100 Common Errors with Rules

Common Errors

1. We received no informations. We received no information.

2. Where are my luggages? Where is my luggage?

Rule: Some nouns are used only as singular. They have no plural forms: alphabet, luggage, furniture, information, paper, news, poetry, machinery, bread, soap, advice, scenery etc.

3. Mathematics are his favourite subject.

Mathematics is his favourite subject.

4. Measles have broken out in our area. Measles has broken out in our area.

Rule: Some nouns are plural in form but they are used as singular.

. a) Games and sports: Billiards, gymnastics etc.

b)         Diseases: Mumps, Measles etc.

c)          Branches of learning: Linguistics, Economics, Physics, Statistics, Mathematics, Politics etc.

5. His spectacles is new. His spectacles are new.

6. My friend bought shoe yesterday.  

enought-shoe~esterday.         

Rule: 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. Smitha bought five dozens oranges. Smitha bought five dozen oranges.

Rule: 'Words dozen score, hundred, thousand, lakh, million etc., do not take plural when preceded by a numeral.

E. 1 have two brother-in-laws.

I have two brothers-in-law.

Rule: Plurals of compound nouns are formed by adding 's' to the main word. Father-in-law       -             Fathers-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. The conductor said that there was no room in the compartment.

Rule: In this context the proper word is room.

It is used to convey the meaning 'space to occupy'.

10.       Jyothi is my cousin sister. Jyothi is my cousin.

11.       Santhosh is my cousin brother. Santhosh is my cousin.

Rule: Do not add brother or sister to the word cousin.

12.       Gopal is running sixteen. Gopal is sixteen.

Rule: Running is not used with age.

13.       There are twenty females in the class. There are twenty women in the class.

14.       Two hundred males attended the meeting. Two hundred men attended the meeting.

Rule: Male and female are used as adjectives but not nouns.

15. It is my friend Sharath's car.

Rule: When two nouns are in apposition 's is added to the second nbun.

16.       That book is your's not mine. That book is yours, not mine. Rule: 's is not added to pronouns.

17.       I and Gopal went to the exhibition. Gopal and I Went to the exhibition.

18.       Both he and you must attend the function. Both you and he must attend the function.

19.       Ravi invited m an.ci you to dinner. Ravi invited you and me to dinner.

Rule: The first person comes last. The second person is placed before the third.

20.       Every player must bring their bats. Every player must bring his/her bats.

21.       One must love his parents. One must love one's parents.

Rule: A pronoun must agree with its antecedent.

22.       They who have not brought their text books should stand up. Those who have not brought their text books should stand up.

Rule: 'They' must not be used as an antecedent to 'who' or 'that'. 'Those' is used.

23.       The boys enjoyed during the holidays. The boys enjoyed themselves during the holidays.

Rule: The verb enjoys takes a reflexive pronoun if there is no other object.

24.       Sarala is more taller than her sister. Sarala is taller than her sister.

25.       Mount Everest is the most highest peak in the world.

Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world.

26.       He is more younger than I.

He is younger than I.

Rule: Double comparative or doUble superlative should not be used.

27.       It is the most unique work.

vor

Rule: Some adjectives have no degrees of comparison: round, perfect, unique, eternal.

28.       Gopal is the cleverest of the two brothers. Gopal is the cleverer of the two brothers. Rule: The superlative degree is not used when two persons or thing's are compared.

29.       The population of Madras is greater than Hyderabad.

The population of Madras is greater than that of Hyderabad.

Rule: Here the comparisonis between the population of Madras and Hyderabad. Hence 'that or is to be used.

30.       Raju went to America for farther studies. Raju went to America for further studies.

31.       Let us not walk any further. Let us not walk any farther. Rule: Further refers to something additional and farther refers to distance.

32.       Have you heard the last news? Have you heard the latest news?

33.       The umpire was the latest person to leave the ground.

The umpire was the last person to leave the ground.

Rule: Latest denotes time and last denotes position or order.

34.       Her older brother is an engineer. Her elder brother is an engineer.

35.       Neetu is elder than Gitu.

Rule: Elder and eldest are used to refer to one's family relations. Older and oldest refer to persons and things and denote age.

36.       They do not sell fewer than ten bags of rice.

Rule: 'less' refers to quantity and 'fewer' to number.

37.       We were present on both days. Rule: When 'both' is used as an adjective, it should be followed by 'the'.

38.       Frank is an European.

Frank is a European.

39.       It is an one rupee note.

It is a one rupee note.

Rule: A is used before words beginning with a consonant sound. The words university, union, European, one etc. begin with a consonant sound.

40.       Banerjee is a honest man.

Banerjee is an honest man.

Rule: An is used before words beginning with a vowel sound. The words, honest, heir, honour etc. begin with a vowel sound.

41.       Vijayawada is on Krishna. Vijayawada is on the Krishna.

42.       Sadhana read Mahabharata. Sadhana read the Mahabharata. Rule: The is used before the names of rivers, seas, oceans and holy books.

43.       My uncle lives in United Kingdom. My uncle lives in the United Kingdom.

              4.11i—=trInera=1-6-Ali-damans              

The culprit was sent to the Andamans.

Rule-,The is used before the names of groups of islands and descriptive names of countries.

45.       The higher you climb colder it gets. The higher you climb the colder it gets.

Rule: The is used as an adverb before comparatives.

46.       The iron is a useful metal. The iron is a useful metal.

47.       The Delhi is the capital of India. Delhi is the capital of India.

48.       The honesty is the best policy. Honesty is the best policy. Rule: No article is used before material nouns, proper nouns and abstract nouns.

49.       The man is mortal.

Man is moital.

Rule: Article is not used before 'man' used in a wider sense.

50.       What kind of a woman is she? What kind of woman is she? Rule: Article is not used before the noun following 'kind of.

51.       Mary goes to the church daily. Mary goes to the church daily.

Rule: Article is not used before places visited for primary purpose: school, college, church, market, bed etc.

52.       The secretary and the correspondent is in the office.

The secretary and the correspondent are in the office.

Rule: 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)

53.       She is taking milk daily.

She takes milk daily.

Rule: Simple present tense is used to express a habit.

54.       He lives in Vijayawada for five years.

He has lived in Vijayawada for five years.

55.       They are working in our factory since 2000.

56.       They have been working in our factory since 2000.

Rule: The present perfect and the present perfect continuous are used with 'for' and 'since'.

57.       The apple is tasting sweet.

The apple tastes sweet.

40•      57. I am having a problem.

I have a problem.

58.       This book is belonging to him.

This book belongs to him.

Rule: Some verbs are not used in the continuous tense: taste, hear, smell, feel, love, like, have, own, possess, belong etc.

59.       They have left for Bombay yesterday.

             Tlienbay-yesterday.       

Rule: Simple past is used with words and phrases of past time: ago, yesterday, last, then, at that time etc.

60.       It is time they start.

---        It is time they started.

Rule: Past tense is used after 'it is time'.

61.       I shall inform you when my father will arrive here.

I shall inform you when my father arrives here.

62.       Your father will punish you if you will misbehave again,

Your father will punish you if you will misbehave again.

Rule: In clauses of time and condition, the simple present is used for a future action.

63.       If I went to Hyderabad I would have brought you the book.

If I went to Hyderabad I would bring you the book.

Rule: If the verb in the if clause is in the past tense, the verb in the main clause must be in the conditional tense.

64.       If I had known of your arrival I would meet you.

If I had known of your arrival I would have met you.

Rule: If the verb in the if clause is in the past perfect tense, the verb in the main clause must be in the perfect conditional tense.

65.       He was late so he is scolded by the teacher.

He was late so he was scolded by the teacher.

66.       She said that she is going to Madras.

She said that she was going to Madras.

Rule: If the verb in the main clause is in the past tense, the verb in the subordinate clause must be in the

.            appropriate past tense.

66.       As he was a good swimmer, he could swim ten miles in an hour. As he was a good swimmer he was able to swim ten miles in an hour. Rule: 'could' shows capacity. 'Was able to' shows the actual performance.

67.       Let them lay there.

Let them lie there.

Rule: Lay means to place.

(lay-laid-laid). Lie means to be in a resting position

(lie-lay-lain).

68.       The criminal was hung two days ago.

The criminal was hanged two days ago.

Rule: Hanged means death punishment.

(hang-hanged-hanged)

Hung means show publicly (hang-hung-hung)

Eg: Her paintings were hung in the room.

69.       I avoid to speak her.

I avoid speaking to her.

70.       We can't help to listen to them.

We can't help listening to them.

Rule: cing' form is used after certain verbs and phrases:

Avoid, imagine, enjoy, finish, miss, practice, can't bear, can't help, can't stand, with a view to, look forward to etc.

71.       He wants that I should do it.

- lie-wantsmeio_rloit-

72.       They ordered me wait.

They ordered me to wait.

Rule-:—To infinitive is used after certain verbs: allow , order, command, request, wish , want, permit, encourage, forbid.

73.       I let the boy to go.

I let the boy go.

Rule: Plain infinitive is used after certain verbs: make let, suggest, bid etc.

74.       When she will solve our problem?

W3hen will she solve the problem?

Rule: In interrogative sentences the verb is placed before the subject.

76.       They have lost the way. Isn't it

They have lost the way, haven't they?

77.       He went to market, is he

He went to market, didn't he?

Rule: A to question contains a verb and a pronoun. An affirmative statement takes a negative tag. A negative statement takes an affirmative tag.

78.       Being a hot day, the old man did not go out.

It being a hot day the old man did not go out.

Rule: The phrase 'being a hot day' is left unrelated. It has no subject. The subject of the main clause is different. So it must have its own subject. [absolute construction].

79.       He is not superior than you.

He is not superior to you.

Rule: To is used after superior, inferior, junior, elder.

80.       He is awaiting for you.

He is waiting for you.

Rule: Preposition is not used for await.

81.       I ordered for coffee.

I ordered coffee.

82.       John married with Mary in the church.

John married Mary in the church.

Rule: Preposition is not used after certain verbs: order, describe, discuss, marry, meet, attend, tell, etc.

83.       They entered into the room They entered the room.

Rule: Preposition is nit used after enter in the sense of' go into.

84.       We consider him as a great leader.

We consider him a great leader.

Rule: 'As' is not is used after the following verbs in the pattern (subject (verb +object + object

complement,: call, consider, select, elect, choose, name, appoint etc.

85.4e sat besides me.

He sat beside me.

Rule: Beside means by the side of.

Besides means in addition to.

86. They will return in this month.

They will return this month.

Rule: Time expressions beginning with, this, that, next, last are used without a preposition.

3-.--Tthe-boy goes-to college. 

The boy goes to college on foot. Rule: We go by bus, by train, by air or on foot.

..--- 88. Sarala is suffering with fever.

Sarala is suffering from fever.

89.       They started to Kurnool.              •

They started for Kurnool.

90.       We got down the bus.

We got down from the bus.

91.       Adams is good in English. Adams is good at English.

92.       I agree with your proposal. I agree to your proposal.

93.       They agree to him.

They agree with him.'

Rule: Agree with a person.

Agree to a thing.

94.       Gopal is angry on his brother. Gopal is angry with his brother.

95.       I am angry with her behaviour. I am angry at her behaviour.

Rule: Angry with a person.

Angry at a thing.

96.       She gave a speech.

She made a speech.

97.       The chief guest made an interesting lecture.

The chief guest gave an interesting lecture.

Rule: Make a speech.

Give a lecture.

98.       The thief ran away lest he will be caught.

The thief ran away lest he should be caught.

Rule: Should is used after lest.

99.       Though I advised him but he continued to misbehave. Though I advised him he continued to misbehave. Rule: Tut is superfluous'.

100.     This book will not only be liked by men but also women. This book will be liked by not only men but also women. Rule: Same part of speech is used after either-or, neither nor, not only- only but also.