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
- use on foot to mean we walk to school.
e.g. 3

ans: by (for vehicles)

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 friends 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: ones secrets to all

- one as a subject should use ones.

- 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

ans: The woman is so poor that he cannot save

The woman is so poor and she cannot save anyting.

anything.

- use so with that...not.

e.g. 3
She has been waiting for you since 3 hours.
- use since to denote the starting time of action.
- for for calculating time.
waiting for you for 3 hours.

Errors in use of Plurals:

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

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.
- use have -> plural verb.
- many is used for countable noun.

ans: Many students have turned up....