COMMON ERRORS TO AVOID IN ENGLISH
Like other languages, English is a language that is guided by rules. These rules therefore need to be learned so as to avoid making basic grammatical blunders. If you refuse to play by the rules, you'll miss it; it doesn't matter how nice your spoken English sounds to the ear, it has to be according to the rules.
Moreover, since the English language is the official language in many countries of the world, it is imperative to know the rules guiding it.
So, here are the common errors many people make.
1. Wrong use of possessive pronouns
Examples: I saw the cat. It's tail is very long. WRONG
I saw the cat. Its tail is very long. CORRECT
Explanation: “It's” is the contracted form of “It is”. So, when you say: “I saw the cat. It's tail is very long”, what you are saying is: “I saw the cat. It is tail is very long.”
2. Inappropriate use of concord.
Example: Kathryn like eating fruits. WRONG
Kathryn likes eating fruits. CORRECT
Explanation: A singular subject will always go with a singular verb, while a plural subject agrees with a plural verb. Kathryn” is a singular subject. Singular verbs have “-s” or “-es” ending. Examples are “goes”, “smiles”, “helps”, etc.
3. Plural subjects not matching plural verbs.
Example: dissertation helps students to improve. WRONG
dissertation help students to improve. CORRECT
Explanation: A plural subject agrees with a plural verb.
"Dissertations" is plural. It can only go with a plural verb. Verbs which do not have "-s" or "-es" are plural verbs.
4. Words like "everything", "everybody", "anybody", "anybody", "something", "somebody", "nobody" and "nothing" should be followed by a singular verb.
Example: Nobody knows tomorrow. CORRECT
Nobody know tomorrow. WRONG
Everything is fine. CORRECT
Everybody know my name. WRONG
Everybody knows my name. CORRECT
5. Wrong use of accompaniment concord.
Example: The man, as well as his wife, are here. WRONG
The man, as well as his wife, is here. CORRECT
Explanation: "The man" is the subject, and it is singular. "as well as his wife" is the accompaniment. The focus subject is "The man", and that's what will determine the verb form that will follow.
Another example: Freelancing platforms, as well as dissertation writing services is easy to access. WRONG
Freelancing platforms, as well as dissertation writing services, are easy to access. CORRECT
6. Names of subjects and games are regarded as singular subjects, and must therefore be followed by a singular verb.
Example: Physics is an interesting subject. CORRECT
Physics are an interesting subject. WRONG
Measles spread like wildfire. WRONG
Measles spreads like wildfire. CORRECT
Explanation: "Measles" is singular, and must be followed by a singular verb.
7. Using "being" after "has/have" is wrong.
Example: He has being promoted at his workplace. WRONG
He has been promoted at his workplace. CORRECT
Explanation: Use "been" and not "being" after "has/have"
8. Use "being" after "is/was", and not after "has/have"
Example: The news of the attack is been watched from the White House. WRONG
The news of the attack is being watched from the White House. CORRECT
Dissertation writing services were been criticised by the professor last week. WRONG
Dissertation writing services were being criticised by the professor last week. CORRECT
9. After the word "every", a singular subject should follow.
It is wrong to say:
Every students in this school depend on dissertation help. WRONG
Every student in this school depends on dissertation help. CORRECT
Explanation: The word "every" is used in the sense of "each". So, a singular subject should follow, and of course, it will go with a singular verb.
Recall that singular verbs have "-s" or "-es" ending them. Plural verbs do not have "-s" or "-es" ending them.
10. After the word "each", a singular subject should follow, that is:
"Each" + Singular Subject + Singular Verb
Examples:
Each boys know how to read. WRONG
Each boy knows how to read. CORRECT
Each learner gets to school early. CORRECT
Each learners get to school early. WRONG
Explanation: Same as in number 9 above.
11. "Each of" + Plural Subject + Singular Verb.
Examples:
Each of the girls knows their onions. CORRECT
Each of the girl knows their onions. WRONG
Each of the players are talented. WRONG
Each of the players is talented. CORRECT
Explanation: When you say "each of them", you are referring to each person. So, since it is one person, individually speaking, the verb that will follow is a singular verb.
(If you want to test the authenticity of what you are reading, type a sentence in a Grammarly software, which you have always believed to be correct but has been proven wrong here. Then you'll see what corrections will pop up.)
12. Wrong use of apostrophe.
Whenever you want to talk about what someone has or possesses, you should put an apostrophe after the noun in focus.
Examples:
The boy's father offers assignment writing services.
(Notice the apostrophe after the noun "boy")
The boys' fathers offer online assignment help.
Explanation
Notice that the second example informs us that it is no longer one boy, but now more than one hence "the boys". So, the apostrophe comes after "boys", and this reflects in the word "fathers" which comes after it.
Its going to be a great day! WRONG
It's going to be a great day! CORRECT
Explanation
"Its" is a possessive pronoun. We can say: "The dog is barking so hard that its voice is almost going out!"
If we use "it's", it means "it is" or "it has", and that will be very wrong.
It's been observed that getting help online for assignments is on the increase. CORRECT
Its been observed that getting help online for assignments is on the increase. WRONG
Explanation
The use of "It's" above means "It has".
13. Incomplete use of comparisons.
Examples:
The students performed better this time. WRONG
The students performed better than the previous time. CORRECT
Whenever you use the word "better", you are comparing, and you should complete your comparison.
