Common English Errors are done by almost everyone and we should not neglect this. So, this article provides Common English Errors with Corrections and Exercises that will be fruitful for everyone.
This post shows how and what errors in English we make in our day-to-day life in the course of writing and speaking, with their corrections and explanations.
Common English Errors will help not only the students but the examinees also who are trying to sit for different competitive exams.
This will help the students to get the correct usage of English. Quiz-type questions are also therer at the end to enrich the reader’s knowledge. Keep visiting this page to give Mock Test on this topic.
Common English Errors in Subject and Verb.
1. Incorrect: The cost the bananas were very high.
1. Correct: The cost of bananas was very high.
2. Incorrect: Honour and glory are his rewards.
2. Correct: Honour and glory is his reward.
3. Incorrect: Justice as well as mercy allow it.
3. Correct: Justice as well as mercy allows it.
4. Incorrect: Neither water nor food were found there.
4. Correct: Neither water nor food was found there.
5. Incorrect: Many a man do not know his own ability.
5. Correct: Many a man does not know his own ability.
6. Incorrect: Each of these substances are found in India.
6. Correct: Each of these substances is found in India.
7. Incorrect: Neither the chairman not the directors is present.
7. Correct: Neither the chairman not the directors are present.
8. Incorrect: Either he or I has mistaken.
8. Correct: Either he or I have mistaken.
9. Incorrect: The committee have issued their report.
9. Correct: The committee has issued its report.
10. Incorrect: The Arabian nights are still a great value.
10. Correct: The Arabian nights is still a great value.
11. Incorrect: Two-thirds of the work are done.
11. Correct: Two-thirds of the work is done.
12. Incorrect: Two-thirds of the men was killed.
12. Correct: Two-thirds of the men were killed.
Corrections Explanations Subject and Verb Common English Errors
1. The verb of a sentence must agree in number with its original subject instead of the subject nearer to it.
2. The subject Honour and glory suggest one idea; so, verb is singular.
3. Singular subjects joined by as well as get singular verb.
4. 5. 6. Neither, either, many a take singular verb.
7. 8. Two subjects of different numbers and different persons joined by either… or , neither… nor the verb must agree with the subject nearest to it.
9. Collective noun takes a singular verb when the collection of thought of as one whole ;but plural when individualizes.
10. A singular verb always follows Some single object or some collective unit or a proper name.
11. Two-thirds refers to amount/quantity ; so, takes singular verbs.
12. Two-thirds refers to number ; so, takes plural verbs.
Common English Errors in Nouns and Pronouns.
1. Incorrect: He gave me an advice.
1. Correct: He gave me some advice. ( or, a piece of advice).
2. Incorrect: He has learned the alphabets.
2. Correct: He has learned the alphabet.
3. Incorrect: He sold all his furnitures and luggages.
3. Correct: He sold all his furniture and luggage.
4.Incorrect : I got all the informations I wanted.
4.Correct: I got all the information I wanted.
5. Incorrect: The sceneries here are very good.
5. Correct: The scenery here is very good.
6. Incorrect: His whereabouts are not known.
6. Correct: His whereabouts is not known.
7. Incorrect: Mathematics are my favourite subject.
7. Correct: Mathematics is my favourite subject.
8. Incorrect: The news are true.
8. Correct: The news is true.
9. Incorrect: The aristocracy is on the king’s side.
9. Correct: The aristocracy are on the king’s side.
10. Incorrect: Cattle is grazing in the field.
10. Correct: Cattle are grazing in the field.
11. Incorrect: The rich is not happier than the poor.
11. Correct: The rich are not happier than the poor.
12. Incorrect: Give me two dozens eggs.
12. Correct: Give me two dozen eggs.
13. Incorrect: Here is the list of textbooks for the three-years degree course.
13. Correct: Here is the list of textbooks for the three-year degree course.
14. Incorrect: Six miles are a long distance.
14. Correct: Six miles is a long distance.
15. Incorrect: Go to the man’s house who is your friend.
15. Correct: Go to the house of the man who is your friend.
16. Incorrect: Everyone loves Sukanto and Nazrul’s poems.
16. Correct: Everyone loves Sukanto’s and Nazrul’s poems.
17. Incorrect: We have a six-years-old daughter.
17. Correct: We have a six-year-old daughter.
Corrections Explanations Nouns and Pronouns Common English Errors
1. Uncountable nouns do not have plural forms and we should not use a or an with it. To separate an item or unit of an uncountable thing one must add a piece of, a bottle of, some.
2. 3. 4. The nouns in italics have no plural forms; hence we always use singular verbs.
6. 7. 8. The nouns in italics our plural in form but always singular in use.
9. 10. The nouns are singular in form but always have plural sense and take plural verb.
11. ‘The rich’ means rich people ; so plural.
12. dozen same form in both the number.
13.three-year is adjective ;so singular.
14. Six miles denotes some specific amount or quantity; hence it is singular.
15. A noun or pronoun in the possessive case should not be used as the antecedent to a relative pronoun.
16. Joint possession apos-trophy( ‘s) should be added to the last noun; separate possession apos-trophy( ‘s) is added to each noun .‘Sukanto’s and Nazrul’s’ – separate possessions.
17. “ …- year-old” does not have ( -s ) when used before a noun.
Exercises
Correct the following sentences.
1. A hue cry were raised.
2. Ram together with his friends have been punished.
3.He,you and I have gone there.
4. Everyone of the boys love to ride.
5. Physics are his favourite subject.
6. Many a man have succeeded in life.
7. No relative and no friend care for me.
8. The results of his H S exam has not been published yet.
9. I have read Tagore’s poems who is a great poet.
10. Can you give me an advice?
Answers:
1) A hue cry was raised. 2) Ram together with his friends has been punished. 3) You, he and I have gone there. 4) Everyone of the boys loves to ride. 5) Physics is his favorite subject. 6) Many a man has succeeded in life. 7) No relative and no friend cares for me. 8) The results of his H S exam have not been published yet. 9) I have read the poems of Tagore who is a great poet. 10) Can you give me some advice?
