English Grammar /Spot The Error/csra:

 

ENGLISH GRAMMAR /Spot The Error:

ERROR SPOTTING IN ENGLISH GRAMMAR

When use of Articles :

e.g. 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.

e.g. 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.

e.g. 3

Game came to an end soon.

ans: The game

- we are talking about a particular game.

e.g. 4

Rich should help poor.

ans: The rich ... the poor

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

Errors in using Prepositions:

e.g. 1

Divide this apple amoung Robert and David.

ans: between

- amoung (to be used for more than two)

e.g. 2

Divide this apple between the girls.

ans: amoung

- between (to be used for only two)

e.g. 3

I go to school on bus / on bike

ans: by (for vehicles)

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

e.g. 3

She aims to do well in the exams.

ans: use aim ‘at’

- She aims at doing well in the exams.

e.g. 4

The patient is now free of danger.

ans: free from

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

e.g. 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:

e.g. 1

Rosy and Sarah is friends.

ans: are friends

- use plural verbs for ‘and’.

e.g. 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...

e.g. 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.

e.g. 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.

e.g. 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.

e.g. 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:

e.g.

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:

e.g. 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.

e.g. 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’.

e.g. 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:

e.g. 1

Much water are wasted.

ans: Much water is wasted.

- use ‘is’ - singular verb.

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

e.g. 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.

Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences:
1. People of diverse cultures live together in India.
People of diverse cultures live together in India.

2. Geoffrey Chaucer is considered to be the ‘Father for English Literature’ and the greatest poet of the Middle Ages.
Geoffrey Chaucer is considered by many to be the ‘Father for English Literature’ and the greatest poet of the Middle Ages.

3. The two first units of the text book are boring.
The first two units of the text book are boring.

4. She only lost her glasses in the stampede.
Only she lost her glasses in the stampede.

5. William Wordsworth is born in 1770 and helped developed a new literary movement called Romanticism.
William Wordsworth was bom in 1770 and helped develop a new literary movement called Romanticism.

6. He put of his coat.
He put off his coat.

7. He sat besides John.
He sat beside John.

8. There is nothing much selfish much you can do than come for work sick.
There is nothing more selfish much you can do than come to work sick.

9. Elimination for child lablour is undoubtedly for one of the biggest challenges facing our country.
Elimination of child lablour is undoubtedly for one of the biggest challenges facing our country.

10. The bird flew above the ocean.
The bird flew over the ocean.

11. It is a five – years integrated degree course.
It is a five – year integrated degree course.

12. One must finish his duty on time.
One must finish one’s duty on time.

13. Today, democracy is often assumed to be a liberal form at governance.
Today, democracy is often assumed to be a liberal form of governance.

14. Overeating is one of the more wonderful practices among those which think that they can afford it.
Overeating is one of the most wonderful practices among those who think that they can afford it.

15. The opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games takes place in the Maracana stadium.
The opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games took place in the Maracana stadium.

16. No less than forty persons were hurt in the accident.
No fewer than forty people were hurt in the accident.

17. It is one of the most memorable day in my life.
It is one of the most memorable days in my life.

18. I regard Ram my friend.
I regard Ram as my friend.

19. The mobile phone neither went dead or worked properly.
The mobile phone neither went dead nor worked properly.

20. One must finish his work in time.
One must finish one’s work in time.