English Vocabulary from
- Before long there was no one there. (wrong)
- Long ago there was no one there. (correct)
- Explanation : 'Ago' means 'counting from now'; 'before long' means 'soon'.
- What for do you go to school ? (wrong)
- What do you go to school for ? (correct)
- Why do you go to school ? (correct)
- Explanation : 'For what' (reasons) means why. As the question word moves to the beginning of a sentence, the preposition may be left behind.
- This book is too interesting. (wrong)
- This book is very interesting. (correct)
- Explanation : 'Very' is a neutral intensifier whereas 'too' suggests something excessive.
- He behaved cowardly. (wrong)
- He behaved in a cowardly manner. (correct)
- Explanation : 'Cowardly' is an adjective and cannot be used as an adverb.
Showing posts with label Common Errors in English Usage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Common Errors in English Usage. Show all posts
September 27, 2016
Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 81
September 26, 2016
Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 80
- He losed a rupee. (wrong)
- He lost a rupee. (correct)
- Explanation : There are verbs that do not take 'ed' for the past tense. The past tense of lose is 'lost'.
- When he comes you must wish him. (wrong)
- When he comes you must greet (or welcome) him (correct)
- Explanation : As a verb, wish needs two objects (e.g. I wished him a good day).
- This boy always needs poking. (wrong)
- This boy always needs pushing along. (correct)
- Explanation : To poke means 'to prod' and is not appropriate here.
September 25, 2016
Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 79
- Do not play mischiefs. (wrong)
- Do not get up to mischief. (correct)
- Explanation : To play means 'to take part in something'. To get up to means 'to be occupied in'.
- I stood second in my class. (wrong)
- I was second in my class. (correct)
- Explanation : 'Stand second' is not wrong but in English, we rarely use it.
- I am reading at the high school. (wrong)
- I am at the high school. (correct)
- Explanation : 'To read' should be used to mean 'to peruse or to study books'.
- He did no fault. (wrong)
- He committed no fault. (correct)
- Explanation : To commit means 'to carry out'. We commit a mistake, fault or crime. The use of 'do' is inappropriate.
September 24, 2016
Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 78
- I cannot put on with my work (wrong)
- I cannot manage my work. (correct)
- Explanation : Put on (add to existing service) cannot be used in the sense of manage.
- I have ordered for a new racquet. (wrong)
- I have ordered a new racquet. (correct)
- Explanation : When used with an object, order does not need a preposition.
- I have disposed off my car. (wrong)
- I have disposed of my car. (correct)
- Explanation : Dispose of means 'to get rid of'. There is no phrasal verb 'dispose off'.
- I put up with him (meaning stayed). (wrong)
- He put me up. (correct)
- Explanation : 'To put up with' should be used only to mean to tolerate an annoying person or thing.
September 23, 2016
Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 77
- He went to school to know arithmetic. (wrong)
- He went to school to learn arithmetic. (correct)
- Explanation : We 'learn' before we 'know'. 'Know' is used when learning is finished.
- He knows to swim. (wrong)
- He knows how to swim. (correct)
- Explanation : He knows the technique or art of swimming rather than what the verb indicates.
- Later on he knew his mistake. (wrong)
- Later on he realized his mistake. (correct)
- Explanation : To realize means 'to' become fully aware of whereas to know means 'to have knowledge or information'.
- He cut his pencil. (wrong)
- He sharpened his pencil. (correct)
- Explanation : Sharpen means 'to make something sharp' whereas to cut means, 'to make an opening' or 'to remove'.
September 22, 2016
Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 76
- When I went there I found that the lion was disappeared. (wrong)
- When I went there I found that the lion had disappeared. (correct)
- Explanation : The second clause needs past perfect tense, and not the passive voice.
- I did not stop because he went out before I arrived. (wrong)
- I did not stop because he had gone out before I arrived. (correct)
- Explanation : If the past action occurred prior to another past action and is mentioned, it must be in the past perfect tense.
- I met a man who was my tutor 20 years ago. (wrong)
- I met a man who was my tutor twenty years ago. (correct)
- Explanation : Cardinal numbers from 1-9 are written in numerical forms, whereas, ordinal numbers are written in words.
- If I would have done this, I would have done wrong. (wrong)
- If I had done this, I should have done wrong. (correct)
- Explanation : The conditional clause cannot be in the future (or the past form of the future) tense.
September 21, 2016
Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 75
- Iron finds in many countries. (wrong)
- Iron is found in many countries. (correct)
- Explanation : Iron is the object to the verb find and the verb must be in passive voice if it is used as a subject.
- Always fair out a written exercise. (wrong)
- Always make a fair copy of a written exercise. (correct)
- Explanation : Fair out is not a verb. We make or prepare a rough or fair copy of something written.
- I filled water in the bucket. (wrong)
- I filled the bucket with water. (correct)
- Explanation : Fill is used to cause a container to become full (with water or something else).
September 20, 2016
Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 74
- He got down from his bicycle. (wrong)
- He got off his bicycle. (correct)
- Explanation : To get down means 'to descent'. We can say 'he got down the ladder'. 'To get off' is 'to dismount' which is the more appropriate expression here.
- He took out his shoes. (wrong)
- He took off his shoes. (correct)
- Explanation : 'To take off' means 'to remove from one's body' whereas 'to take out' means 'to take something away'.
- Please see my book. (wrong)
- Please look at my book. (correct)
- Explanation : 'To look at means to direct one's gaze in a specific direction' whereas to see means 'to perceive with the eyes'. The former is a conscious effort.
September 19, 2016
Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 73
- I said to him to go. (wrong)
- I told him to go. (correct)
- Explanation : To say is 'to utter something' whereas to tell is 'to communicate something to someone'.
- He said to go. (wrong)
- He told me to go. (correct)
- Explanation : If he uttered 'to go', he spoke that to someone. Hence, tell is the correct word.
- I told the teacher to excuse me. (wrong)
- I asked the teacher to excuse me. (correct)
- Explanation : We ask a question and not a request.
- I wanted that he should get leave. (wrong)
- I wanted that I should get leave. (wrong)
- I wanted him to get leave. (correct)
- I want to get leave. (correct)
- Explanation : The correct form depends on who is to get leave. If it is him, I wanted him to get leave. If it is me, I wanted to get leave.
September 18, 2016
Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 72
- He got angry before I said a word. (wrong)
- He got angry before I had said a word. (correct)
- Explanation : If an event occurred or was to occur before another event in the past and was mentioned earlier, the other event will be mentioned in the past perfect.
- This was going on since a long time. (wrong)
- This was going on for a long time. (correct)
- Explanation : If a period of time is mentioned without a starting point, it is indicated by for (and not since).
- I had been for walking yesterday. (wrong)
- I went for a walk yesterday. (correct)
- Explanation : We go for a walk rather than for walking. Secondly, the main verb should be in the past tense and not in past perfect.
- If I did this I shall be wrong. (wrong)
- If I shall do this I shall be wrong. (correct)
- If I do this I shall be wrong. (correct)
- Explanation : In the conditional sentences, if the verb of the conditional clause is in the past, the verb of the consequent clause should have the past tense form. If the consequent clause is in the future tense, the conditional clause must be in the present tense.
September 17, 2016
Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 71
- Much efforts bring their rewards. (wrong)
- Much effort brings its reward. (correct)
- Explanation : Much indicates quantity and cannot be used with a plural noun. Efforts can be used as a countable as well as mass noun (e.g., many efforts were made).
- Many villagers cannot write his own name. (wrong)
- Many villagers cannot write their own name. (correct)
- Explanation : 'Many' is a plural word and can occur with a countable noun (e.g villagers). The plural, noun phrase will take pronouns such as 'their', 'them', 'these' etc.
- Each and every person wore a hat. (wrong)
- Each person wore a hat. (correct)
- Everybody wore a hat. (correct)
- Explanation : 'Each and every' can be used together correctly only to convey very strong emphasis. Indian students are too fond of using both together even when only one of the two adjectives is required.
September 16, 2016
Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 70
- The gold is yellow. (wrong)
- Gold is yellow. (correct)
- Explanation : Names of metal do not need an article.
- Himalayas are mountains. (wrong)
- The Himalayas are mountains. (correct)
- Explanation : The Himalayas represent a range of mountains, and not a single moutain.
- The mankind should love the nature. (wrong)
- Mankind should love nature. (correct)
- Explanation : Generic expressions such as man or mankind don't need articles.
- Many are Gods of Hinduism. (wrong)
- Many are the gods of Hinduism. (correct)
- Explanation : God (with a capital G) is a unique concept in Christianity and other monotheistic religions whereas god (with a small g) is a deity.
September 15, 2016
Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 69
- Horse is use fuller than car. (wrong)
- A horse is more useful than a car. (correct)
- Explanation : When an adjective is a compound word (e.g. use full), we use more in the comparative and most in the superlative degree.
- From the two he is clever. (wrong)
- He is the more clever of the two. (wrong)
- He is the cleverer of the two. (correct)
- Explanation : When we compare two persons, the adjective cannot be in the positive form, it must be comparative.
September 14, 2016
Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 68
- What a fun! (wrong)
- What fun! (correct)
- Explanation : As a mass noun, fun does need an indefinite article.
- We had picnic. (wrong)
- We had a picnic. (correct)
- Explanation : As countable noun, picnic needs an article before it.
- Every people know this. (wrong)
- Every man or person knows this. (correct)
- Everyone knows this. (correct)
- Explanation : People is a collective noun and refers to human beings in general. It cannot be quantified by every.
September 13, 2016
Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 67
- He will spend his future life here. (wrong)
- He will spend his remaining life here. (correct)
- He will spend the rest of his life here. (correct)
- Explanation : For the rest of his life we may use his remaining life. As an adjective future means 'at a later time'.
- This is a worth seeing sight. (wrong)
- This is a sight of worth seeing. (correct)
- Explanation : When we use worth to suggest that a specified course of action is advisable, we use it after worth, and not before it.
- We have never seen a so good boy. (wrong)
- We have never seen so good a boy. (correct)
- Explanation : When so is used in the sense of 'to such a great extent', it modifies the whole noun phrase and comes before it.
August 26, 2016
Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 66
- I have no any friends. (wrong)
- I have no friends. (correct)
- Explanation : As 'no' means 'not any', we cannot use 'no any'.
- Both men have not come. (wrong)
- Neither man has come. (correct)
- Explanation : When both is negated, it becomes neither.
- Open your book at six page. (wrong)
- Open your book at page six. (correct)
- Explanation : A cardinal number (e.g. six) will always follow the noun (e.g., page) whereas an ordinal number (e.g. sixth) will always precede it (e.g. sixth page).
- He is elder than I. (wrong)
- He is older than I. (correct)
- Explanation : Though elder means older, it is used only when comparing two related people.
- He is more better than I. (wrong)
- He is better than I. (correct)
- Explanation : Better itself in the comparative form for good.
- He is worst than I. (wrong)
- He is worse than I. (correct)
- Explanation : 'Worst' is a superlative adjective for 'bad'. It cannot be used in a sentence where comparison is made between two people.
August 24, 2016
Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 65
- Everyone is frightened when they see a tiger. (wrong)
- Everyone is frightened when he sees a tiger. (correct)
- Explanation : 'Every' is a singular word, which when attached to a singular man like 'one' refers to all individual members of a group. So, it will take a singular pronoun.
- None of us have seen him. (wrong)
- None of us has seen him. (correct)
- Explanation : 'None' is a singular word, therefore it will take a singular verb.
- My books are better than my friend. (wrong)
- My books are better than those of my friend. (correct)
- Explanation : When comparing two things in a sentence, use 'that of', 'these of', 'those of'.
August 23, 2016
Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 64
- Each of these boys play games. (wrong)
- Each of these boys plays games. (correct)
- Explanation : The subject of the sentence 'each' is singular.
- We all did not go. (wrong)
- None of us went. (correct)
- Explanation : If all are excluded from art action, we use none.
- One should not waste his time. (wrong)
- A man / boy should not waste his time. (correct)
- Explanation : If one is the subject of the sentence the genitive for it is one's.
- 'Have you a pen ?' - 'I have not got'. (wrong)
- 'Have you a pen ?' - 'I have not got one' or, 'I don't have one'. (correct)
August 22, 2016
Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 63
- Our boarding is full. (wrong)
- Our boarding-house is full. (correct)
- Our hostel is full. (correct)
- Explanation : Boarding refers to an arrangement according to which pupils live in school during the term whereas a boarding house refers to a private house providing food and lodging to its paying guests.
- Give my B.C.s to all. (wrong)
- Give my kind(est) regards to all. (correct)
- Explanation : Avoid using short terms not in use.
- He hit an over boundary. (wrong)
- He hit a six (or, a sixer). (correct)
- Explanation : If a batsman hits for six runs, it is called a sixer, and not over boundary.
August 17, 2016
Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 62
- Some of my servant tells me. (wrong)
- Some of my servants tell me. (correct)
- Explanation : Some means at least more than one and needs a plural verb.
- The front / back side of the house. (wrong)
- The front / back of the house. (correct)
- Explanation : The terms 'front' and 'back' refer to different sides; noun, the word side is redundant here.
- I have hurt a foot-finger. (wrong)
- I have hurt a toe. (correct)
- Explanation : The five digits at the end of the human foot are called toes, and not foot fingers.
- He is a tall gentleman. (wrong)
- He is a tall man. (correct)
- Explanation : 'Gentleman' is a difficult word to use correctly in colloquial English. It seems to be best to use 'gentleman' when you are referring to a man's character (e.g. he is a real gentleman, while praising him; he is not a gentleman, while criticizing him), and to use 'man' to denote an adult of the male sex.
