Common Errors in English with Explanation .pptx

Common Errors with explanation

1. Common Errors in English Dr. T. Ramesh Babu , Associate Professor , Department of H&S, KSRM College of Engineering (Autonomous) KADAPA , YSR Kadapa Dist. Andhra Pradesh Cell:+ 91 9000201983

2. But isn’t one person’s mistake another’s standard usage? Often enough, but if your standard usage causes other people to consider you stupid or ignorant, you may want to consider changing it. You have the right to express yourself in any manner you please, but if you wish to communicate effectively, you should use nonstandard English only when you intend to, rather than fall into it because you don’t know any better.

3. 1.When he comes in, we went out. (W) When he comes in, we shall go out. Or When he came in , we went out. (R) Note: Problem : Tense concord 2. Being a poor father, the children could not go to school. ( W) Their father being poor, the children could not go to school.(R) Or Being a poor father, he could not send his children to school. Note: Unexpressed subject of – ing – clause is different from the subject of the Main clause. 3. Radhika did not give him the money. She thought he was telling a lie. (W) Radhika did not give him money, for she thought he was telling a lie. Or Radhika did not give him money : she thought he was telling a lie. (R) Note: Wrong use of punctuation mark: absence of linking expression.

4. He is keen not only on buying it but also eager to sell it for a profit. (W) He is not only keen on buying it but also eager to sell it for a profit. (R) Note: Wrong placement of ‘not only’ She went out to buy apples in a hurry. (W) She went out in a hurry to buy apples.(R) Note: Wrong placement of ‘in a hurry’ 6. She is clever, if not cleverer , than he is .(W) She is as clever as he is, if not cleverer. (R) Note: Use of ‘than’ in place of ‘as’ and wrong placement of if not cleverer. They would have liked to have bought. (W) They would have liked to buy it. Or They would like to have bought it. Note: Double use of ‘perfective’.

5. My father who is in Guntakal is a teacher. (W) My father , who is in Guntakal , is a teacher. (R) Note: Absence of commas. 9.Raja Rao is a scholar and speaks well. (W) Raja Rao is a scholar and a good speaker.(R) Or Raja Rao is a scholar and he speaks well too. Note: Coordination of ‘noun phrase’ ( a scholar) and a ‘predicate’ (speaks well). 10.Scarcely had he mentioned her name than her father left the room. (W) Scarcely had he mentioned her name when her father left the room.(R) Note: Use of ‘than’ in place of ‘when’.

6. 11. Each of them who visit her has to touch her feet. (W) Each of them who visits her has to touch her feet.(R) Note: Used of plural ‘visit’ instead of singular verb. 12. He has come back on 15 th . (W) He came back on 15 th . (R) Note: Used ‘present perfect’ with specific adverbial time . 13. She hardly knew him but she refused to go out with him. (W) She hardly knew him and so she refused to go out with him. (R) Note: Wrong usage of ‘but’ 14. He is a too good doctor. (W) He is a very good doctor. (R) Note: Used ‘too’ instead of ‘very’.

7. 15. She is having a new Maruthi Car. (W) She has a new Maruthi Car. (R) Note: Used progressive form instead of V1. 16. They cut off it’s tail. (W) They cut off its tail. (R) Note: Wrong usage of apostrophe. 17. He has come out with an unique proposal. (W) He has come out with a unique proposal. (R) Note: Wrong article used. Life like spider spins many webs. (W) A life like spider spins many webs.(R) Note: Absence of ‘a’ before a singular countable noun.

8. 19. They have been waiting at the bus stop from three hours. (W) They have been waiting at the bus stop for three hours.(R) Note: Wrong usasge ‘from’ instead of ‘for’ They left for the air port before we reached the hotel. (W) They had left for the air port before we reached the hotel. (R) Note: Use past perfect instead of past. We will try and help her. (W) We will try to help her. (R) Note: ‘try ‘ and ‘help’ are not two independent processes and so cannot be coordinated. Ravi asked the porter to carry his luggages . (W) Ravi asked the porter to carry his luggage. (R) Note: Luggage is never pluralised. Some nouns won’t have plural forms.

9. Linguistics are her favourite subject.(W) Linguistics is her favourite subject. ® 24.Where is the scissors? (W) Where are the scissors? (R) I and Madhu went back to the hostel. (W) Madhu and I went back to the hostel. (R) Note: Wrong sequence of subject position. 26. He wanted to buy a hammer and saw. (W) He wanted to buy a hammer and a saw. (R) Note: ‘Hammer’ and ‘saw’ are not like ‘cup and saucer’ ‘a’ has to be used before both the nouns.

10. He is a good doctor and so I don’t trust him. (W) Although he is a good doctor . I don’t trust him. (R) Note: Being a good doctor’ cannot be the cause for not trusting someone. So the use of ‘so’ is not correct. 28. Rani is equally as pretty as Rekha . (W) Rani and Rekha are pretty .(R) Or Rani is as pretty as Rekha . Note: Use as ....as instead of equally. 29. This our country is great. (W) This country of ours is great. (R) Note: ‘This’ and ‘our’ are both determiners. They should not co-occur. 30. Mumbai is the richer of all the Indian cities.(W) Mumbai is the richest of all the Indian cities.(R) Note: Use ‘richest’ instead of ‘richer’.

11. 31. She sings like he. She sings like him. Note: Used of nominative instead of accusative. 32. She has less tenants this year than last year. (W) She has fewer tenants this year than last year. (R) Note: ‘Less ‘ doesn’t go with a count noun ‘tenants’. 33. Raja Rao and myself planned to watch ‘ Swadesh ’ movie.(W) Raja Rao and I planned to watch ‘ Swadesh ’ movie .(R) Reddy and Reddy are tax consultants firm. (W) Reddy and Reddy is a tax consultants firm. (R) Note: ‘Reddy and Reddy’ is a firm name which is singular and the verb will be in the singular.

12. 35. She differed from her husband on several issues. (W) She differed with her husband on several issues. (R) Note: Here ‘differ’ takes ‘with’ not ‘from’. 36. One of my friend has come. (W) One of my friends has come. (R) Note: ‘one of’ requires the head word to be in plural. 37. Sree , as well as Lekha , have come back. (W) Sree , as well as Lekha , has come back. (R) Note: ‘as wee as’ addition doesn’t make the subject plural. Rakesh , along with his wife, are coming here tomorrow. (W) Rakesh , along with his wife, is coming here tomorrow. (R) Note: ‘along with noun’ addition doesn’t make the subject plural.

13. She ordered for a cup of tea to me. (W) She ordered a cup of tea for me. (R) Note: ‘ order’ doesn’t take a preposition before the noun and we use ‘for’ (not ‘to’) before the beneficiary.

14. I have visited Niagara Falls last weekend. (W) I visited Niagara Falls last weekend. (R) 2. The woman which works here is from Japan. (W) The woman who works here is from Japan.(R) 3. She’s married with a dentist. (W) She’s married to a dentist. (R) 4. Every students like the teacher. (W) Every student likes the teacher(R) 5. Although it was raining, but we had the picnic. (W) Although it was raining, we had the picnic. (R) 6. I enjoyed from the movie. (W) I enjoyed the movie. (R) 7.  I look forward to meet you. (W) I look forward to meeting you. (R) 8. I like very much ice cream. (W) I like ice cream very much. 9. Where I can find a bank? (W) Where can I find a bank? (R) 10.  I live in United States. (W) I live in the United States. (R)

15. 11. When I will arrive, I will call you. (W) When I arrive, I will call you. (R) 12. She doesn’t listen me. (W) She doesn’t listen to me. (R) 13. You speak English good. (W) You speak English well. (R) 14. The police is coming. (W) The police are coming. (R) 15. The house isn’t enough big. (W) The house isn’t big enough. (R) 16. Do you like a glass of wine? (W) Would you like a glass of wine? (R) 17. There is seven girls in the class. (W) There are seven girls in the class. (R) 18. I didn’t meet nobody. (W) I didn’t meet anybody. (R) 19. Where is post office? (W) Where is the post office? (R) 20. Please explain me how improve my English. (W) Please explain to me how to improve my English. (R)

16. 21. We studied during four hours. (W) We studied for four hours. (R) 22. She is success. (W) She is successful. (R) 23. My mother wanted that I be doctor. (W) My mother wanted me to be a doctor. (R) 24. The life is hard! (W) Life is hard. (R) 25. How many childrens you have? (W) How many children do you have? (R) 26. My brother has 10 years. (W) My brother is 10 (years old). (R) 27. I want eat now. (W) I want to eat now. (R) 28. You are very nice, as your mother. (W) You are very nice, like your mother. (R) 29. I came Australia to study English. (W) I came to Australia to study English. (R) 30. It is more hot now. (W) It’s hotter now. (R)

17. 31. They cooked the dinner themself . They cooked the dinner themselves. 32. Me and Raasi live here. Raasi and I live here.

18. 1. We received no informations . (W) We received no information. (R) 2. Where are my luggages ? (W) Where is my luggage? (R) Note: Some nouns are used only as singular. They have no plural forms: alphabet, luggage, furniture, information, paper, news, poetry, machinery, bread, advice, scenery, etc. 3. Mathematics are his favourite subject. (W) Mathematics is his favourite subject. (R)

19. 4. Measles have broken out in our area. (W) Measles has broken out in our area. (R) Note: Some nouns are plural in form but they are used as singular. Games and sports: Billiards , gymnastics etc., Diseases: Mumps, measles etc., Branches of learning: Linguistics, economics, physics, statistics, mathematics, politics etc. 5.His spectacles is new (W) His spectacles are new. (R) 6.My friend bought shoe yesterday. (W) My friend bought shoes yesterday. (R)

20. Note: Some nouns are used only as plural. They have no singular forms: shoes, trousers, shorts, scissors, spectacles, tongs, binoculars, alms, thanks, assets, liabilities, riches, savings etc., 7. Ashwithaa bought five dozens oranges.( W) Ashwithaa bought five dozen oranges.(R) Note: words dozen, score, hundred, thousand, lakh , million etc., do not take plural when preceded by a numeral . 8. I have two brother- in- laws. (W) I have two brothers- in- law. (R) Note: Plurals of compound nouns are formed by adding‘s’ to the main word.

21. Father –in –law Fathers –in –law Mother –in –law Mothers –in –law Daughter – in –law Daughter s– in –law Son –in – law Sons –in – law. Commander – in – chief Commanders – in – chief Passer by Passers by 9.The conductor said that there was no place in the compartment. (W) The conductor said that there was no room in the compartment. (R) Note: In this context the word is room. It is used to convey the meaning ‘space to occupy’.

22. 10.Dharani is my cousin sister. (W) Dharani is my cousin. (R) 11. Ganesh is my cousin brother.(W) Ganesh is my cousin. (R) Note: Do not add brother or sister to the word cousin. 12. Gopi is running sixteen.(W) Gopi is sixteen. (R) Note: Running is not used with age. 13. There are twenty females in the bus. (W) There are twenty women in the bus. (R) 14. Three hundred males attended the meeting. (W) Three hundred men attended the meeting.(R) Note: Male and female are used as adjectivies but not nouns. Men and women are used as nouns.

23. 15. It is my friend’s Akankasha’s car. (W) It is my friend Akankasha’s car. (R) Note: When two nouns are in opposition ‘s’ is added to second noun. 16. That book is your ’s not mine.(W)’ That book is yours, not mine. (R) Note: ‘s’ is not added to pronouns. 17. I and Ravi went to the exhibition. (W) Ravi and I went to the exhibition. (R) 18. Both he and you must attend the function. (W) Both You and he must attend the function. (R) 19. Raju invited me and you to the lunch. (W) Raju invited you and me to the lunch. (R)

24. Note: The first person comes last. The second person placed before the third person. 20. Every player must bring their bats. (W) Every player must bring his bat. (R) 21. One must love his parents.(W) One must love one’s parents. (R) Note: A pronoun must agree with its antecedent. 22. They who have not brought their text books should stand up. (W) Those who have not brought their text books should stand up. (R) Note: ‘They’ must not be used as an antecedent to ‘whose’, ‘that’, ‘those’ is used. 23. The children enjoyed during holidays. (W) The children enjoyed themselves during holidays. (R) Note: The verb enjoyed takes a reflexive pronoun if there is another object.

25. 24. Saritha is more taller than her sister. (W) Saritha is taller than her sister. (R) 25. He is more younger than I. (W) He is younger than I. (R) 26. Mount Everest is the most highest peak in the world. (W) Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world. (R) Note: Double comparative or double superlative should not be used. 27. Have you heard the last news. (W) Have you heard the latest news. (R) 28. The umpire was the latest person to leave the ground. (W) The umpire was the last person to leave the ground. (R) Note: Latest denotes time and last denotes position or order.

26. 29. Her older brother is an Engineer. (W) Her elder brother is an Engineer. (R) 30. Ganesh is elder than Sushanth .(W) Ganesh is older than Sushanth .(R) Note: Elder and eldest are used to refer to one’s family relations. Older and oldest refer to persons and things to denote age. 31.They do not sell fewer than ten bags of Dal. (W) They do not sell less than ten bags of Dal. (R) Note: Less refers to quantity and fewer to number. 32.We were present on both days.(W) We were present on both the days.(R) Note: When both is used as an adjective, it should be followed by ‘the’.

27. 33. John is an European . (W) John is a European. (R) 34. It is an one rupee note.(W) It is a one rupee note.(R) Note: ‘A’ is used before words beginning with a consonant sound. The words University, Union, European, One etc., begin with consonant sound. 35. Ramesh is a honest man.(W) Ramesh is an honest man. (R) Note: An is used before words beginning with a vowel sound. The words Honest, Heir, Honour etc., begin with vowel sound.

28. 36. Vijayawada is on Krishna. (W) Vijayawada is on the Krishna. (R) 37. Sakshi read Mahabaratha . (W) Sakshi read the Mahabaratha . (R) Note: ‘The’ is used before the names of Rivers, Seas, Oceans and Holy books. 38. My uncle lives in United Kingdom. (W) My uncle lives in the United kingdom. (R) 39. The culprit was sent to Andamans . (W) The culprit was sent to the Andamans . (R) Note: ‘The’ is used before the names of groups of Islands and descriptive names of countries.

29. 40. The higher you climb colder it gets. (W) The higher you climb the colder it gets. (R) Note: ‘The’ is used as an adverb before comparatives. 41. The iron is a useful metal . (W) Iron is a useful metal . (R) 42. The Delhi is the capital of India. (W) Delhi is the capital of India. (R) 43. The honesty is the best policy. (W) Honesty is the best policy. (R) Note: No article is used before material nouns, proper nouns, abstract nouns.

30. 44. The man is mortal. (W) Man is mortal . (R) Note: Article is not used before ‘man’ used in a wider sense. 45. What kind of a woman is she? (W) What kind of woman is she? (R) Note: Article is not used before the noun following ‘ kind of’ . 46. Sheela goes to the church daily. (W) Sheela goes to church daily. (R) Note: Article is not used before places visited for primary purpose : School, College, Church, Market, Bed etc.

31. 47. The secretary and the correspondent is in the office. (W) The secretary and the correspondent are in the office. (R) Note: When two nouns refer to different persons, the is used before both the nouns, if they refer to the same person, the is used before the first noun only. Eg . The secretary and correspondent is in the office. ( same person) 48. She is taking milk daily. (W) She takes milk daily. (R) Note: Simple present tense is used to express a habit. 49. He lives in Vijayawada for five years. (W) He has lived in Vijayawada for five years . (R) 50. They are working in our factory since 2000. (W) They have been working in our factory since 2000. (R) Note: The present perfect and the present perfect continuous are used with ‘for’ and ‘since’.

32. 51. The apple is tasting sweet. (W) The apple tastes sweet. (R) 52. I am having a problem. (W) I have a problem. (R) 53. This book is belonging to him. (W) This book belongs to him. (R) Note: Some verbs are not used in the continuous tense: Taste, Hear, Smell, Feel, Love, Hate, Like ,Shirk, Have, Own, Possess, Belong etc. They have left for Bangalore yesterday. (W) They left for Bangalore yesterday. (R) Note: Simple past is used with words and phrases of past time: ago, yesterday, last, then, at that time etc.