ERROR SPOTTING IN ENGLISH GRAMMAR

When Use Of Articles :

Example 1

It takes me a hour to reach the temple.

ans: an hour

- words beginning with ‘h’ such as:

- hour, honour, honest, heir historical (adjective) are considered silent, so the vowel following it takes ‘an’ for the article.
- hence an hour, an heir, an honour etc.

Example 2

An European visited in India.

ans: A European

- when ‘u’ or ‘eu’ takes a ‘u’ or ‘you’ pronunciation (‘y’ is a consonant) so the article ‘a’ should be used.
- hence a European, a university, a union, a unit, etc.

Example 3

Game came to an end soon.

ans: The game

- we are talking about a particular game.

Example 4

Rich should help poor.

ans: The rich ... the poor

- rich / poor represent the people representations use ‘the’

Errors In Using Prepositions:

Example 1

Divide this apple amoung Robert and David.

ans: between

- amoung (to be used for more than two)

Example 2

Divide this apple between the girls.

ans: amoung

- between (to be used for only two)

Example 3

I go to school on bus / on bike

ans: by (for vehicles)

- use ‘on foot’ to mean ‘we walk’ to school.

Example 3

She aims to do well in the exams.

ans: use aim ‘at’

- She aims at doing well in the exams.

Example 4

The patient is now free of danger.

ans: free from

- use free ‘from’ danger/risk/disease.

Example 5

She called at her friend.

ans: called on

- use called ‘at’ a place ... his friend’s house.

- use called ‘on’ a person -> means to visit.

Agreement Of The Subject And The Verb:

Example 1

Rosy and Sarah is friends.

ans: are friends

- use plural verbs for ‘and’.

Example 2

She or he have done well.

ans: has done

- when ‘or’ joins two subjects, the verb agrees with the second subject.

She or he is...

David or his friends are...

My friends or I am...

Example 3

The chief minister as well as his followers are at the meeting.	ans: - is
The boys with their teacher are out in the field.	ans: - are
The moon along with the stars shine at night.	ans: - shines

- when using ‘with / along with / together with / as well as’ the verb should agree with the first subject.

Example 4

Either my neighbour or her children is coming for dinner.	ans: are
Neither they nor I were mistaken.	ans: was

- when using either-or / neither-nor the verb agrees with the second subject.

Example 5

Each of them are England citizens.	ans: is
Everyone of the barrels are full.	ans: is
Not one of the boys are doing well.	ans: is
One of the boys are missing.	ans: is

- sentences using ‘each of / everyone of / one of / not one of’ use the singular form of the verb.

Example 6

None of them have arrived yet.	ans: has
None is genuine.	ans: are

- None of -> uses singular verb. (has)

- None -> uses plural verb. (are)

Errors In Use Of Pronouns:

Example

One must not reveal his secrets to all.

ans: one’s secrets to all

- ‘one’ as a subject should use one’s.

- reason -> ‘one’ does not indicate the gender-where male / female.

Errors In Use Of Conjunctions:

Example 1

As we were late so we apologised.

ans: As we were late we apologised.

- use either ‘as’ or ‘so’

- do not use both ‘as ... so’. Each sentence should use only one conjunction.

Example 2

The woman is so poor and she cannot save anyting.

ans: The woman is so poor that he cannot save anything.

- use ‘so’ with ‘that...not’.

Example 3

She has been waiting for you since 3 hours.

ans: waiting for you since 3 p.m..

- use ‘since’ to denote the starting time of action.

- ‘for’ for calculating time.

waiting for you for 3 hours.

Errors In Use Of Plurals:

Example 1

Much water are wasted.

ans: Much water is wasted.

- use ‘is’ - singular verb.

- reason -> ‘much’ is used for uncountable nouns.

Example 2

Many students has turned up for the seminar.

ans: Many students have turned up....

- use ‘have’ -> plural verb.

- ‘many’ is used for countable noun.