CORRECTION OF SENTENCES - IMPORTANT EXAMPLES 1

 

COMMON ERRORS

 

The mistakes of English language can be divided into four categories like mistakes in verbs, nouns, and prepositions and miscellaneous.

 

MISTAKES IN VERBS:

 

WRONG			RIGHT
1. I am hearing some noise outside			1.I hear some noise outside
2. These grapes are tasting sour.			2.These grapes taste sour
3. The factory is belonging to my uncle			3.The factory belongs to my uncle
4. He is having a large family			4.He has a large family
5. The child is wanting her mother			5.The child wants her mother
6. She is looking  worried  about something.			6.She  looks  worried  about something
EXPLANATION: The verbs hear, taste, belong, look, want can’t be used in continuous unless in special cases. Some other verbs are love, hate, be, see, smell, think, suppose, remember, forget, believe, trust, know, understand, wish, owe, contain, consist.
WRONG			RIGHT
7.  I  have finished  my  homework  last night.			7.  I finished my homework last night.
EXPLANATION: The present perfect tense should not be used with adverbs or adverbs phrases denoting past time like yesterday, last week, on Sunday, in 2008 etc.  The past simple should be used.
WRONG			RIGHT
8.  When have you lost your pen?			8.  When did you lose your pen?
EXPLANATION: The simple past (not the present perfect) should be used in questions beginning with ‘when’.
WRONG			RIGHT
9.  She is taking milk every morning			9.  She takes milk every morning.
EXPLANATION: The simple present is used (not continuous) for habitual actions.
WRONG			RIGHT
10. We are waiting for him since four o’ clock.			10.We have been waiting for him since 4 o’clock.
EXPLANATION: The  present  perfect  continuous should be used with time phrases like for, since, how long
WRONG			RIGHT
12. Let us wait till he will finish his work.			12. Let us wait till he finishes his work.
13. When he will arrive he will tell us about it.			13. When he arrives he will tell us about it.
14. You will be punished if you will come late.			14.  You will be punished if you come late.
15. You can’t pass the exam unless you will study hard			15. You can’t pass the exam unless you study hard.
EXPLANATION: In clauses of place and of condition the Simple present tense should be used for a future action. The simple future should not be used.
WRONG			RIGHT
16. I would resign if I am you			16. I would resign if I were you
EXPLANATION:  The past subjunctive is used in the if-clause to refer to an imaginary or unreal situation.
WRONG			RIGHT
17. I wish I have a car.			17. I wish I had a car.
EXPLANATION:  The past subjunctive is used after the verb wish to indicate a situation which is unreal.
WRONG			RIGHT
18. It is time we leave.			18. It is time we left
EXPLANATION:  The past subjunctive is used after It is time + subjunctive to imply that it is late.
WRONG			RIGHT
19. I ran fast and so could catch the bus.			19. I ran fast and so was able to catch the bus
EXPLANATION:  Could only express ability to do an act, but not the performance of an act.     We should use was/were able to (or managed to) talk about ability + action in the past.
WRONG			RIGHT
20. He told to me about his misfortunes.			20. He told me  about his misfortunes.
EXPLANATION:  The correct pattern is ‘to tell somebody’ not ‘to tell to somebody’.
WRONG			RIGHT
21. Hari told that he had seen you in town.			21. Hari said that he had seen you in town (OR)  Hari told me that he had seen you in town.
EXPLANATION:  When used with a that-clause the verb ‘tell’ takes an indirect object like me, us, him, her.  The verb ‘say’ is used without an indirect object
WRONG			RIGHT
22. I want that you should work hard.			22. I want you to work hard.
EXPLANATION:  The verb want is used with to a to- infinitive, not with a that- clause.
WRONG			RIGHT
23. I suggest you to see a doctor			23. I suggest that you should see a doctor
EXPLANATION:  The verb suggest is used with that-clause but not with to-clause
WRONG			RIGHT
24. He enjoys to see films.			24. He enjoys seeing films
EXPLANATION:   The verb enjoy is followed by an – ing form, not by a to-infinitive
WRONG			RIGHT
25. I made him to do all the work.			25. I made him do all the work
EXPLANATION:   The verb  make  takes  a  plain infinitive, not to-infinitive.
WRONG			RIGHT
26. She called him as a fool			26.She called him a fool
EXPLANATION:   The verb call is not followed by as.
WRONG			RIGHT
27. The patient laid on the bed.			27. The patient lay on the bed
EXPLANATION:   The verbs lie (intransitive) and lay (transitive) are confused. Lie means ‘to be down’, ‘to be flat’; its V2 & V3 forms are lay, lain.  Lay means ‘to put down flat’, its V2 & V3 are laid, laid.
WRONG			RIGHT
28.He was hung for murder			28.He was hanged for murder
EXPLANATION:   In the sense ‘put to death by hanging’ hang, hanged, hanged are used. In other senses, hang, hung, hung are used.
WRONG			RIGHT
29. We discussed about the issue.			29. We discussed the issue.
30. He described about the process.			30. He described the process.
31. I have ordered for four cups of coffee.			31. I have ordered four cups of coffee.
32. I notified about my plans.			32. I notified my plans.
33. She remarks about her journey.			33. She remarks her journey.
34. She requested for my help.			34. She requested my help.
35. I am awaiting for your reply.			35. I am awaiting your reply. (or) I am waiting for your reply.
EXPLANATION:    The verbs describe, mention, notice, remark, discuss, request, order, await are transitive and are not therefore followed by a preposition.
WRONG			RIGHT
36. When will he reach there?			36. When will he get there? (or) When will he arrive?
EXPLANATION:    The verb reach is transitive in most cases. One reaches a place.
WRONG			RIGHT
37. He accepted to dine with me.			37. He agreed to dine with me  (or) He accepted my invitation
EXPLANATION:    The verb accept is not used with to- infinitive; it is followed by a noun. Accept=take  or  receive  what  is offered or given
WRONG			RIGHT
38. He robbed my watch.			38. He stole  my  watch  (or)  He robbed me
EXPLANATION:    To steal a thing, but rob a person or a place. Ex: They robbed the train.
WRONG		RIGHT
39. She entered into the hall.		39. She entered the hall
EXPLANATION:    We  enter(=go  into)  a  room,  a garden, place  but  we  enter  into (=take  part)  in  an  agreement  or conversation or business
WRONG	RIGHT
40. She did not attend to the party	40. She did not attend the party
EXPLANATION:    We attend to (=give attention to) our work, attend to what somebody is saying:   We attend  (go  to  or  be present)  a  meeting,  a  lecture, college
WRONG	RIGHT
41. Walking along the road, a lorry ran over him.	41. When he was walking along the road, a lorry ran over him  (or) Walking along the road, he was ran over by a lorry
EXPLANATION:     The original sense reads as if the lorry was walking.   The phrase ‘walking along the road’ is wrongly related to ‘lorry’.
MISTAKES IN NOUNS:
WRONG	RIGHT
42. The police has  arrived	42. The police have arrived
EXPLANATION:     The noun police looks singular but is in fact plural
WRONG	RIGHT
43. Where is my spectacles?	43.Where are my spectacles?
44. This scissors is mine.	44.This scissors are mine.
45. The pant is too loose for me	45.The pants are too loose for you.
EXPLANATION:     The nouns  spectacles,  scissors, pants (also trousers) are treated as plurals.   They have  no  singular forms.
WRONG	RIGHT
46. Ten  minutes  are  allowed  to each speaker.	46.Ten minutes is allowed to each speaker.
47. Fifty rupees seem a lot of money	47.Fifty  rupees  seems  a  lot  of money
EXPLANATION:     Plural nouns denoting measurement or amount take singular verb.
WRONG	RIGHT
48. Are the news true?	48. Is the news true?
49. Measles are sometimes serious.	49. Measles is sometimes serious.
50. Maths were taught by Ravi.	50. Maths is taught by Ravi.
EXPLANATION:     News, measles, mathematics, physics, economics, mumps  are singular forms so take singular verb
WRONG	RIGHT
51. This is a good news.	51. This is good news.
52. I have a work to do.	52. I have work to do.
53. She gave me good advices.	53. She gave me good advice.
54. I sold all the furnitures.	54. I sold all the furniture.
55. The scenery are beautiful in Kashmir.	55. The scenery is beautiful.
EXPLANATION:     The nouns news,  work,  business, advice,  paper,  furniture,  scenery, bread,   milk,   sand,   water   are uncountable  so  they  do  not  take plural verb forms.
WRONG	RIGHT
56. Will you have any tea?	56. Will you have some tea?
EXPLANATION:     Any is normally used in questions.  But in questions which are  really offered and requests, some is used.
WRONG	RIGHT
57. May I have little sugar?	57. May I have a little sugar?
58. I want to buy few papers.	58. I want to buy a few papers.
EXPLANATION:     The words little, few without a have a negative force and mean ‘hardly any’.  These words with a mean ‘a small quantity, but at least some’.
WRONG	RIGHT
59. These both girls are clever.	59. Both these girls are clever.
60. My all children have gone out.	60.All my children have gone out
EXPLANATION:     Both and all come before the, this, these, that, those, my, your, his etc.
MISTAKES IN PREPOSITIONS:
WRONG	RIGHT
61. He is suffering with fever	61. He is suffering from fever
62. She is angry upon me	62. She is angry with me
63. She started to Maripeda.	63. She started for Maripeda.
64. I can’t agree for your proposal	64. I can’t agree to your proposal
65. I prefer tea than coffee	65. I prefer tea to coffee.
EXPLANATION:     We go to a place, but start for a place.  Other  examples:  sails  for, leaves for.
WRONG	RIGHT
66. She is senior than me.	66.She is senior to me.
67. This cloth is inferior than that one.	67.This cloth is inferior to that one.
EXPLANATION:      The words senior, junior, superior, inferior,  exterior, interior take  to instead of than.
WRONG	RIGHT
68. Keshav is good in Mathematics	8. Keshav  is good at Mathematics
EXPLANATION To  be good/clever/poor/ quick/slow follow at instead of in.
WRONG	RIGHT
69. We walked from the station till the home.	69. We walked from the station to the home.
EXPLANATION Till is used for time, not for place. To is used for time or place.
WRONG	RIGHT
70. This picture is full with pictures.	70. This picture is full of pictures.
71. I listened his speech in the radio	71. I listened to his speech on (or over) the radio.
72. Students should write with blue ink.	72. Students should write in blue ink.
73. She got down the train	73. She got down from the train (or) She got off the train
74. He died from a heart attack.	74. He died of a heart attack.
75. I congratulated her for her success	75. I congratulated her on her success
EXPLANATION People e disease, but die from doing something. Ex: He died from over eating.
WRONG	RIGHT
76. He has cured form his fever	76.He has cured of his fever
77. He was operated for cancer	He was operated on for cancer
EXPLANATION: To operate on  somebody, something. for
WRONG	RIGHT
78. She prevented me to go there	78. She prevented me from going there.
79. My uncle arrived in the morning of 12th	79. My uncle arrived on the morning of 12th
80. We went there on last Tuesday	80.We went there last Tuesday
81. She will return in this week	81.She will return this week.
EXPLANATION: If parts of the days are followed by dates or days on used. We say in the afternoon, but on the afternoon of 5th, on Sunday morning. Time expressions beginning with last, next, this, that are used without a preposition.
WRONG	RIGHT
82. I travelled by Keshav’s car.	82.I travelled in Rani’s car
EXPLANATION: We travel by car, but in my/ Rani’s /someone’s car
WRONG	RIGHT
83. I contacted her in telephone	83.I contacted her over (or) on the phone.
84. She hit him by a stick	84.She hit him with a stick
85. I have opened an account in the local bank	85.I have opened an account with (or at) local bank
EXPLANATION: With is used for all instruments.
MISCELLNEOUS MISTAKES:
WRONG	RIGHT
86. One should obey his parents	86. One should obey one’s parents
87. I and Keshav go to market together	87. Keshav  and  I  go  to  market together
EXPLANATION: One should be referred to by one, one’s oneself. Good manners that one should mention oneself last.
WRONG	RIGHT
88. Open the tenth page	88. Open the book at page ten
89. She is fifteen years	89.She is fifteen years old (or) She is fifteen (or) she is fifteen years of age.
90. This garden is too beautiful	90.This garden is very beautiful
EXPLANATION: Too  means a very higher degree than very.
WRONG	RIGHT
91. We should pray God.	91. We should pray to God.
92. I must reply her letter	92. I must reply to her letter
93. She is my cousin sister	93. She is my cousin.
EXPLANATION: We pray to God for something.  We answer a letter, but reply to letter. There is no cousin something construction.
WRONG	RIGHT
94. We came by walk.	94. We came on walk.
95. My room is on upstairs.	95. My room is upstairs.
96. Please meet the concerned clerk.	96. Please meet the concerned.
97. My son went to abroad	97. My son went abroad
EXPLANATION: We come  by  train,  bus  etc. Upstairs is itself on.  Abroad is an adverb
WRONG	RIGHT
98. The climate of India is better than Africa.	98. The climate of India is better than that of Africa.
99. There  are  six  females  among  the visitors	99. There  are  six  women/ladies among the visitors.
100. I bought a pen for Rs. 10 and sold the same for Rs. 12.	100. I bought a pen for Rs. 10 and sold it for Rs. 12.
EXPLANATION:  Comparison between India climate and Africa climate. It would be discourteous to all Women ‘females’. It is bad practice to use ‘the same’ in place of ‘it’.