Mind Your Language (Correction of Errors)

By Asad Nazir in CSS, PMS & PCS Rising Stars (Files) Edit Doc
It has been observed that Correction of Errors poses difficulties for the students.
The reason is that the students dont know even the bare essentials of English
grammar. Therefore, they are advised to acquire a good knowledge of grammar. In
this regard, I would recommend Sonia Bokharis book Spoken and Functional
English.

1.

Incorrect: No sooner he saw me, he ran away.

Correct: No sooner did he see me. Than he ran away.
Reason: No sooner is always followed by did and than.

2.

Incorrect: The committee comprises of five members.

Correct: The committee comprises five members.
Reason: The verb comprise is not followed by a preposition in the active voice Of is
used in the Passive Voice (The committee is comprised of five members).
3.

Incorrect: I do not want to part from you.

Correct: I do not want to part with you.
Reason: With is used to show separation.

4.

Incorrect: I shall return after four days.

Correct: I shall return in four days.
Reason: When we mean at the end of in future, we use in.

5.

Incorrect: Talking is not allowed in the library.

Correct: Talking in the library is not allowed.
Reason: The subject of the verb is not allowed is not talking. It is talking in the library.

6.

Incorrect: Smoking is injurious for health.

Correct: Smoking is in injurious to health.
Reason: Wrong use of the preposition.

7.

Incorrect: Though old, he is hail and hearty.

Correct: Though old, he is hale and hearty.
Reason: Wrong spelling.

8.

Incorrect: But not for you, I would have failed.

Correct: But for you, I would have failed.
Reason: When we mean Had you not been there, we say But for you.

9.

Incorrect:

It is a very repeated story.

Correct: It is a much repeated story.

Reason: When Past Participle (i.e. the third form of the verb) is used as an Adjective, it is
preceded by much.
10. Incorrect: I have worked very hard all the month long.
Correct: I have worked very hard all the month over.
Reason: All the month long is not idiomatic.
11. Incorrect: I dont know why has he not come.
Correct: I dont know why he has not come.
Reason: In the indirect form of speech, an interrogative sentence in changed into an
affirmative sentence by using the helping verb (has) after the subject (he).
12. Incorrect: Such boys who have not done their home-work should stand up.
Correct: Such boys as have not done their home-work should stand up.
Reason: Such is followed by as not who.
13. Incorrect: I have met him last month.
Correct: I met him last month.
Reason: When definite time is given. We use the Past Indefinite Tense not Present
Perfect.
14. Incorrect: This is not a house worth-living.
Correct: This is not a house worth living in.
Reason: The verb live has to be followed by the preposition in.
15. Incorrect: One must keep ones words.
Correct: One must keep ones word.
Reason: The correct idiom is: to keep ones word.
16. Incorrect: Although he is my friend yet I dont trust him.
Correct: Although he is my friend, I dont trust him.
Reason: Although is not followed by yet.
17. Incorrect: This woman has five off-springs.
Correct: This woman has five off-spring.
Reason: Off-spring in the plural form remains off-spring.
18. Incorrect: My head pains
Correct: My head aches.
Reason: Pains in this sense is unidiomatic.
19. Incorrect: He is very keen to go abroad.
Correct: He is very keen on going abroad.
Reason: Keen is always followed by preposition or which, in turn, is followed by ing
form of the verb.

20. Incorrect: We have ordered for many books.

Correct: We have ordered many books.
Reason: No preposition is used after order.