Transcript Sentence Correction

Sentence Correction
Nuts and Bolts
Tips
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Read the sentence
Circle key words
Look for adjectives ,
adverbs, coordinators
Identify the problem
Think of possible way(s) to
go about it
Read the options
Pick the best answer
Try it out
Pitfalls
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Parallel structure
Paired conjunction
Conditional if
Subjunctive mode
Verb tense
Expressions of desire
Using the gerund form
Pitfalls
Pronoun errors
 Errors with
comparatives and
superlatives
 Errors with because
 Dangling modifiers
commonly confused
words
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Errors in verb tense
 When I came home, the children still
did not finish dinner.
 When I came home, the children still
had not finished dinner.
Errors in verb tense
 As we ate dinner, the
phone rang
 As we were eating
dinner the phone rang
Errors in verb tense
 She promised she will come
 She promised she would come
 She said she does not know his phone
number
 She said she did not know his phone number
Errors in tense formation
 He throwed it out of the window
 He threw it out the window
 Having just drank some water, I wasn’t thirsty
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Having just drunk some water, I wasn’t
thirsty
Errors in subject verb agreement
 Ted, Linda and I is going to the party.
 Ted, Linda and I are going to the party.
 The bride, together with the groom and
her parents, are receiving at the door.
 The bride, together with the groom and
her parents, is receiving at the door.
Errors in subject verb agreement
 There is many reasons why I can’t help you.
 There are many reasons why I can’t help you.
 His mastery of several languages and the social
graces make him a sought after dinner guest.
 His mastery of several languages and the social
graces makes him a sought after dinner guest.
Errors in conditional sentences
 Future: If I have time, I will do it
tomorrow
 Present: If I had time, I would do it
now
 Past: If I had had time, I would have
done it yesterday
Errors in conditional sentences
 If I was you, I wouldn’t do that.
 If I were you, I wouldn’t do that.
 She would not say that if she was not
true
 She would not say that if she were not
true
Errors in conditional sentences
 If I would have known, I would not have
gone.
 If I had known, I would not have gone
 You would not be so tired if you were
not going to bed so late.
 You would not be so tired if you did not
go to bed so late.
Errors in expressions of desire
 Present: I wish I knew him
 Future: I wish you could/would come
 Past: I wish he had come
Errors in expressions of desire
 I wish I heard that story about him
before I met him
 I wish I had heard that story about
him before I met him
 She wishes you will be on time
 She wishes you would be on time
Errors in Verbs followed by
Verb words
 She ignored the doctor’s recommendation
that she stops smoking.
 She ignored the doctor’s recommendation
that she stop smoking.
Errors in Verbs followed by
Verb words
 It is essential that you are on time.
 It is essential that you be on time.
 He suggested that we should meet at
the train.
 He suggested that we meet at the
train.
The Subjunctive
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Ask
demand
desire
insist
prefer
recommend
require
 Suggest
 urge
 it is essential/
imperative/important
necessary that
 requirement
 suggestion
Errors in negative imperatives
 Would you please don’t smoke here?
 Please do not smoke here
Errors in Affirmative and negative
agreement of verbs
 I am an American and so is she.
 I am an American and she is too.
 Mary likes Bach and so does John.
 Mary likes Bach and John does too.
 My father will be there and so will my
mother
 My father will be there and my mother will
too.
Negative agreement
 I am not American and he is not either
 I am not American and neither is he.
 Mary does not like Bach and John does
not either.
 Mary does not like Bach and neither
does John.
Negative Agreement
 I have seen the film and she also has.
 I have seen the film and so has she.
 I have not seen the film and she has
not neither.
 I have not seen the film and she has
not either.
Errors of Infinitives or Gerunds
Verbs requiring an infinitive:
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agree
fail
intend
promise
decide
hope
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refuse
expect
want
plan
learn
Verbs requiring a gerund
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admit
appreciate
avoid
consider
deny
enjoy
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finish
practice
quit
regret
risk
stop
Phrases requiring a gerund
 Approve of
 to be better
off
 can’t help
 count on
 do not mind
 forget about
 Get through
 keep on
 look forward
to
 think about
 think of
 insist on
 I intend learning French next semester.
 I intend to learn French next semester.
 I have stopped to smoke
 I have stopped smoking
 We are looking forward to see you.
 We are looking forward to seeing you.
Errors in verbs requiring How in
the complement
 She know to drive
 She knows how to drive.
 I will teach you to sew.
 I will teach you how to sew.
Errors in tag endings
 I’m right aren’t I?
 We ought to go, shouldn’t we?
 Let’s see, shall we?
 She has been there before, isn’t she?
 She has been there before, hasn’t she?
 You would rather go yourself, hadn’t
you?
 You would rather go yourself, wouldn’t
you?
Errors in Idiomatic verb expressions
 A: must have done- it is a logical conclusion
 They are late, they must have missed the bus.
 B: Had better do - it is advisable
 It is getting cold. You’d better take your
coat.
 C: Used to do - was in the habit of doing in the
past
 I used to smoke a pack of cigarettes.
 D: To be used to - to be accustomed.
 In America, you will get used to hearing only
English all day long.
Errors in Idiomatic verb expressions
 E: make someone do- force someone of do
something
 My mother made me take my little sister to
the movies.
 F: would rather - would prefer
 I would rather speak to her myself
 I would rather not speak to her myself
 I would rather you spoke to her
 I would rather you did not speak to her.
(Past is used when someone other than the
subject to do the action, use the past)
Pronoun Errors
 All of us- Fred, Jane, Alice, and me were
late.
 All of us- Fred, Jane, Alice, and I were
late.
 How could she blame you and he for the
accident?
 How could she blame you and him for
the accident
Errors with Who and Whom
 I do not know who Sarah meant.
 I do not know whom Sarah meant.
 There was a discussion as to whom
was better suited.
 There was a discussion as to who was
better suited.
Errors of pronoun subject verb
agreement
 John is absent, but a few of the class is
here.
 John is absent, but a few of the class are
here.
 Everyone on the project have to come to the
meeting.
 Everyone on the project has to come to the
meeting.
Errors of pronoun subject
verb agreement
 Either of those dresses are suitable for
the party.
 Either of those dresses is suitable for
the party.
 Neither of them are experts on the
subject.
 Neither of them is an expert on the
subject.
Either or and Neither nor
 Either his parents or he is brining it.
 Either he or his parents are brining
it.
 Neither his parents nor he was there
 Neither he nor his parents were
there.
Singulars
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anyone
anything
each
either
neither
no one
nothing
what
whatever
whoever
Plurals:
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both
few
many
several
others
Errors of possessive pronoun
agreement
 If anyone calls take their name.
 If anyone calls, take his name.
 Those of us who care should write to
their congressman.
 Those of us who care should write to
our congressman
Errors of possessive pronoun
agreement
 Some of you will have to come in their
own cars.
 Some of you will have to come in your
own cars.
Errors in pronouns after the
verb to be
 It must have been her at the door.
 It must have been she at the door.
 I wish I were him.
 I wish I were he.
 He did not know that it was me who did it.
 He did not know that it was I who did it.
Errors in position of relative
pronoun
 He could park right in front of the door,
which is very convenient.
 His being allowed to park right in front
of the door was very convenient.
 The traffic was heavy, which made me
late.
 I was late because of the heavy traffic.
Errors in Parallelism of
Impersonal pronouns
 One should take your duties seriously
 One should take one’s/ his/her duties
seriously.
Errors in the use of adjectives
and adverbs
 I sure wish I were rich.
 I surely wish I were rich.
 The young man writes bad.
 The young man writes badly.
 He is real good teacher
 He is a really good teacher
Errors with verbs of sense
 She looked very well.
 She looked very good.
 The food tastes deliciously
 The food tastes delicious.
Verbs of sense
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Be
feel
look
smell
sound
taste
seem
appear
Errors in comparatives
 This exercise is harder then the last
one.
 This exercise is harder than the last
one.
 He works faster than her.
 He works faster than she (does/ does
she)
Errors in comparatives
 She was much different than I
expected.
 She was much different from what I
expected.
 This year, I will have littler free time.
 This year I will have less free time.
Errors in question word
connector:
 Do you know when does the movie start?
 Do you know when the movie starts?
 I do not know what is his name.
 I do not know what his name is.
Errors in question word connector:
 Did he tell you why hasn’t he come
yet?
 Did he tell you why he hasn’t come
yet?
Errors in purpose connectors:
 We took a cab so we would be on time
 We took a cab so that we would be on
time
Errors with because
 The reason he was rejected was
because he was too young
 The reason he was rejected was that
he was young
Errors of dangling modifiers:
 Seeing that the hour was late, it was
decided to postpone the committee
vote.
 Seeing that the hour was late, the
committee decided to postpone its
vote.
Errors of dangling modifiers
 Unaccustomed to getting up early, it
was difficult for him to get to work
on time.
 Unaccustomed to getting up early, he
found it difficult to get to work on
time.
Errors in modifying countable
and noncountable nouns:
 I was surprised by the large amount
of people at the gate.
 I was surprised by the large number
of people at the gate.
Errors in connectors:
 She speaks not only Spanish but French as well.
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She speaks
She speaks
She speaks
She speaks
She speaks
She speaks
She speaks
Spanish and French
Spanish. She also speaks French
not only Spanish but also French
Spanish and French too
not only Spanish but also French
both Spanish and French
Spanish as well as French
Errors of illogical comparisons
 Texas is bigger than any state in the
United States.
 Texas is bigger than any other state in the
United States.
 That is the most important of any other
reason.
 That is the most important reason.
Errors of illogical comparisons
 Of the two books, this one is the
best.
 Of the two books, this one is better.
Errors of identical comparisons
 This dress is the same like mine
 This dress is like mine
Errors in idiom using comparative
structure
 You may have to spend so much as two
hours waiting.
 You may spend as much as two hours
waiting.
 It cost twice more than I thought it would.
 It cost twice as much as I thought it would
Errors in parallel comparisons
 The more children you have, the house you
need will be bigger.
 The more children you have the bigger the
house you need.
 The earlier we leave, we will get there earlier.
 The earlier we leave, the earlier we get there.
Errors in parallel comparisons
 The busier you become, the lesser
the time you have for reading.
 The busier you become, the less time
you have for reading.
Errors in parallel construction:
 The film was exciting, interesting and made
well.
 The film was exciting, interesting and wellmade.
 The purpose of the meeting is to introduce
new members and raise money.
 The purpose of the meeting is to introduce
new members and to raise money.
Errors is noun adjectives:
 You are talking like a two years old
child.
 You are talking like a two-year-old
child.
Errors in ordinal and cardinal
numbers:
 We missed act one
 We missed the first act
 May first
 The first of may
 Gate three not the third gate
Errors in ordinal and cardinal
numbers:
 His birthday is on Feb twenty two.
 His birthday is on February twenty
second.
Errors in unnecessary modifiers
 He drove in a carefully way.
 He drove in a careful way.
 The problem was difficult and
delicate in nature
 It was a difficult, delicate problem
Errors in unnecessary modifiers
 The new innovations were startling.
 The innovations were startling.
 Would you please repeat again what you
said?
 Would you please repeat what you said?
 He left more richer than when he came.
 He left richer than when he came.
Errors in unnecessary modifiers
 That depends on the state of the
general condition of the situation.
 That depends on the situation.
Identify problematic areas in the
following sentences and try to fix
them:
 The reason we are late is due to the
fact that the bus was delayed by
heavy traffic.
 Before starting a program of diet and
exercise. A consultation with your
physician is advisable.
 He interviewed several candidates who
he thought had the experience and
qualifications the position required.
 More than any other animal, the
wolverine exemplifies the unbridled
ferocity of nature red in tooth and
claw.
 Familiar with the terran from
previous visits, the explorer’s
search for the abandoned mine
site was a success.
 If any one calls while you are in
the conference, tell them I will
return their call after the
meeting.
 Neither the earthquake not the
subsequent fire was able to
destroy the spirit of the city
dwellers.
 Of the two candidates for this
government position, Jason
Harold is the most qualified
because of his experience in the
field.
PRACTICE