Yashal Incorrect Sentences

Learn English with Yashal
MOST COMMON 100 MISTAKES FOR ESL SPEAKERS
Anyone learning English as a Second Language will make mistakes along the way. It is inevitable.
Don’t worry. I’ve made more than my share of speaking mistakes while studying foreign
languages. The important thing is to learn from these mistakes so you become a more capable,
confident speaker.
1. Much, more, less (some nouns occur only in the singular form)
Incorrect: There is much dusts. There is more courages. He had less funs.
Correct: There is much dust. There is more courage. He had less fun.
2. Less, fewer (countable nouns)
Incorrect: There were less people.

Correct: There were fewer people.
3. Possession shared by two nouns
Incorrect: It was John’s and Peter’s car.

Correct: It was John and Peter’s car.
4. His/hers/its (If you don’t know an animal’s gender, you use “it”.)
Incorrect: The dog lost his bone. (You don’t know the gender.)
Correct: The dog lost its bone.
5. That/who
Incorrect: I have written to my sister that lives in France.

Correct: I have written to my sister who lives in France.
6. Me/I
Incorrect: Give it to I. Jason and me took the class. He read as well as me.
Correct: Give it to me. Jason and I took the class. He read as well as I.
7. This/that/those/these
Incorrect: These/those is my child. That/this are my children.

Correct: This/that is my child. Those/these are my children.
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8. Happy (well/good)
Incorrect: She feels well.

Correct: She feels good.
9. Quality (well/good)
Incorrect: She sings good.

Correct: She sings well.
10. Adverbs with “ly”
Incorrect: She spoke to him quiet. He shouted not as loud as the rest of the group.
Correct: She spoke to him quietly. He shouted not as loudly as the rest of the group.
11. Linking verbs take the adjective form (bad/badly)
Incorrect: The meat smells badly. I feel badly.

Correct: The meat smells bad. I feel bad.
12. Answering when there is an either/or question
Incorrect: “Either you go home or stay here.” “Yes.”

Correct: “Either you go home or stay here.” (Select one choice)
13. Subject/verb agreement
Incorrect: One of the planes are late. Each of the cars are fast.
Correct: One of the planes is late. Each of the cars is fast.
14. Plurals and Their Correct Verbs
Incorrect: The wages is little. The scissors are broken. The police is coming.
Correct: The wages are little. The scissors is broken. The police are coming.
15. Misplaced verb as modifier (If you put the modifier in a different place in the
sentence, it means something different.)
Incorrect: Josh threatened to divorce her often. (This is not what you intend to say.)
Correct: Josh often threatened to divorce her.
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16. Misplaced noun as modifier
Incorrect: We gave the flowers to the customer in the refrigerator.

Correct: We gave the flowers in the refrigerator to the customer.
17. Misplaced adverbs (Be careful where the adverb is placed in the sentence as it has a
different meaning.)
Incorrect: She almost washed all of the dishes. He offered to paint the fence last night.
(This is not what you intend to say.)
Correct: She washed almost all of the dishes. Last night, he offered to paint the fence.
18. Omission of second part of comparison
Incorrect: Carla ranks Mary higher than Betty.

Correct: Carla ranks Mary higher than she ranks Betty.
19. Any other
Incorrect: Alaska is bigger than any state in the United States.

Correct: Alaska is bigger than any other state in the United States.
20. Parallel verb phrases
Incorrect: She was late for work and fired by her boss.
Correct: She was late for work and was fired by her boss.
21. Old friend/long time
Incorrect: She was my old friend. (You may have known her for a long time, but she might
be offended if you use the word “old” as it implies age.)
Correct: She was a friend who I have known for a long time.
22. Parallelism and verb agreement
Incorrect: He learned to play tennis, to swim and sail.

Correct: He learned to play tennis, to swim and to sail.
23. Avoid lengthy sentence beginnings that offer nothing to the sentence
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Incorrect: It goes without saying it is a nice day … With reference to your question I don’t
really know … At this point in time I would like to work for the bank …
Correct: It is a nice day … I don’t really know … I would like to work for the bank …
24. Redundant phrases

Incorrect: advanced planning, close proximity, end results, grateful thanks. Habitual
customs, local residents, mutual cooperation, old adage, past history, self-confessed, successful
achievements, true facts, usual customary, young teenager, absolute truth, redo again
Correct: Use one word or the other not two words that mean nearly the same thing
25. Circumlocution/talking around the subject Incorrect/correct: ahead of schedule/early,

am in possession/have, at an early date/soon, at this point in time/now, best of health/well,
caused injuries to/injured, draw attention to/point out, during the time that/while, give rise
to/cause, in advance of/before, in the event that/if, in this day and age/today, made a
statement saying/stated or said, made an escape/escaped, owing to the fact that/because, put
in an appearance/appeared, render assistance to/help, succumbed to injuries/died, take action
on the issue/acted, the reason why is that/because, this is a topic that/topic, was of the opinion
that/thought, was witness to/saw
26. An/a
Incorrect: It is a old television set, but it still works. It is an costly purchase.

Correct: It is an old television set, but it still works. It is a costly purchase.
27. Alternative/alternate
Incorrect: We will alternative playing the video games. The salad is a healthier alternate.
Correct: We will alternate playing the video games. The salad is a healthier alternative.
28. Amicable (used to describe arrangements or settlements agreed peacefully by

parties)/ Amiable (used to describe people who are kind, gentle and friendly)
Incorrect: The soccer teams were amicable

Correct: The soccer teams were amiable
29. Among/between
Incorrect: She could not decide among the two guys.

Correct: She could not decide between the two guys.
30. Beside (means “next to”)/besides (means “in addition to”)

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Incorrect: Ask him to sit besides me.

Correct: Ask him to sit beside me.
31. Bimonthly (every 2 months)/Semi-monthly (2 times a month)
Incorrect: I get paid bimonthly (every 2 months when you want to say every 2 months).
Correct: I get paid semi-monthly (every 2 months).
32. Bring (action towards)/take (action away)
Incorrect: He will take the book to his friend’s.

Correct: He will bring the book to this friend’s.
33. Can (applies ability)/may (asks permission)
Incorrect: I may drive because I passed the driving test.

Correct: I can drive because I passed the driving test.
34. Deadly (if can cause death)/deathly (like the silence of death but does not kill)
Incorrect: A bee sting can be deathly.

Correct: A bee sting can be deadly.
35. Farther (refers to physical distance)/further (refers to degree or extent)
Incorrect: We will drive no further tonight.

Correct: We will drive no farther tonight.
36. Had ought/ought (ought is not used with helping verb)
Incorrect: They had ought to call the pizza delivery.

Correct: They ought to call the pizza delivery.
37. Hardly/barely/scarcely
Incorrect: He was not hardly/barely/scarcely finished with the paper.

Correct: He was hardly/barely/scarcely finished with the paper
38. Kind of/sort of/type of/variety of (never use “a” or “an” after these expressions)
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Incorrect: It was kind of a hot day.

Correct: It was kind of hot today.
39. Last (that what comes at the end)/latest (last in time, but not necessarily the final
occurrence)
Incorrect: It is the latest game of the season.

Correct: It is the last game of the season.
40. Lay/lie/laid (to put down) – lie/lay/lain (to recline or repose)
Incorrect: I will lie the paper on the table.

Correct: I will lay the paper on the table.
41. Learn (acquire information)/teach (impart knowledge)
Incorrect: I will learn the English to him.

Correct: I will teach the English to him.
42. Presently (soon or shortly)/at present (now, currently, at this time)
Incorrect: Presently, the boss is in his office.

Correct: At present, the boss is in his office.
43. Regardless (despite)/irregardless (a nonstandard word)
Incorrect: Irregardless of what you want, the restaurant does not have it.
Correct: Regardless of what you want, the restaurant does not have it.
44. Rare (implies value)/scarce (applied to ordinary things that are no longer in abundant)
Incorrect: The painting was very scarce.

Correct: The painting was very rare.
45. Future tense
Incorrect: Tomorrow we go shopping.

Correct: Tomorrow we will go shopping.
46. Since/for
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Incorrect: I’ve been in America since 3 months.

Correct: I’ve been in America for 3 months.
47. Adjectives in right order
Incorrect: Have you bought the blue china antique vase? I like ice cream vanilla the most.
Correct: Have you bought the antique blue china vase? I like vanilla ice cream the most.
48. Work/job
Incorrect: My boyfriend has a new work.

Correct: My boyfriend has a new job.
49. Misused Irony
Incorrect: It’s a free ride if you pay.

Correct: You need to pay.
50. Couldn’t care less (not care at all)/could care less (care a little but not much)
Incorrect: I couldn’t care less that it is raining (to mean not to care at all when you care a
little).
Correct: I could care less that it is raining.
51. Literally (event must happen)/figuratively (event could not happen)
Incorrect: He literally flew out the door.

Correct: He figuratively flew out the door.
52. Repeating subject
Incorrect: My English it is improving. My friend Mary she is going out with me.
Correct: My English is improving. My friend Mary is going out with me.
53. Incorrect preposition
Incorrect: In January 13th, I will be twenty.

Correct: On January 13th, I will be twenty.
54. Nobody/anybody
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Incorrect: At the party, I didn’t meet nobody.

Correct: At the party, I didn’t meet anybody.
55. Possessive
Incorrect: She lives with she’s father.

Correct: She lives with her father.
56. Of come/have come
Incorrect: I would of come if I had a car.

Correct: I would have come if I had a car.
57. Loan/borrow
Incorrect: I loaned the book from the library.

Correct: I borrowed the book from the library.
58. Grade/year
Incorrect: I am in the third grade of college. My little brother is in the third year of school.
Correct: I am in the third year of college. My little brother is in the third grade of school.
59. Irregular plurals
Incorrect: I saw two deers in the woods. My foots hurt.

Correct: I saw two deer in the woods. My feet hurt.
60. Confusion over wording of idiom
Incorrect: The boss told me to dot my t’s and cross my i’s.

Correct: The boss told me to dot my i’s and cross my t’s.
61. Was/were after “if” and “wish”
Incorrect: If I was going to the movies … I wish I was seeing an action thriller.
Correct: If I were going to the movies … I wish I were seeing an action thriller.
62. Answering a common expression with a question
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Incorrect: “See you later!” “When?”

Correct: “See you later!” “Sure, good bye!”
63. Confusion over gender
Incorrect: My mother will be coming to America. He is excited.

Correct: My mother will be coming to America. She is excited.
64. Themself/themselves
Incorrect: They cooked dinner by themself.

Correct: They cooked dinner by themselves.
65. Comfortable/convenient
Incorrect: Is that chair convenient for you? Is it comfortable that I come over to your
apartment?
Correct: Is that chair comfortable for you? Is it convenient that I come over to your
apartment?
66. Expressing that you are sorry
Incorrect: I am sorry to her.

Correct: I apologized to her.
67. Look/see/watch verbs
Incorrect: I will see for you. I will look the movie.

Correct: I will look/watch for you. I will see/watch the movie.
68. Differences between want/hope/expect
Incorrect: I want that the store has a funny video.

Correct: I hope/expect that the store has a funny video.
69. Very/really
Incorrect: I felt very fantastic.

Correct: I felt really fantastic.
70. “Played” as in having fun

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Incorrect: (If in reference to adults, and if not in a sport or a game) I played with my friends
Friday night.
Correct: I hung out/went out/had fun with my friends Friday night.
71. Superlatives
Incorrect: It is more hot now.

Correct: It is hotter now.
72. Most/all/some
Incorrect: Most of Koreans like kimchi.

Correct: Most Koreans like kimchi or Most of the Koreans I know like kimchi.
73. Do you? Would you? (asking at the present time)
Incorrect: Do you like a glass of wine?

Correct: Would you like a glass of wine?
74. Missing word(s)
Incorrect: My cousin is having 4 cats. Although I wasn’t born, I feel like a real American. I’m
from Italy, but I’ve been living for 4 years. I tried eating American food at restaurants, but now I
cook myself as much as I can.
Correct: My cousin’s cat is having 4 kittens. Although I wasn’t born here, I feel like a real
American. I’m from Italy, but I’ve been living her for 4 years. I tried eating American food at
restaurants, but now I cook it myself as much as I can.
75. Misuse of plural
Incorrect: Someday, I’ll find the men to marry.

Correct: Someday, I’ll find the man to marry.
76. All/over
Incorrect: I want to travel all/over the world.

Correct: I want to travel all over the world (use both words together).
77. Incorrect use of word form
Incorrect: Her father paid for her fly to Canada. He has been eaten at expensive
restaurants.
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Correct: Her father paid for her flight to Canada. He has been eating at expensive
restaurants.
78. By my own – on my own/by myself
Incorrect: I got the new job by my own.

Correct: I got the new job on my own/by myself.
79. In my point of view – From …/In my view …
Incorrect: In my point of view, the language learning program really helps.

Correct: From my point of view, the language learning program really helps or In my view,
the language program really helps.
80. Do/make
Incorrect: I need to do my bed. I need to make my makeup. Can you make me a favor?
Correct: I need to make my bed. I need to do my makeup. Can you do me a favor?
81. I suggested them to/I suggest that they
Incorrect: I suggested them to go swimming.

Correct: I suggested that they go swimming.
82. The/my/his
Incorrect: I go to the house (the house is yours). He drove the car (the car is his).
Correct: I am going to my house. He drove his car.
83. On/in
Incorrect: I was born on 1988.

Correct: I was born in 1988.
84. Day/date answer to a question
Incorrect: “What day were you born?” “1990”

Correct: “What day were you born?” “The 27th.”
85. Then (reference to time)/than (reference to comparison)
Incorrect: I can speak much better then before.

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Correct: I can speak much better than before.
86. In/at
Incorrect: My flight departs in 5:00 p.m. It is at 15 minutes from now.

Correct: My flight departs at 5:00 p.m. It is in 15 minutes from now.
87. During/for
Incorrect: My sister studied during five hours. She studied for the FOOTBALL GAME.
Correct: My sister studied for five hours. She studied during the football game.
88. Always go/go always
Incorrect: I go always to school by bus.

Correct: I always go to school by bus.
89. Using a thesaurus so the words are more formal and don’t fit
Incorrect: I was crusading/locomoting home from work.

Correct: I was coming home from work.
90. Late/lately
Incorrect: I always sleep lately. Late, I have been going to the movies.
Correct: I always sleep late. Lately, I have been going to the movies.
91. Who/whom
Incorrect: His boss was the one whom gave him the raise. Who were they talking about?
Please help whomever needs it.
Correct: His boss was the one who gave him a raise. Whom were they talking about?
Please help whoever needs it.
92. Possessive case
Incorrect: I would like the amount of gas to be $40.00.

Correct: I would like $40 worth of gas.
93. Making one syllable words that end in “ed” into two syllable words
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Incorrect: I chang – ged my mind.

Correct: I changed my mind.
94. Having difficulty pronouncing certain vowel sounds and letter sounds (th, ch, j, ld, rd)
and leaving off endings completely
Incorrect: I would like to go to the batroom (bathroom). It is a hard wod (word) to say. The
weather is very cod (cold). I see the ba (bear).
Correct: bathroom, word, cold, bear
95. Saying impolite expression(s)
Incorrect: Can I have more (when eating at someone’s house and the person is not your
very closest friend)? You sure goofed up or that’s not very organized (to your boss). I have to go
to the bathroom (have to use the restroom).
Correct: Wait to be asked for seconds and then say Yes, I really like … or Yes, please. To
your boss say, Do you need any help or Perhaps it could be organized this way … Say, I have to
use the restroom or where is the restroom?
96. Ending sentences with the word “but”
Incorrect: I would like to go, but.

Correct: I would like to go, but (finish the sentence or don’t use the connecting word). I
would like to go, but I can’t.
97. Accurate word choice
Incorrect: She was boring in class (the teacher or the student?).

Correct: Mrs. Jones (the teacher) was boring in class. I was bored with the class (student).
98. Could be better than that/Couldn’t be better than that
Incorrect: It could be better than that (when it is the best)! It couldn’t be better than that
(when there is need for improvement)!
Correct: It couldn’t be better than that (when it is the best)! It could be better than that
(when there is room for improvement)!
99. Using double negatives
Incorrect: I don’t need not to be upset. I don’t want no coffee.

Correct: I don’t need to be upset. I don’t want any coffee.
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100. Stumbling for word choice
Incorrect: I am all wet (hot). I can’t read (implying you don’t know how to read as in a
menu but you really can’t see to read the menu).
Correct: I am all sweaty. I can’t see to read the menu.
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53 PARTS OF SPEECH MISTAKES
Part- I: SUBJECT – VERB AGREEMENT
1). Two or more Singular Subjects connected by and usually take a Verb in the Plural.
For example,
Incorrect- Hari and Ram is here.

Correct- Hari and Ram are here.
2). If two Singular Nouns refer to the same person or thing, the Verb must be Singular.
Incorrect- The Secretary and Principal are coming.

Correct- The Secretary and Principal is coming.
(Here the same person is .Secretary as well as Principal)
3). If the Singular Subjects are preceded by each or every, the Verb is usually Singular.
For example,
Incorrect- Every boy and girl were ready.

Correct- Every boy and girl was ready.
4). Two or more Singular Subjects connected by or, nor, either ….. or, neither …. nor take a
Verb in the Singular.
For example,
Incorrect- Neither he nor I were there.

Correct- Neither he nor I was there.
5). When the Subjects joined by ‘or/nor are of different numbers, the Verb must be Plural,
and the Plural Subject must be placed next to the Verb.
For example,
lncorrect- Neither the Assistant Masters nor the Headmaster was present.
Correct- Neither the Headmaster nor the Assistant Masters were
present. ‘
6). When the Subjects joined by or, nor are of different persons, the Verb agrees in person
with the one nearest to it.
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For example,
Incorrect- Either he or I is mistaken.

Correct- Either he or I, am mistaken.
7). A Collective Noun takes a Singular Verb when the collection is thought of as a whole, a
Plural Verb when the individuals of which it is composed are thought of.
For example,
Correct- The Council has chosen the President.

Correct– The military were called out.
8). Some Nouns which are singular in form but plural in meaning, take a Plural Verb.
For example,
Incorrect-Mathematics are a branch of study in every school.

Correct-Mathematics is a branch of study in every school.
9). Words joined to a Singular Subject by with, together with, in addition to, or, as well as,
etc. are parenthetical, and therefore do not affect the number of the Verb.
For example,
Incorrect- The Chief, with all his men, were massacred

Correct-The chief, with all his men, was massacred.
10). When the Subject of the Verb is a Relative Pronoun care should be taken to see that the
Verb agrees in Number and Person with the Antecedent of the relative.
For example,
Incorrect- I, who is your friend, will guard your interests.

Correct- I, who am your friend will guard your interests.
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Part- II: USES OF PARTICIPLES AND INFINITIVES
11). Ask, advise, allow, command, force, forbid, invite, encourage, compel, beg, order,
imagine, instruct, permit, persuade, tell, require, remind, teach, etc. are followed by Object +
To +V2
For example,
Incorrect- He advised to do it by me.

Correct- He advised me to do it.
But if these are used in Passive Voice, then they are followed by To +V,.
For example,
Correct- She was permitted to go with him.
12). Know is followed by how/ where/when/why and Infinitive.
For example,
Incorrect- I know to write a letter.

Correct- I know how to write a letter.
13). After let, bid, behold, watch, see, feel, make etc. we use Bare-Infinitive and not To-
infinitive.
For example,
Incorrect- I heard him to speak on several subjects.

Correct- I heard him speak on several subjects.
14). Bare Infinitive is used after Modal Auxiliaries (can, could, may, might, shall, should, will,
would, must, dare not, need not).
For example,
Incorrect- You need not to work hard.

Correct- You need not work hard.
15). Had better, had rather, had as soon … as…, had sooner etc. are followed by Bare
Infinitive.
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For example,
Incorrect- He had better to go now.

Correct- He had better go now.
16). Conjunction than is also followed by Bare Infinitive.
For example,
Incorrect- He had better read than to write.

Correct- He had better read than write.
17). When but is used as a Preposition and preceded by any form of the Verb do, then but is
followed with Bare Infinitive.
Incorrect- He did nothing but to wander.

Correct- He did nothing but wander.
18). Every Participle must have a Subject of Reference.
For example,
Incorrect- Being a rainy day Vijay decided to stay at home.

Correct- It being a rainy day Vijay decided to stay at home.
19). For completed action Having + Va is used in Active Voice, whereas Having + been + Va or
Being + Va is used in Passive Voice. After should not be used in such a sentence.
For example,
Incorrect- After the leader having been killed, the followers ran away.
Correct- The leader having been killed, the followers ran away.
20). Participles like considering, judging, referring, concerning, regarding, viewing, broadly
speaking etc. do not take any Subject of Reference.
For example,
Correct – Considering the case, I took the decision.
Here I is not a Subject of Reference of considering. So, there is no Subject of Reference for
‘considering, still the sentence is correct.
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Part- III: USES OF VERBS
21). When there are two Subjects in a sentence and they are not in the same Number, then
we must have to use separate Auxiliaries (is, are, am, was, were, have, has) for both of them.
For example,
Incorrect- Three- killed and one were injured.

Correct- Three were killed and one was injured.
22). A single Verb should be made to serve two Subjects, only when the form of Verb is same
for both the subjects.
Incorrect- I am seventeen years old and my sister fourteen.

Correct- I am seventeen years old and my sister is fourteen.
23). Two auxiliaries can be used with one principal Verb, only when the form of the principal
Verb is appropriate to both the auxiliaries. ‘
Incorrect- He never has, and never will take such strong measures.
Correct- He never has taken, and never will take such strong measures.
24). When there is only one auxiliary to two principal Verbs it should be correctly associated
with the both.
Incorrect- Ten candidates have passed one failed.

Correct- Ten candidates have passed, one has failed.
25). A Past Tense in the main clause should be followed by a Past Tense in the subordinate
clause.
Incorrect- He succeeded because he works hard.

Correct- He succeeded because he worked hard.
26). A Past Tense in main clause may be followed by a Present Tense

In the subordinate clause when the subordinate clause expresses a universal truth.
Incorrect- Our teacher said that the earth moved round the sun.
Correct- Our teacher said that the earth moves round the sun.
27). When the subordinate clause comes after ‘lest’, the auxiliary Verb ‘should’ must be
used, whatever be the Tense of the Verb in the main clause.
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Incorrect- We start early lest we shall miss the train.

Correct- We start early lest we should miss the train.
28). An Adverb or Adverbial phrase should not be placed between ‘to’ and verbal part of, the
infinitive. (This is called the split infinitive).
Incorrect- I hoped to immediately reply to your letter:

Correct- I hoped to reply immediately to your letter.
29). An infinitive should be in the present tense unless it represents’ an action prior to that
of the governing Verb.
Incorrect- I should have liked to have gone-there.

Correct- I should have liked to go there.
30). Gerund if preceded by a Pronoun, that Pronoun must be in Possessive case.
Incorrect– He emphasized me going there.

Correct– He emphasized my going there.
31). The Present Perfect Continuous Tense is used for an action that began in the past time
and still. going at the time of speaking~ It is used with, Adverbials of time introduced by ‘since’,
‘for’ and ‘how long~.
Incorrect- How long are you working in this office?

Correct- How long have you been working in this office?
32). A Verb when preceded by a Preposition must be the Gerund.
Incorrect- They were punished for come late.

Correct- They were punished for, coming late.
33). The Future Indefinite Tense is not used in the clauses of time, place and condition. Here
the Present Indefinite Tense is used.
Incorrect- I shall wait for you till you will finish your work.
Correct- I shall wait for you, till you finish your work.
34). The Present Perfect Tense is not used with the Adverbs of past time like yesterday, in
1990 etc. Here Past Indefinite Tense is used.
Incorrect – I have bought a cycle yesterday.

Correct-I bought a cycle yesterday.
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The Past Perfect Tense is used to represent the earlier of the two past actions.
Incorrect- When I reached the station, the train already left.

Correct- When I reached the station, the train had already left.
35). Modal Auxiliaries are not used together. But two Auxiliaries can be connected by a
Conjunction.
For example,
Incorrect-He should must do it.

Correct- He should and must doit.
36). When need or dare is followed by not, it turns into modal auxiliary. In that situation it
takes Bare Infinitive ‘and we cannot use needs not or dares not.
For example,
Incorrect- He needs not do it.

Correct- He need not do it.
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Part- IV: USES OF ADJECTIVES
37). Adjectives of quantity show how much of a thing is meant. Adjectives of quantity (some;
much, little, enough, all, no, any, great, half, sufficient, whole) are used for Uncountable Nouns
only.
For example,
Incorrect-I ate a few rice.

Correct- I ate some rice.
38). Numeral Adjectives are used for Countable Noun only and they show how many persons
or things are meant or in what order a person or thing stands,
For example,
Incorrect- I have taught you little things.

Correct- I have taught you a few things.
39). When cardinal and ordinal are used together ordinal precedes the cardinal.
For example,
Incorrect- The four first boys will be given the chance.

Correct- The first four boys will be given the chance.
40). Later, latest refer to time, latter and last refer to position.
For example,
Incorrect- I reached at 10 am.But he was latter than I expected.

Correct- I reached at 10 am. But he was later than I expected,
41). Farther means more distant or advanced; further means additional.

For example,
Incorrect- He insisted on farther improvement.

Correct- He insisted on further improvement.
42). Each is used in speaking of two or more things, every is used only in speaking of more
than two.
For example,
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Incorrect- Every of the two boys will get a prize.

Correct- Each of the two boys will get a prize.
43). To express quantity or degree some is used in affirmative sentences, any in negative or
interrogative sentences.
For example
Incorrect- Have you bought some mangoes?

Correct- Have you bought any mangoes?
44). In comparing two things, the Comparative should be used, The Superlative should not
be used.
Incorrect- Which is the best of the two?

Correct- Which is the better of the two?
45). When two qualities of the same person or thing are compared, the Comparative inner is
not used. ‘More’ is used for this purpose.
Incorrect- He is wiser than brave.

Correct- He is more wise than brave.
46). When comparison is made by means of a comparative, the thing compared should be
excluded from the class of things with which it is compared by using ‘other’ or some such word.
Incorrect- He is cleverer than any boy in the class.

Correct- He is cleverer than any other boy in the class.
47). When comparison is made by means of a superlative, the thing compared should
include the class of things with which it is compared.
Incorrect- He is the strongest of all other men.

Correct- He is the strongest of all men
48). When two persons or things are compared, it is important that the same parts of things
should be compared.
Incorrect- The population of Bombay is greater than Delhi.

Correct- The population of Bombay is greater than that of Delhi.
49). Double comparatives and superlatives should not be used.
1.Incorrect- He is the most cleverest boy in the class.

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Correct- He is the cleverest boy in the class.
2.Incorrect- He is more wiser than his brother.

Correct- He ‘is wiser than his brother.
50). The comparative Adjectives superior inferior, senior, junior, prior, anterior, posterior
prefer, etc., should be followed by ‘to’ instead of ‘than’.
Incorrect- He is senior than me.

Correct- He is senior to me.
51). Adjectives like ‘unique’, ideal, perfect, complete, universal, entire, extreme, chief, full
square and round, which do not admit different degrees of comparison should not be
compared.
Incorrect- It is the most unique thing.

Correct- It is a unique thing.
52). All the Adjectives which refer to the same Noun should be in the same degree of
comparison.
Incorrect- He is the wisest and honest worker in the office.

Correct- He is the wisest and most honest worker in the office.
53). ‘Elder’ and ‘eldest’ should be used for persons only, strictly speaking, they are used for
the members of the same family only. ‘Older’ and ‘oldest’ are used for both persons and things.
Incorrect- He is my older brother.

Correct- He is my elder brother.
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30 COMMON GRAMMAR MISTAKES TO CHECK FOR IN YOUR WRITING
1) They're vs. Their vs. There
One's a contraction for "they are" (they're), one refers to something owned by a group
(their), and one refers to a place (there). You know the difference among the three -- just
make sure you triple check that you're using the right ones in the right places at the right
times. I find it's helpful to search through my posts (try control + F on PC or command + F on
Mac) for those words and check that they're being used in the right context.
Correct Usage: They're going to love going there -- I heard their food is the best!
2) Your vs. You're
The difference between these two is owning something versus actually being something:
You made it around the track in under a minute -- you're fast!
How's your fast going? Are you hungry?
See the difference? "Your" is possessive and "you're" is a contraction of "you are." Again, if
you're having trouble keeping them straight, try doing another grammar check before you hit
publish.
3) Its vs. It's
This one tends to confuse even the best of writers. "Its" is possessive and "it's" is a
contraction of "it is." Lots of people get tripped up because "it's" has an 's after it, which
normally means something is possessive. But in this case, it's actually a contraction.
Do a control + F to find this mistake in your writing. It's really hard to catch on your own, but
it's a mistake everyone can make.
4) Incomplete Comparisons
This one drives me up a wall when I see it in the wild. Can you see what's wrong with this
sentence?
Our car model is faster, better, stronger.
Faster, better, stronger ... than what? What are you comparing your car to? A horse? A
competitor's car? An older model?
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When you're asserting that something should be compared to something else, make sure you
always clarify what that something else is. Otherwise, it's impossible for your readers to
discern what the comparison actually means.
5) Passive Voice
If you have a sentence with an object in it -- basically a noun that receives the action --
passive voice can happen to you. Passive happens when the object of a sentence is put at the
beginning of a sentence instead of at the end. With passive voice, your writing comes across
as sounding weak and unclear.
Hold up. Re-read that last paragraph I just wrote -- there's waaaaaay too much passive voice.
See how it seems kind of jumbled and not quite punchy? Let's try that again.
Passive voice happens when you have an object (a noun that receives the action) as the
subject of a sentence. Normally, the object of the sentence appears at the end, following a
verb. Passive writing isn't as clear as active writing -- your readers will thank you for your
attention to detail later.
Make sense? It's kind of a complicated thing to describe, but active voice makes your writing
seem more alive and clear. Want to get into the nitty-gritty of avoiding passive voice? Check
out this tip from Grammar Girl.
6) Dangling Modifiers
I love the name of this mistake -- it makes me think of a dramatic, life-or-death situation such
as hanging precariously off a cliff. (Of course grammar mistakes are never that drastic, but it
helps me remember to keep them out of my writing.)
This mistake happens when a descriptive phrase doesn't apply to the noun that immediately
follows it.
What exactly is declining for months? Jean? In reality, the sentence was trying to say that the
ROI was declining -- not Jean. To fix this problem, try flipping around the sentence structure
(though beware of passive voice):
Better, right?
7) Referring to a Brand or an Entity as "They"
A business ethics professor made me aware of this mistake. "A business is not plural," he told
our class. "Therefore, the business is not 'they.' It's 'it.'"
So, what's the problem with this sentence?
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To keep up with their changing audience, Southwest Airlines rebranded in 2014.

The confusion is understandable. In English, we don't identify a brand or an entity as "he" or
"she" -- so "they" seems to make more sense. But as the professor pointed out, it's just not
accurate. A brand or an entity is "it."
To keep up with its changing audience, Southwest Airlines rebranded in 2014.
It might seem a little strange at first, but once you start correctly referring to a brand or entity
as "it," the phrasing will sound much more natural than "they."
8) Possessive Nouns
Most possessive nouns will have an apostrophe -- but where you put that apostrophe can be
confusing. Here are a few general rules to follow:
 If the noun is plural, add the apostrophe after the s. For example: the dogs' bones.
 If the noun is singular and ends in s, you should also put the apostrophe after the s. For
example: the dress' blue color.
 On the other hand, if the noun is singular and doesn't end in an s, you'll add the
apostrophe before the s. For example: the lizard's tail.
Simple, right? If you want a deeper dive into the rules of possessive nouns, check out this
website.
9) Affect vs. Effect
This one is another one of my pet peeves. Most people confuse them when they're talking
about something changing another thing.
When you're talking about the change itself -- the noun -- you'll use "effect."
That movie had a great effect on me.
When you're talking about the act of changing -- the verb -- you'll use "affect."
That movie affected me greatly.
10) Me vs. I
Most people understand the difference between the two of these, until it comes time for
them to use one in a sentence. They'll say something like:
When you get done with that lab report, can you send it to Bill and I?
But that's wrong.
Try taking Bill out of that sentence -- it sounds weird, right? You would never ask someone to
send something to "I" when he or she is done. The reason it sounds weird is because "I" is the
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object of that sentence -- and "I" should not be used in objects. In that situation, you'd use
"me."
When you get done with that lab report, can you send it to Bill and me?
Much better.
11) To vs. Too
We've all accidentally left the second "o" off of "too" when texting in a hurry. But in case the
mistake goes beyond that, let's review some usage rules.
"To" is typically used before a noun or verb, and describes a destination, recipient, or action.
Take these examples:
My friend drove me to my doctor's appointment. (Destination)
I sent the files to my boss. (Recipient)
I'm going to get a cup of coffee. (Action)
"Too," on the other hand, is a word that's used as an alternative to "also" or "as well." It's also
used to describe an adjective in extremes. Have a look:
My colleague, Sophia Bernazzani, writes for the HubSpot marketing blog, too.
She, too, is vegan.
We both think it's too cold outside.
You might have noticed that there's some interesting comma usage where the word "too" is
involved. We'll cover commas a bit more later, but when you're using the word "too" to
replace "also" or "as well," the general rule is to use a comma both before and after. The only
exception occurs when "too" is the last word in the sentence -- then, follow it with a period.
12) Do’s and Don’ts
I'm not talking about the do's and don'ts of grammar here -- I'm talking about the actual
words: "do's" and "don'ts." They look weird, right? That's because of two things:
1. There's an apostrophe in one to make it plural ... which typically isn't done, and
2. The apostrophes aren't put in the same place in both words.
Unfortunately, it's AP Style, so we just have to live with it. It's a hot angle for content formats,
so I wouldn't shy away from using it. But when you're checking your writing for grammatical
errors, just remember that the apostrophes should be in different places.
Note: There are different schools of thought about how to punctuate this one depending on
what style guide/usage book you're using. The Chicago Manual of Style, for instance,
recommends "dos" and "don'ts." The important thing is to be consistent and stick to one style
guide, whether it's AP Style, Chicago, or your own house style guide.
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13) i.e. vs. e.g.
Confession: I never remember this rule, so I have to Google it every single time I want to use
it in my writing. I'm hoping that by writing about it here, the trend will stop.
Many people use the terms interchangeably when trying to elaborate on a point, but each
one means something different: "i.e." roughly means "that is" or "in other words," while
"e.g." means "example given" or "for example." The former is used to clarify something
you've said, while the latter adds color to a story through an example.
14) Peek vs. Peak vs. Pique
This mistake is another one I often see people make, even if they know what they mean.
 Peek is taking a quick look at something -- like a sneak peek of a new film.
 Peak is a sharp point -- like the peak of a mountain.
 And pique means to provoke or instigate -- you know, like your interest.
If you're going to use one in your writing, stop and think for a second -- is that the right
"peek" you should be using?
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15) Who vs. That
This one is tricky. These two words can be used when you're describing someone or
something through a phrase like, "Lindsay is a blogger who likes ice cream." When you're
describing a person, be sure to use "who."
When you're describing an object, use "that." For example, you should say, "Her computer is
the one that overheats all the time." It's pretty simple, but definitely something that gets
overlooked frequently.
16) Who vs. Whom vs. Whose vs. Who's
Whoa. This one looks like a bit of a doozy. Let's break it down, shall we?
"Who" is used to identify a living pronoun. If you asked, "Who ate all of the cookies?" the
answer could be a person, like myself ("I did"), or another living being ("the dog did").
Hey, both are realistic scenarios in my world.
"Whom" is a little trickier. It's usually used to describe someone who's receiving something,
like a letter -- "To whom will it be addressed?" But it can also be used to describe someone on
the receiving end of an action, like in this sentence:
Whom did we hire to join the podcast team?
"Whose" is used to assign ownership to someone. See if you can spot the error in this
question:
Who's sweater is that?
Because the sweater belongs to someone, it should actually be written this way:
Whose sweater is that?
"Who's," on the other hand, is used to identify a living being. It's a contraction for "who is" --
here's an example of how we might use it in a sentence here in Boston:
Who's pitching for the Red Sox tonight?
See the difference? "Whose" is used to figure out who something belongs to, whereas
"who's" is used to identify someone who's doing something.
17) "Alot" vs. A lot vs. Allot
I hate to break it to all of you "alot" fans out there, but "alot" is not a word. If you're trying to
say that someone has a vast number of things, you'd say they have "a lot" of things. And if
you're trying to say that you want to set aside a certain amount of money to buy something,
you'd say you'll "allot" $20 to spend on gas.
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If you're trying to remember to stay away from "alot," check out this awesome cartoon by
Hyperbole and a Half featuring the alot. That face will haunt you for the rest of your content
marketing days.
18) Into vs. In to
Let's clarify the "into" versus "in to" debate.

They're often confused, but "into" indicates movement (Lindsay walked into the office) while
"in to" is used in lots of situations because the individual words "to" and "in" are frequently
used in other parts of a sentence. For example, "to" is often used with infinitive verbs (e.g.
"to drive"). Or "in" can be used as part of a verb (e.g. "call in to a meeting").
So if you're trying to decide which to use, first figure out if the words "in" or "to" actually
modify other words in the sentence. If they don't, ask yourself if it's indicating some sort of
movement -- if it does, you're good to use "into."
19) Lose vs. Loose
When people mix up "lose" and "loose," it's usually just because they're spelled so similarly.
They know their definitions are completely different.
According to Merriam-Webster, "lose" is a verb that means "to be unable to find (something
or someone), to fail to win (a game, contest, etc.), or to fail to keep or hold (something
wanted or valued)." It's like losing your keys or losing a football match.
"Loose" is an adjective that means "not tightly fastened, attached, or held," like loose clothing
or a loose tooth.
A trick for remembering the difference is to think of the term "loosey-goosey" -- both of those
words are spelled with two o's.
20) Then vs. Than
What's wrong with this sentence?

My dinner was better then yours.
*Shudder.* In the sentence above, "then" should be "than." Why? Because "than" is a
conjunction used mainly to make comparisons -- like saying one thing was better "than"
another. "Then" is mainly an adverb used to situate actions in time:
We made dinner, and then we ate it.
21) Of vs. Have
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I have a bad habit of overusing a phrase that goes like this: "Shoulda, coulda, woulda." That
basically means I regret not doing something, but it's too late to dwell on it now. For example,
"I shoulda done my laundry on Sunday."
But "shoulda," "coulda," and "woulda" are all short for something else. What's wrong with
this statement?
I should of done my laundry on Sunday.
Since it's so common for us to throw around fake worlds like "shoulda," the above mistake is
an easy one to make -- "shoulda" sounds like a shortened version of "should of." But really,
"shoulda" is short for "should have." See how it works in these sentences:
I should have done my laundry on Sunday.
I could have taken a shorter route.
I would have gone grocery shopping on Friday, if I had time.
So next time, instead of saying, "shoulda, woulda, coulda," I should probably say, "should've,
would've, could've."
22) Use of Commas
There are entire courses on correct comma usage, but let's go over some of the most
common comma use cases here.
To separate elements in a series.
Each element in a series should be separated by a comma. For example: "I brought a jacket, a
blanket, and an umbrella to the park." That last comma is optional. It's called an "Oxford
comma," and whether you use it depends on your company's internal style guide.
To separate independent clauses.

You can use commas to separate independent clauses that are joined by "and," "but," "for,"
"or," "nor," "so," or "yet." For example, this sentence is correctly written: "My brother is very
smart, and I've learned a lot from him."
An independent clause is a sentence that can stand on its own. Here's how to test it: Would
the second part of the sentence (following one of those coordinating conjunctions) make a
full sentence on its own? If so, add a comma. If it doesn't, leave it out.
To separate an introductory word or phrase.
At the beginning of a sentence, we often add an introductory word or phrase that requires a
subsequent comma. For example:
In the beginning, I had no idea how to use a comma.
Or:
However, after reading an awesome blog post, I understand the difference.
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Other common introductory words and phrases include "after," "although," "when," and
"while."
To learn about more use cases for the comma, check out this blog postfrom Daily Writing
Tips.
23) Assure vs. Insure vs. Ensure
All of these words have to do with "making an outcome sure," which is why they're so often
mixed up. However, they aren't interchangeable.
 "To assure" means to promise or say with confidence. For example, "I assure you that
he's good at his job."
 "To ensure" means to make certain. For example, "Ensure you're free when I visit next
weekend."
 Finally, "to insure" means to protect against risk by regularly paying an insurance
company. For example, "I insure my car because the law requires it."
24) Less vs. Fewer
You know the checkout aisle in the grocery store that says "10 Items or Less"? That's actually
incorrect. It should be "10 Items or Fewer."
Why? Because "items" are quantifiable -- you can count out 10 items. Use "fewer" for things
that are quantifiable, like "fewer M&Ms" or "fewer road trips." Use "less" for things that
aren't quantifiable, like "less candy" and "less traveling."
25) Semicolons
Semicolons are used to connect two independent clauses that, though they could stand on
their own, are closely related. For example, you could use a semicolon in the sentence: "Call
me tomorrow; I'll have an answer for you by then."
Notice that each clause could be its own sentence -- but stylistically, it makes more sense for
them to be joined. (If there's a coordinating conjunction between the two clauses -- like
"and," "but", or "or" -- use a comma instead.)
You can also use semicolons to separate items in a list when those items contain commas
themselves:
There are two options for breakfast: eggs and bacon, which is high in protein and low in carbs;
or oatmeal and fruit, which is high in carbs but has more fiber.
26) Compliment vs. Complement
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These two words are pronounced exactly the same, making them easy to mix up. But they're
actually quite different.
If something "complements" something else, that means it completes it, enhances it, or
makes it perfect. For example, a wine selection can complement a meal, and two colors can
complement each other.
The word "compliment" though, refers to an expression of praise (as a noun), or to praise or
express admiration for someone (as a verb). You can compliment your friend's new haircut, or
pay someone a compliment on his or her haircut.
27) Farther vs. Further
People often use "farther" and "further" interchangeably to mean "at a greater distance."
However, in most countries, there are actually subtle differences in meaning between the
two. "Farther" is used more to refer to physical distances, while "further" is used more to
refer to figurative and nonphysical distances. So while Paris is "farther" away than Madrid, a
marketing team falls "further" away from its leads goal. (Note: The word "further" is
preferred for all senses of the word in the U.K., Australia, Canada, and elsewhere in
the Commonwealth of Nations.)
The word "further" can also be used as an adjective or as an adverb to mean "additionally."
For example, "I have no further questions."
28) En Dash vs. Em Dash
Both "–" and "—" are versions of the dash: "–" is the en dash, and "—" or "--" are both
versions of the em dash. You can use either the en dash or the em dash to signify a break in a
sentence or set off parenthetical statements.
The en dash can also be used to represent time spans or differentiation, such as, "That will
take 5–10 minutes."
The em dash, on the other hand, can be used to set off quotation sources, such as, "'To be, or
not to be, that is the question.' —Shakespeare."
29) Title Capitalization
This one is tough, since so many different outlets apply different rules to how titles are
capitalized. Luckily, I have a secret weapon -- TitleCap.
The site outlines capitalization rules as follows:
1. Capitalize the first and the last word.
2. Capitalize nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, and subordinate conjunctions.
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3. Lowercase articles ("a," "an," "the"), coordinating conjunctions, and prepositions.

4. Lowercase the 'to' in an infinitive ("I want to play guitar").
Let's use the title of this post as an example: "Grammar Police: 30 of the Most Common
Grammatical Errors We All Need to Stop Making." If left to my own devices -- and remember,
I write for a living -- I would have left "We" lowercase. I always have to double-check, which is
why guides like this one are so valuable.
30) Between vs. Among
Let's clear this one up: The word "between" is used to refer to two (or sometimes more)
things that are clearly separated, and the word "among" is used to refer to things that aren't
clearly separated because they're part of a group or mass of objects.
So you choose between a red shirt and a black shirt, but you choose among all your shirts.
You walk between Centre Street and Broad Street, but you walk among your friends.
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Yashal Incorrect Sentences

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MOST COMMON 100 MISTAKES FOR ESL SPEAKERS

2. Less, fewer (countable nouns)

Incorrect: There were less people.

3. Possession shared by two nouns

Incorrect: It was John’s and Peter’s car.

Incorrect: I have written to my sister that lives in France.

Incorrect: These/those is my child. That/this are my children.

Incorrect: She feels well.

Incorrect: She sings good.

10. Adverbs with “ly”

11. Linking verbs take the adjective form (bad/badly)

Incorrect: The meat smells badly. I feel badly.

12. Answering when there is an either/or question

Incorrect: “Either you go home or stay here.” “Yes.”

13. Subject/verb agreement

14. Plurals and Their Correct Verbs

16. Misplaced noun as modifier

Incorrect: We gave the flowers to the customer in the refrigerator.

18. Omission of second part of comparison

Incorrect: Carla ranks Mary higher than Betty.

19. Any other

Incorrect: Alaska is bigger than any state in the United States.

20. Parallel verb phrases

21. Old friend/long time

22. Parallelism and verb agreement

Incorrect: He learned to play tennis, to swim and sail.

24. Redundant phrases

25. Circumlocution/talking around the subject Incorrect/correct: ahead of schedule/early,

Incorrect: It is a old television set, but it still works. It is an costly purchase.

28. Amicable (used to describe arrangements or settlements agreed peacefully by

Incorrect: The soccer teams were amicable

Incorrect: She could not decide among the two guys.

30. Beside (means “next to”)/besides (means “in addition to”)

Incorrect: Ask him to sit besides me.

31. Bimonthly (every 2 months)/Semi-monthly (2 times a month)

32. Bring (action towards)/take (action away)

Incorrect: He will take the book to his friend’s.

33. Can (applies ability)/may (asks permission)

Incorrect: I may drive because I passed the driving test.

Incorrect: A bee sting can be deathly.

35. Farther (refers to physical distance)/further (refers to degree or extent)

Incorrect: We will drive no further tonight.

36. Had ought/ought (ought is not used with helping verb)

Incorrect: They had ought to call the pizza delivery.

Incorrect: He was not hardly/barely/scarcely finished with the paper.

Incorrect: It was kind of a hot day.

Incorrect: It is the latest game of the season.

40. Lay/lie/laid (to put down) – lie/lay/lain (to recline or repose)

Incorrect: I will lie the paper on the table.

41. Learn (acquire information)/teach (impart knowledge)

Incorrect: I will learn the English to him.

42. Presently (soon or shortly)/at present (now, currently, at this time)

Incorrect: Presently, the boss is in his office.

43. Regardless (despite)/irregardless (a nonstandard word)

Incorrect: The painting was very scarce.

45. Future tense

Incorrect: Tomorrow we go shopping.

Incorrect: I’ve been in America since 3 months.

47. Adjectives in right order

Incorrect: My boyfriend has a new work.

49. Misused Irony

Incorrect: It’s a free ride if you pay.