Errors PDF
Errors PDF
Errors PDF
Some nouns are singular in form, but they are used as plural nouns and always take a plural verb.
Cattle, gentry, vermin, peasantry , artillery, people clergy, company , police.
Example :
1. The cattle is grazing in the ground ( Incorrect )
2. The cattle are grazing in the ground ( correct )
2. Some nouns are always used in a plural form and always take a plural verb.
Trousers, scissors, spectacles stockings, shorts measles, goods, alms, premises, thanks , tidings, annals,
chattels, etc.
Example:
1. Where is my trousers? ( Incorrect)
2. Where are my trousers? ( Correct)
3. There are some nouns that indicate length, measure, money , weight or number. When they are preceded by a
numeral, they remain unchanged in form.
Foot, metre, pair , score, dozen, head , year, hundred, thousand, million
1. It is a three years degree course ( Incorrect)
2. It is a three year degree course ( Correct )
4. Collective nouns such as jury, public, team, committee, government, audience, orchestra, company, etc. are used
both as singular and plural depending on the meaning. When these words indicate a unit, the verb is singular,
otherwise the verb will be plural.
For example:
1. The jury was divided in this case. ( Incorrect)
2. The jury were divided in this case. ( Correct)
5. A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in person, number and gender.
Example :
Every man must being his luggage.
All students must do their home work.
Each of the girls must carry her own bag
6. The pronoun one must be followed by ones.
Example :
One must finish his task in time ( Incorrect)
One must finish ones task in time ( Correct)
7. Whose is used for living persons and which for lifeless objects.
Example:
Which photograph is lying here? ( Incorrect)
Whose photograph is living there? ( Correct)
8. Use of less and fewer
Example:
Less denotes quantity and fewer denotes number.
No less than fifty persons were killed. ( In correct)
No fewer than fifty person were killed. ( Correct)
9. One of always takes a plural noun after it.
Example:
It is one of the important day in my life. ( In Correct)
It is one of the important days in my life. ( Correct )
10. Use of not only and but also Examine the sentences given below.
Example:
He not only comes for swimming but also for coaching the learners. ( In correct )
He comes not only for swimming but also for coaching the learners. ( correct )
1. Scarcely and hardly are followed by when and not by than.
1.I had scarcely entered the room than the phone rang. ( Incorrect)
2.I had scarcely entered the room when the phone rang. ( Correct)
2. Though is followed by yet and not by but.
1.Though he is poor but he is honest. (Incorrect )
2.Though he is poor, yet he is honest. (Correct)
3. No sooner is followed by than.
1.No sooner had I entered the class when the students stood up. ( Incorrect)
2.No sooner had I entered the class than the students stood up ( Correct)
Attention must also be given to the verb form while using no sooner than. The correct forms are past
perfect orpast indefinite.
1.No sooner had I entered the class than the students stand up. ( Incorrect)
2.No sooner had I entered the class than the students stood up. ( Correct)
4. Lest must be followed by should.
1.Read regularly lest you will fail. ( Incorrect)
2.Read regularly lest you should fail. ( Correct)
5. Such is followed by as.
1.He is such a writer that everyday should read his books. (Incorrect)
2.He is such a writer as everyday should read his books. ( Correct)
6. So is followed by that
1.Sarita was so popular with her classmates that she always had some people coming to her for advice.
7. Unless expresses a condition. It is always used in the negative sense. Thus not is never used with unless.
1.Unless you do not labour hard, you will not pass. ( Incorrect)
2.Unless you labour hard, you will not pass. ( Correct)
8. When an action has taken place in two clauses of a sentence, it is used in both the clauses according to the
requirement.
1.My brother has and is still doing excellent work for his organization (Incorrect)
2.My brother has done and is still doing excellent work for his organization. ( Correct)
9. When there is a sense of continuity, that is, when a thing has taken place in the past and still continues in the
present, the perfect continuous tense form of the verb should be used.
1.India is independent for the last forty six years. ( Incorrect)
2.India has been independent for the last forty six years. (Correct)
10. Use of when and while: Proper attention must be paid to these words. When indicates a general sense and
while implies a time during the process of doing a work.
1.When learning to swim, one of the most important things is to relax. (Incorrect)
2.While learning to swim, one of the most important things is to relax. (Correct)
1. When a pronoun comes after like and unlike it takes an objective case.
Example:
1. (i) A man like I will not do it. ( Incorrect )
( ii) A man like me will not do it. ( Correct)
2. A pronoun takes an objective case after let.
Example :
1. ( i ) Let I do it. ( Incorrect)
( ii) Let me do it. ( Correct)
3. Pronouns joined by and remain in the same case.
Example :