World Cup, too. The stakes, however, are
_____ high _____ reach.
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 Prepositional Idioms 

Afraid of vs. afraid to Agree to, agree on, agree with

Afraid of – is followed by Agree to – is followed by a verb

noun, gerund Say: I agree to meet you.
Agree on – is followed by a
Say: I am afraid of heights. noun
I am afraid of going back Say: They agree on one goal.
to square one. Agree with – is followed by a
Afraid to – is followed by person, or a pronoun
verb Say: We agree with everything
that leads to peace.
Say: Lyra is afraid to leave We agree with you.
alone.
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 Prepositional Idioms 

 Apologize to vs. apologize Back down, back off, back out, back up
Back down – means to turn back from a
for belief for fear of opposition
 Apologize to – is followed Say: The witness did not back down
despite the death threats he got.
by person/people/ pronoun Back off – means move away
 Say: We should apologize Say: The firemen wanted everyone to

to all whom we have hurt. back off from the burning building.
Back out – means withdraw from a
 Apologize for – is followed commitment
by something done Say: The principal sponsor backed out
so the couple need to look for a
 Say: We should apologize replacement.
for hurting other people Back up – means support
Say: Don’t worry. I am here to back
you up.

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 Prepositional Idioms 

Break off, break out, break into, break through,

Differ in, differ with, differ
break up
Break off –means to take off a piece of from
something or to discontinue a relationship
Say: It’s hard to break off from old friends.
Differ in/from – is followed
Break out – means to happen suddenly. by a noun
Say: The fire broke out in the squatters’ area.
Say: The twins differ in hair
Break into - means to enter (a house/building)
illegally style.
Say: The burglars broke into the mansion when
Say: How does Gilas team
the guards were out.
Break through – means to quickly move through differ from Korean team?
an obstruction
Say: When the fans saw their idol, they broke
Differ with – is followed by
through the barricade just to see him. someone
Break up – means to divide
Say: Lets break up in five teams. Say: How do you differ with
Break up – also means to end a relationship your twin sister in your style?
Say: After two years, the couple broke up.

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 Prepositional Idioms 

Dwell in, dwell on Fill in vs. fill out, fill up

Fill in – means to give information;
Dwell in – is usually to put something on an empty space
followed by a place Say: Fill in the blank with the best

Say: Their family dwells answer.

Say: The dentist filled her teeth in
in a farm near our town. with amalgam.
Dwell on – means to think Fill out – means to complete the
blank spaces (as in a form)
of something for a long Say: Please fill out the application
time form.
Say: We should not dwell Fill up – means to make something
full
on our mistakes. Say: We need to fill up the tanks
  with water for the dry season.
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 Prepositional Idioms 

Hear of, hear from, hear out Keep on, keep out, keep to, keep
from
Hear of – to consider
Keep on – means to continue doing
Say: He would not hear of something
their excuses. Say: Keep on helping other people.

Hear from – means get a Keep out – means not to enter

Say: This is a private property.
news from someone
Please keep out.
Say: Have you heard from Keep to – means to stick to
the missing OFW? something like a plan
Hear out – means to listen Say: Whatever happens, keep to the
agreed route.
until someone is done talking
Keep up – means to maintain
Say: Please hear me out first something in a certain level
before judging me. Say: Keep up the good work!

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 Prepositional Idioms 

 Look for, look into, look out, look out Pick, pick up, pick out
for, look forward to Pick – means to take
 Look for – means to try to find
Say: Kindly pick me as a team
something
member.
 Say: Graduates need to look for a
Pick up –means to lift something
job.
 Look into – means to investigate
from the ground.
something carefully. Say: Let’s pick up scattered
 Say: Kindly look into the root of the pieces of paper on the floor.
problem. Pick out – means to choose
 Look out – means to be careful something or someone from a
 Say: Look out! There’s a bus group.
behind you. Say: Pick out the bag that you
 Look out for – means to take care of like from all of these boxes.
 Say: Brothers look our for their  
younger siblings. grammar &correct
 Look forward to – means to usage/msjbullagay
anticipate something
Grammar Rules

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 Use of Articles

a an the
•an indefinite •indefinite article •a definite article
article; •for either a singular
•for singular or plural specific
•for singular
nouns that start noun which may start
nouns that start
with vowel with a vowel or
with consonant consonant sound
sounds
sounds
•the teacher with a
•a watch •an octagon
witty style
•a cellphone •an honest student •the eyes that twinkle

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 Use of Articles

Do not put an article before abstract nouns, before names of

a place, town, or country (except when a country has many
states or islands), and before names of materials
 
Examples:
Wrong: Please do not lose a hope.
Right: Please do not lose hope.
Wrong: We visited the Cebu.
Right: We visited Cebu.
Wrong: Many dream to be in United States.
Right: Many dream to be in the United States.
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 Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Pronouns
 shouldwanted
Wrong: Everybody agreetheir
withshare.
the
antecedent
 in person,
Right: Everybody in number,
wanted his and
or her share. in
gender.
Wrong: The gentlemen proved his worth.
Right: The gentlemen proved their worth.
Wrong: The muse got his sash.
Right: The muse got her sash.
 
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 Cases of Personal Pronoun

nominative case objective case possessive case

I me my, mine
We us our, ours
You you your, yours
He him his
She her her, hers
It it Its
They their their, theirs

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 Use the nominative case in the subject position or in the subjective complement position.

Wrong: Melvin and me renewed our license.

Right: Melvin and I renewed our license.
Wrong: The speaker is her.
Right: The speaker is she.
Note: Also use the nominative case in comparisons .
Wrong: Nisha is more adorable than him.
Right: Nisha is more adorable than he.

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 Use the objective case after a verb or a preposition.

Wrong: Please tell Keith and she to wait.

Right: Please tell Keith and her to wait.
Wrong: Between you and I, the secret is safe.
Right: Between you and me, the secret is safe.
Wrong: Angelo talked to Robin and she about the
house blessing.
Right: Angelo talked to Robin and her about the house
blessing.
 

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 Use the possessive case to show ownership.

 
Wrong: The house belongs to the Palaroan family. It is
them.
Right: The house belongs to the Palaroan family. It is
theirs./ It is their house.

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 Use the objective case after a verb or a preposition.

Subject-Verb Agreement

 
If the subject is singular, use the s-form of the verb (the verb that ends
in –s); If the subject is plural, use the base (the simplest) form of the
verb.
 
Wrong: A rose symbolize love and passion.
Right: A rose symbolizes love and passion.

If the subject is plural in form but singular in meaning, use the s-form
of the verb.

Wrong: Measles attack during summer.

Right: Measles attacks during summer.
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 Subject-Verb Agreement
Use the objective case after a verb or a preposition.

Subject-Verb Agreement

 
If the compound subject is connected by and, use the base
form of the verb.

Wrong: The hero and the director discusses the play.

Right: The hero and the director discuss the play.
Exception: If the compound subject refers to the same
entity, use only one article, and use the s-form of the verb.
Wrong: The hero and director promote the play.
Right: The hero and director promotes the play.

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 Subject-Verb Agreement
Use the objective case after a verb or a preposition.

Subject-Verb Agreement

 
If the compound subject is connected by or, the verb should agree
with the subject nearest the verb.
 
Wrong: Either the students or their teacher have seen the drama.
Right: Either the students or their teacher has seen the drama.
 
Intervening phrases such as, along with, and together with, do not
affect the number of the subject.
 
Wrong: The leader, along with his followers, sign the proposal.
Right: The leader, along with his followers, signs the proposal.

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 Subject-Verb Agreement
Use the objective case after a verb or a preposition.

Subject-Verb Agreement

 If a collective noun acts as a unit, use the s-form of the

verb; however, if the collective noun refers to the
individual members that make it up, use the base form of
the verb.

Wrong: The panel have a unanimous decision.

Right: The panel has a unanimous decision.
Wrong: The panel disagrees about the result of the
contest.
Right: The panel disagree about the result of the contest.

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 Subject-Verb Agreement
Use the objective case after a verb or a preposition.

Subject-Verb Agreement

Use the s-form of the verb for indefinite pronouns like each, either, everything,
someone, anybody, another used as a subject.

Wrong: Everybody want to have a break from the stressful work.

Right: Everybody wants to have a break from the stressful work.
 
All, any, some, more, most, and none may need a singular or a plural verb, depending
on the context in which they are used.
 
Wrong: All hope are gone.
Right: All hope is gone.
Wrong: Some of the pizza were eaten.
Right: Some of the pizza was eaten.
Wrong: Most of the pizzas was eaten.
Right. Most of the pizzas were eaten.
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 Subject-Verb Agreement
Use the objective case after a verb or a preposition.

Subject-Verb Agreement

Use the s-form of the verb for words that express amount, time,
distance. The same rule applies to company names, geographical
locations, and titles of literary works.
 
Wrong: Three hours were spent by the students in reviewing their
notes.
Right: Three hours was spent by the students in reviewing their notes.
Wrong: Procter and Gamble Philippines produce a number of
products.
Right: Procter and Gamble Philippines produces a number of products.
Wrong: “Four Sisters and a Wedding” make me laugh and cry.
Right: “Four Sisters and a Wedding” makes me laugh and cry

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 Use th e o bjective case after a v erb o r a p repo s itio n .

tense example function

Verb Ten s es

present go/goes indicates an action that

She goes to school daily. happens at the present time/
also used to express
conditions that are true
past went indicates an action that
She went here yesterday. happened in the past
future will go indicates an action that will
She will go there soon. happen in the future
present perfect has/have gone indicates a completed action
I have gone to Boracay. during an indefinite time and
an action that continues up to
the present
past perfect had gone indicates a past action
I had gone to Boracay before completed before another
I saw you. past action
future perfect will /shall have gone indicates a future action
I will have gone to Boracay completed before another
by the time you will graduate future action
next year. grammar &correct
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 Use th e o bjective case after a v erb o r a p repo s itio n .

tense example function

Verb Ten s es

present progressive is working indicates a long continuing

She is working now. action and an action going on
at the time of speaking
past progressive was working indicates a long continuing
She was working in  the action in the past
library.
future progressive will/shall be working indicates a continuing future
She shall be working here action
next year.
present perfect progressive has/have been working indicates an action that
I have been working here in started in the past but is
PSU. continuing up to the present
past perfect progressive had been working indicates a continuing action
He had been working here interrupted by another past
until he went abroad action
future perfect progressive will/shall have been working indicates a continuing future
By the time you will arrive, action completed before
your classmate shall have another
been working here. future action
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 VOICE of VERBS

 
Voice refers to the relation of the subject to the verb. If the
subject is the doer of the action expressed by the verb, the
verb is in the active voice; however, if the subject is the
receiver of the action expressed by the verb, the verb is in the
passive voice.

Do not shift from active to passive voice and vice versa.

Wrong: Ivan called Mariz and the assignment was completed.

Right: Ivan called Mariz and they completed the assignment

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 Adjectives in Series

 
When more than one adjective is in a sentence, the
following order should be followed: number, size,
shape, quality, color, kind.

Wrong: I want to buy cuddly, Australian, one, pink,

big, stuffed toy.
Right: I want to buy one, big. cuddly, pink, Australian
stuffed toy.

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 Comparison of Adjectives

Positive
  Degree Comparative Superlative
Degree Degree
good better best
bad/ill worse worst
much more most
little less least
lovely lovelier loveliest
honest more honest most honest

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 Adjectives as Subject

 
Adjectives, unlike nouns, are always in the singular
form.
 
Wrong: The olds need our understanding.
Right: The old need our understanding.
 

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 Adjective and Adverb Confusion

 
Example: She acts motherly and she is nurturing.
(adverb)
She is motherly and she is nurturing. (adjective)

Wrong: He thinks that the test is easily.

Right: He thinks that the test is easy.
Wrong: He easy found his way out.
Right: He easily found his way out.

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 Avoiding Dangling Modifiers

 Modifiers should be placed closest to the word they

describe.

Wrong: We saw the bird in the cage having colorful

feathers.
Right: We saw the bird having colorful feathers in the
cage.
Wrong: Written in bold letters, I typed the title.
Right: I typed the title written in bold letters.

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 Conjunction

Kind description example Sample sentence

 
Coordinate joins two or more FANBOYS  The team fights and
independent each member never
clauses gives up.

subordinate joins one while, since, They push through

independent  clause because, their goal until they
and one or more nonetheless, if reach the top.
dependent clauses unless, until

Correlative always come in neither…nor Everyone is not

pairs not only… but also only determined but
is also focused on
the goal.

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 Thank
you!

Godspee
d!

God bless you

all.

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