English Grammar Module 6: Spotting Errors

Some examples with explanation of Incorrect grammar:

1 ."If I would have known about the party, I would have gone to it." This is INCORRECT. The correct form is: If + had + past participle, would + have + past participle "If I had known about the party, I would have gone." 2. Don't vs Doesnt "He dont care about me anymore." This is INCORRECT. Doesn't, does not, or does are used with the third person singular - words like he, she, and it. Don't, do not, or do are used for other subjects. * "He doesnt care about me anymore." This is CORRECT. 3. Bring vs Take "When we go to the party on Saturday, lets bring a bottle of wine." This is INCORRECT. When you are viewing the movement of something from the point of arrival, use bring: * "When you come to the party, please bring a bottle of wine." This is CORRECT. When you are viewing the movement of something from the point of departure, use take: * "When we go to the party, lets take a bottle of wine." This is CORRECT. 4. Fewer vs Less Sign at the checkout of a supermarket: Ten items or less. This is INCORRECT. You can count the items, so you need to use the number word fewer. These nouns are countable. * "Ten items or fewer." This is CORRECT. If you cant count the substance, then you should use less. These nouns are uncountable. * "You should eat less meat." This is CORRECT. 5. However "We were supposed to go to the dance last night, however, it was cancelled because of lack of interest." This is INCORRECT. A semicolon, rather than a comma, should be used to link these two complete sentences: * "We were supposed to go to the dance last night; however, it was cancelled because of lack of interest." This is CORRECT. It should be noted that there ARE situations in which you can use a comma instead of a semi-colon: * "The match at Wimbledon, however, continued despite the bad weather." This is CORRECT. There is only one complete sentence in this example. It is not a compound sentence. 6. Have vs Of "I never would of thought that hed behave like that." This is INCORRECT.

It should be would have: * "I never would have/wouldve thought that hed behave like that." This is CORRECT. Its the same for should and could: "He should of come with me." This is INCORRECT. * "He should have/shouldve come with me." This is CORRECT. "She could of had anything she wanted." This is INCORRECT. * "She could have had anything she wanted." This is CORRECT. 7. Double negative "I'm not speaking to nobody in this class." This is INCORRECT. Since 'not' is a negative, you cannot use 'nobody' in this sentence: * "I'm not speaking to anybody in this class." This is CORRECT. 8. Present perfect "He has took the train." This is INCORRECT. The correct form for the present perfect is: would + have + past participle * "He has taken the train." This is CORRECT. 9. Went vs Gone "I should have went to school yesterday." This is INCORRECT. The correct form is: should + have + past participle * "I should have gone to school yesterday." This is CORRECT. 10. Its vs It's "Its going to be sunny tomorrow." This is INCORRECT. Its is the contraction of It is: * "Its going to be sunny tomorrow." This is CORRECT. "Whats that? I cant remember its name." This is INCORRECT. Its is a possessive pronoun that modifies a noun: * "Whats that? I cant remember its name." This is CORRECT.

Examples:
1. Which part of the following sentence has an error? a. The customer handed over b. a hundred-rupees note c. to the shopkeeper. d. No error. CORRECT ANSWER: b EXPLANATION: a hundred-rupee note 2. Which part of the following sentence has an error? a. In these days of inflation b. a ten rupee's note will not buy you c. even an ordinary meal. d. No error. CORRECT ANSWER: b EXPLANATION: a ten rupee note will not buy you 3. Which part of the following sentence has an error? a. At present juncture b. however, the supercomputer c. would be a costly toy. d. No error. CORRECT ANSWER: a EXPLANATION: At the present juncture 4. Which part of the following sentence has an error? a. Since we are friends b. there should be no secret c. between you and I. d. No error. CORRECT ANSWER: c EXPLANATION: between you and me 5. Which part of the following sentence has an error? a. He wanted to work all night b. but we saw that he was completely worn out c. and so we persuaded him to stop. d. No error. CORRECT ANSWER: b EXPLANATION: but we saw that he had completely been worn out 6. Which part of the following sentence has an error? a. He ensured his bank manager b. that he would soon c. repay the loan. d. No error. CORRECT ANSWER: a EXPLANATION: He assured his bank manager 7. a. b. c. Which part of the following sentence has an error? In spite of several reminders, he did not so far send any reply to me, letters.

d. No error. CORRECT ANSWER: b EXPLANATION: he has not so far sent 8. Which part of the following sentence has an error? a. He will end up his work b. in the city c. by the end of the year. d. No error. CORRECT ANSWER: a EXPLANATION: He will end his work 9. Which part of the following sentence has an error? a. Though senior in age, b. his father is junior than c. my father in service. d. No error. CORRECT ANSWER: b EXPLANATION: his father is junior to 10. Which part of the following sentence has an error? a. I fail to understand b. why he replied in negative c. when the proposal was in his favour. d. No error. CORRECT ANSWER: a EXPLANATION: I failed to understand 11. Which part of the following sentence has an error? a. It does not matter how you do it; b. what I want is that c. you should finish the work within a month. d. No error. CORRECT ANSWER: b EXPLANATION: I want that 12. Which part of the following sentence has an error? a. I am sure that all my monthly expenses b. would exceed the income c. If I do not economic d. No error. CORRECT ANSWER: c EXPLANATION: If I do not economise 13. Which part of the following sentence has an error? a. If she will be promoted b. she will get c. a higher salary. d. No error. CORRECT ANSWER: a EXPLANATION: If she is promoted 14. a. Which part of the following sentence has an error? He persisted

b. to do it c. in spite of my advice d. No error. CORRECT ANSWER: b EXPLANATION: in doing it 15. Which part of the following sentence has an error? a. In a report issued by Indian Statistical Institute, b. the Iron and Steel Industry is investing more than any other c. Indian industry in fighting pollution. d. No error. CORRECT ANSWER: c EXPLANATION: Indian industry on fighting pollution 16. Which part of the following sentence has an error? a. May I b. know who you want c. to see please d. No error. CORRECT ANSWER: b EXPLANATION: know whom you want 17. Which part of the following sentence has an error? a. I have b. an appointment c. on the 9th September on five o'clock d. No error. CORRECT ANSWER: c EXPLANATION: on the 9th September at five o'clock 18. Which part of the following sentence has an error? a. Regretfully, profits earned by your company b. fell by 20 per cent last year c. despite higher sales. d. No error. CORRECT ANSWER: a EXPLANATION: Regrettably, profits earned by your company 19. Which part of the following sentence has an error? a. Remember that you are part of b. the team and your success depends on the support c. you are able to give and get from your other team members. d. No error. CORRECT ANSWER: a EXPLANATION: Remember that you are a part of 20. Which part of the following sentence has an error? a. To facilitate exports and improve sales in the domestic market b. some of the improvised fabrics and garments fabricated out from them c. are displayed in the main pavilion. d. No error. CORRECT ANSWER: b EXPLANATION: some of the improvised fabrics and garments made from them

Practice Questions:
21. a. b. c. d. Which part of the following sentence has an error? The company has put up an advertisement in newspapers all over the country. No error.

22. a. b. c. d. 23. a. b. c. d. 24. a. b. c. d.

Which part of the following sentence has an error? The meeting adjourned abruptly by the Chairman after about three hours of deliberation. No error. Which part of the following sentence has an error? In management, as you rise higher, the problems you face become more and more unstructured and you can't just fall back on the tools you had been taught. No error. Which part of the following sentence has an error? The eminent speaker's speech was broadcasted over all the major radio-stations. No error.

25. Which part of the following sentence has an error? a. The single biggest gainer in this process b. was ITC's Gold Flake Kings sales are estimated c. to have moved up from 50 million to 200 million sticks per month during 1987 and last year. d. No error. 26. a. b. c. d. 27. a. b. c. d. 28. a. b. c. d. 29. Which part of the following sentence has an error? Most of the members at the meeting felt that the group appointed for investigating the case were not competent to do the job efficiently. No error. Which part of the following sentence has an error? It is time we should accept all our people as equals and as partners in the task of building a strong and united nation. No error. Which part of the following sentence has an error? If you listen with the question carefully you will be able to answer them easily No error. Which part of the following sentence has an error?

a. b. c. d. 30. a. b. c. rash. d.

Myself and Gopal will take care of the function on sunday. No error. Which part of the following sentence has an error? The brand propositon now therefore had to be that Keokarpin Antiseptic Cream is more effective because it penetrates deep down (being light and non-sticky) and works from within (because of its ayurvedic ingredients) to keep skin blemish, free and helps cope with cuts nicks, burns and nappy No error

ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS: 21. Correct ans: a - EXPLANATION: The company has inserted an advertisement 22. Correct ans: a - EXPLANATION: The meeting was abruptly adjourned 23. Correct ans: b - EXPLANATION: the problem you face become more and more unstructured and you can't afford to fall back upon 24. Correct ans: b - EXPLANATION: was broadcast over 25. Correct ans: b - EXPLANATION: was ITC's Gold Flake Kings sales of which are estimated' or 'whose sales are estimated 26. Correct ans: c - EXPLANATION: was not competent to do the job efficiently 27. Correct ans: b - EXPLANATION: we should accept all our people as equal 28. Correct ans: a - EXPLANATION: If you listen to 29. Correct ans: a - EXPLANATION: 'Gopal and I' 30. Correct ans: a - EXPLANATION: The brand proposition now therefore is