GRAMMAR III

Error Analysis

Introduction For this course you need the knowledge of Grammar 1 and Grammar 2. Every week we will deal with a number of sentences that contain all kinds of grammatical mistakes, in random order. You have to identify the mistake, correct it and provide a complete grammatical explanation. This may sometimes involve saying not just what the correct construction should be, but also explaining why that particular mistake is made. For example: We really like the cake you had baked yesterday. Error: had baked should be baked Explanation: the Past Perfect cannot be used here, because it has to refer to an earlier past, before another moment in the past. That is not the case here. Past tense must be used for an event completely in the past.There is an Adverbial of past time yesterday. In correcting the grammatical mistakes, you are not allowed to change the meaning of the sentence. You have to retain the intention of the writer of the sentence. All the sentences, both in the exercises and in the test, will contain at least one mistake. The sentences may contain other mistakes, such as spelling (therefor) or vocabulary (to answer on). We will indicate these during the course, but the sentences in the test will contain grammar mistakes only. These include grammatical spelling mistakes (he appearred). Note that we will not deal with bad style, so you are not supposed to rewrite sentences because you would phrase things differently yourself. Some topics will be discussed in more detail than in Grammar 1 or 2 (the Conditional sentence, Provisional Subject there, the Passive). In addition we will deal with some new grammar topics, such as Ellipsis, the misrelated participle, the Subjunctive, the Cleft sentence. We will use the book Practical English Usage, by Michael Swan. The course is also aimed at learning how to work with this book, which discusses many topics in alphabetical order. So in the exercises you will have to state the relevant sections in Swan and some class time will be devoted to finding the right information. There are various routes to the information you need. Sometimes you can go straight to the s of smell (which can be used as a copula). Other times you have to start from the index at the back. This means, of course, that you have to be familiar with the right grammatical terminology. At the test you are allowed to use the book, but it is not necessary to mention the section in Swan. In addition you are allowed to use the handouts on the Subjunctive. So where can you find the rules for the Explanation given above?

GRAMMAR III

Error Analysis

Exercises

p.1

The following sentences contain a number of errors. - quote the error - give your corrected form - state the section in Swan where you find the explanation/rule - and give the explanation/rule from Swan (in abbreviated form if necessary). 1. An example of this is the death of princess Diana that made a lot of people crying and visit her palace. 2. Would you feel attracted to one of the local restaurants, the employees will be only too willing recommending one you may like. 3. Since years there is an ongoing debate in the study of lower-back complaints. 4. New things every day is something they are used to have in the real life. 5. The pace of life gets even higher with every new generation of people which come into our world. 6. Activities, you thought were interesting and fun to do, might be quite boring after all. 7. With the computer the weaker pupils can avoid more easily confrontation with their teacher. 8. How do you explain a four-year old that the days of playing in the forrest or on the beach and picking your own bananas are over? 9. From the picture it will become clear where she is famous for. 10.Whom of you think that there are more men than women in the US? 11. You may remember that we have discussed this in our American History lesson in December. 12. In the meantime was Tiger Electronics busy developing a new must-have toy. 13. We need strict international laws because our climate is drasticly changed. 14. In the second sentence the past tense is used to express something what happened. 15. People are always thinking that I am a Dutchwoman who speaks French extraordinary well. 16. His comprehension of Dutch is not as well as a native speaker. 17. His only criteria for being a truly bilingual is that you use both languages more or less daily. 18. Most soap operas reflect a way of living that is most common for its viewers.

GRAMMAR III

Error Analysis

Exercises

p.2

The following sentences contain a number of errors. - quote the error - give your corrected form - state the section in Swan where you find the explanation/rule - and give the explanation/rule from Swan (in abbreviated form if necessary). 1. A fierce discussion is, already for ages, going on about the question if ancient objects should be returned to their countrys of origin (e.g. Egyptian artefacts) or if musea worldwide should be allowed to keep everything. 2. The leader of the rebels was very ill, but a spokesman for the rebels said that all was under control. If our leader will die, there will be taken the necessary measures to prevent chaos. 3. The article is about a study on the differences between man and women suffering because they quit smoking. Apparently man and women react different on stress when it comes to nicotine addiction. 4. The list is containing the names of all the student leaders of the 1989 pro-democracy movement which escaped to the west. 5. The Celts are important in the British history because they are the ancestors of much of the people in the Scottish Highlands, Wales, Ireland and Cornwall today. 6. I must inform you that in the future I will go to another travel agency, unless proper refunds are made as well as an explanation as to why things went wrong. 7. There is not a soul in our little country, who doesnt know the European Football Championship 2004 has started. 8. After searching for elegant shoes size 42 all afternoon, a shoes shop in a alley behind the church was finaly able to help her. 9. First of all I would like to say that I have been exchange student as well, fifteen years ago. 10. I could not resist to reply to your letter in the paper about the six weeks holiday for teachers. 11. I adopted my sisters daughter, who passed away four years ago. 12. For people who love nature is Sleeuwijk a great village because it is near the Biesbosch.

GRAMMAR III

Error Analysis

Exercises

p.3

The following sentences contain a number of errors. - quote the error - give your corrected form - state the section in Swan where you find the explanation/rule - and give the explanation/rule from Swan (in abbreviated form if necessary). 1. The location of the house is perfect: near the city centre and only a ten-minutes-walk from the university. 2. My first impression of her reading was good, but I know that when I would have to analyse it further, I will come across a few mistakes. 3. How did the scandal that Beckham had an affair with Rebecca Loos erupted? 4. Actually, I am not sure why this fact happens. Is there anyone who can explain this phenomena? If there was someone, would you mind to tell me, please? 5. Fans want to have everything that had belonged to their favourites because this is a way to feel themselves closer to them. 6. The woman in this picture has brown eyes, wears hardly no lipstick, and is probably royal. 7. Dont keep us waiting. We are already sweating for half an hour. 8. Although not completely finished, I am handing in my portfolio covering assignments from the book. 9. In the article is a company described which has made a shameless copy of Lego. 10. Her mother tongue is Dutch because she is constant into contact with Dutch people . 11. Mr and Mrs Stephens enjoy to have some fish and chips every now and then. 12. About the stability of the pronunciation of Standard English at present can be said that the pronunciation of a language will keep on changing although the speed of it may be low. 13. The Renaissance period saw the first dictionary of hard words. This dictionary contained 12,000 words of which half of them remained. The other half was lost. 14. It is very nice to learn that the ancient Egyptians used methods to build ancient temples which are unknown to us. 15. With a serious crime as murder, the man or woman has to do a psychological test in the Pieter Baan centre to see what personality you have. 16. Well, I read a lot. And I play guitar, and I do that for about four years now. 17. Many young animals learn complex behaviour through observation of its mother. 18. I still remember perfectly clear that it were always the boys in our class that made the most noise.

GRAMMAR III

Error Analysis

Exercises

p.4

The following sentences contain a number of errors. - quote the error - give the corrected form - state the section in Swan where you find the explanation/rule - and give the explanation/rule from Swan (in abbreviated form if necessary). 1. The book Heat and Dust describes the lifes of two women in two different times. It is the story of Anne who is looking for the history of her grandfathers first wife Olivia. 2. In the book, the narrator hasnt got a name. In the film, the story-teller is Anne. For more clearness in my essay, I shall call the narrator also Anne. 3. Anne realises that she has a much better life than Olivia, because she is not bounded to anyone. I think the position of women has changed between 1923 and about 1975. 4. So Anne could do what ever she wanted but Olivia sits constantly at home, waiting for her husband Douglas. Anne on the other hand does not wants to take account of someone at all. 5. When Anne comes to India, she needs to find a house by herself and build up an own life there. 6. In Conrad his books, which we have read, you see India and Africa in the time of the colonialism. 7. It can be said that a feeling of boredom is something what is typical for the age we live in. 8. A good thing about mobile phones is that you can leave a message without disturbing a meeting or spoiling ones sleep in the middle of the night. 9. There were so many problems that we all thought there had to change something. 10. The demonstrators wish to stop Israel to carry out its plans. 11. At night there is a lot of police in the city centre because when the people are drunk, they started easyerly a fight. 12. The first time the fighters can get a warning. The second time the police must give them a fine. By the thirth time they have to be arrest. 13. Put them in jail for a few days so they can think about there mistakes they made. And hopefully they never fight again. 14. The government must been less soft for this people, or they will do it again. 15. Dear Mr Richardson, The sightseeing tour was excellent, especially the part in that big church. But I wish we had more time to look around. 16. I think it is not good idea to have the disco on a Thursday because everyone will be tired the next day and dont learn anything in the lessons. I suggest to have the disco on Friday. 17. I am writing this letter because you asked me to do.

GRAMMAR III

Error Analysis

Exercises

p.5

The following letter contains a number of errors. - quote the error - give the corrected form - state the section in Swan where you find the explanation/rule - and give the explanation/rule from Swan (in abbreviated form if necessary). 4623 XZ Bergen op Zoom The Netherlands Andrew Hopkins 1e Avenue 221 0987 AA London England Daer Andrew 30 December 2003

First I want to thank you for the photographs in your previous letter. In this letter I would tell you whats in the newspaper every Mondaymorning. Every Mondaymorning in the paper you can read the same kind of articles. Person who went out in the weekend made lots of trouble. Often on Sundaymorning, when they went back to their houses, it ends in a quarrel. Last week some people asked a boy for a light. The boy hadnt a light with him and the people started to kicking and hitting the boy. A friend of the boy want to help him but he got also involved in the fight. Almost every weekend Im in the disco. I drink a lot of beer with my friends and we never had a quarrel. I think alcohol is the most worse cause of the quarrels. When you drink a lot of beer some people get aggressive. I think you can prevent a lot of trouble when the waiter may decide who he sell beer to. When he think people are drunk he can decide not selling beer to them. So he can prevent a lot of trouble. Are in England the newspapers on Mondaymorning also overwhelmed with these articles? Would you tell me in your next letter more about your weekend and quarrels in your country? I hope you write me back soon. Greats, mark

GRAMMAR III

Error Analysis

Exercises

p.6

The following sentences contain a number of errors. - quote the error - give the corrected form - state the section in Swan where you find the explanation/rule - and give the explanation/rule from Swan (in abbreviated form if necessary). 1. In the next meeting about our new play garden, on 13 December, we are going to talk about the financial contribution, you have promised us years ago. 2. Although the introduction of the euro was announced long before 1 January 2002, it still created confusion in stores, when paying the cashier behind the desk. 3. That afternoon got Michael a visit from an old schoolmate who was priest now. 4. First let me introduce myself. My name is Judy Templeton and since two years I live with my two children of four and ten years old in the Newton Street in London. 5. Although we have been enjoying to live here, something is lacking, in my view. 6. I am realy looking forward to lend a hand and I hope you do as well. 7. Therefore there occured to me the idea to build a playground for our children where they can play quite safe and in peace. 8. Winning the pools may mean that the breadwinners, usually fathers, shall stay at home, have less social contacts and bully their wife. 9. Well, I can imagine that if my lovely husband would be at home 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, I would probably become homicidal. 10. If you win the pools, your children can attend the more expensive universitys, no more stress concerning pension plans and perhaps quit your job. 11. Canadian government allows more seal hunt because it blames the seals for eating the fish which causes problems for fisherman. 12. Napoleon organised a expedition to discover in Egypt pyramids with the purpose of exposing them in a newly to build museum. 13. It is true that we have a much more better life now than hundred years ago, maybe we have it to good. 14. The question for the parents is should we sent our kid to a mixed school or to a single-sex school? On this last one there is a good discipline and also no difference between the students, physical I mean. 15. Normally it is the local governments task to look after OAPs, but if they would, it was not necessary for me to do this, is it?

GRAMMAR III

Error Analysis

Exercises

p.7

A. Are the following underlined verb forms correct? Explain in detail why (not). 1. Normal word order in English requires that the Subject come before the verb. 2. Of course it were the Spanish who first brought horses to Mexico. 3. Here we are, lost in the forest. If only we had a compass. B. The following sentences contain a number of errors. - quote the error - give the corrected form - state the section in Swan where you find the explanation/rule - and give the explanation/rule from Swan (in abbreviated form if necessary). 1. It turned out that only ten per cent of the people in the Netherlands does not want to be a organ donor. 2. Why are so little people registered as donors? Well, the most people just forget filling out or mailing the necessary forms. 3. When all people would use this form, it would become accepted and become the new rule. 4. In this essay the definite article is being used totaly random, and because of that it is annoying to read it. 5. One language may have a more higher prestige than others, like Modern English, who is largely descended from a dialect in the East Midlands. 6. Of this with extinction threatened species there can be seen only 200 specimens in the European zoos. 7. With this letter I want to inform you that since her foundation Greenpeace is strongly against the large-scale hunting of seals. 8. In those days it was normal in schools that teachers were strict and pupils punished. 9. Not until 1947 the zoo of Cologne has been reopened to the public. 10. Spelling mistakes are easily made when not properly practised.

GRAMMAR III

Error Analysis

Exercises

p.8

A. Are the following underlined verb forms correct? Explain in detail why (not). 1. I wish we had more time for the museum when we were in Cairo. Two hours was not enough. 2. It is essential that each country keep part of its natural heritage untouched. 3. As the Danish and English languages were quite similar, it were the inflections which brought about the greatest difficulties in mutual understanding. B. The following sentences contain a number of errors. Identify them and on your answer sheet: - quote the error - give your corrected form - state the section in Swan where you find the explanation/rule - give the explanation/rule from Swan (in abbreviated form if necessary) 1. In these writers novels you see India and Africa in the time of the colonialism. 2. Being famous is fun. You get privileges like going to a exclusive nightclub and you also make money very easy and quick (but thats just a tiny detail). 3. When there is a fight, there are always two or more people guilty. One starts with hit the other, but the other hits him back, so both people are guilty. 4. Only if more police is at a certain moment in the right place, the fighting can be stopped right away. 5. I think the government must be harder to the people, which have done something wrong. 6. Young kids should be playing outside because then they creating a better social life and also more exercise. 7. After we have found all the ing forms, I will point out - if it isnt already pointed out by a pupil about the use of to do. 8. Well, the travel agent warned us; when we would cancel the trip now, we would lose a lot of money. 9. You dont have to use the to-infinitive in this sentence (He denied to have done it.) because of the verb deny. 10. What hopes Masson to achieve with his book? Reading the last chapters about our climate, the message does not become very clearly to me.

GRAMMAR III

Error Analysis

Exercises

p.9

A. Are the following underlined verb forms correct? Explain in detail why (not). 1. In this case it were the people at the top who started the change. 2. He really behaves as if it were his natural right to get the best deals. 3. They lost no time in demanding that an election be held in Britain as well. B. The following sentences contain a number of errors. Identify them and on your answer sheet: - quote the error - give your corrected form - state the section in Swan where you find the explanation/rule - give the explanation/rule from Swan (in abbreviated form if necessary) 1. They mix up two words that sound similarly but such a mistake shall not lead to language change, I think. 2. Well, if we wouldnt understand each other anymore, there would probably start much fights among the people. 3. Sometimes one language is ousted by a social and political more dominant language. 4. She wants to go to Iraq to live there as doctor to help the people who had suffered from the war. 5. Nora says that Iraqi familys can be large too what is somehow connected to their religion. 6. Looking at differences between cultures, it is okay to give your own opinion in the Dutch culture. 7. Tesco supermarket claims that she cannot possibly test all her products for palm oil. 8. I think here the word indicates of whom the laptop is. 9. Ton is a 15 years old Dutch student at Nieuw Zuid VMBO who is not doing so well in the past two years. 10. When he was still in primary school, Jules has always tried to pretend being a simpleton because he did not want someone to know he was so intelligent.

GRAMMAR III

Error Analysis

Exercises

p.10

A. Are the following underlined verb forms correct? Explain in detail why (not). 1. As soon as William could adequately stand, Polly insisted he return to work. 2. Labov discovered that it were the fishermen that used the old-fashioned sounds most often. 3. What if we postponed the wedding to June? The weather would probably be better then. B. The following sentences contain a number of errors. - quote the error - give the corrected form - state the section in Swan where you find the explanation/rule - give the explanation/rule from Swan (in abbreviated form if necessary). 1. Many immigrants in a country still speak their own language, even when they are living there for the largest part of their life. 2. I think on this list there are not enough books, who are easy to read for VMBO pupils. Maybe there should have been paid more attention to this. 3. Furthermore, Id like to say that I didnt liked the book because of the disgusting scenes like the anal drug pills. 4. Only when the bus had left the town, I managed speaking to the girl next to me. 5. The languages of the Vikings and the English were similarly so there must be very little problems in understanding each other. 6. Each person has its own intuitions whether a sentence is syntactic correct or not. 7. Having just watched them on stage, most players now seem to be very tired. 8. It wouldnt be right when our Premier would demand the same rights for Puerto Rico as the other American states. 9. Because of the printing press and the spread of the education became the need for new words much more large. 10. During his survey in 1972, he has asked the salesmen in each store for the fourth floor and then made them to repeat the words.