Non-native English speakers have a unique set of challenges while writing and speaking in the language. There are many different types of grammatical mistakes that are made and sentences often become confusing and misrepresenting because of these. <\/p>\n
Here are some common grammar mistakes we Commonly make: <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Their vs There <\/strong> Misuse of Coma <\/strong> Example:<\/em> It takes him all day, to drive home. Blunder vs. Mistake<\/strong> More vs. Better<\/strong> Does vs. Do <\/strong> Which vs. That <\/strong> Who vs. Whom <\/strong> Putting a Comma before the word \u201cthat\u201d <\/strong> Un-capitalized words at the beginning of a quotation mark<\/strong>\n
\nCorrect:<\/strong> I am John
\nWhile introducing oneself, it is usually observed that the users mix up both the possessive pronoun \u201cmyself\u201d and the subject pronoun \u201cI\u201d.\n<\/li>\n
\nCorrect:<\/strong> I have four uncles and aunts
\nPresent Continuous Tense cannot be used for pragmatic situations such as this. Simple present tense should be used.<\/li>\n
\nCorrect:<\/strong> He does not have a laptop
\nDo not<\/em> can not be used after the subject pronoun (He, She, it.) <\/li>\n
\nCorrect:<\/strong> Does she have a house?
\nThe helping verb does is used at the beginning and the main verb have <\/strong>denotes possession or ownership.<\/li>\n
\nCorrect:<\/strong> (Question) \u201cIs today a working day?\u201d OR \u201cAre we working today?\u201d(Answer)\u201d Yes we are working today or no we are not working today.\u201d<\/li>\n
\nCorrect:<\/strong> That was what I said. She is very smart.
\nSaying \u201cThat only\u201d was the wrong way to emphasize what the speaker has already said.<\/li>\n
\nCorrect:<\/strong> Year before last Rachel was the employee of the year.
\nPhrases that can be used: Month before last, Day before last, Week before last.<\/li>\n
\nCorrect:<\/strong> Joe did not write the test last week
\nThe helping verb did is followed by the present tense of the verb and not the past tense of the verb. <\/li>\n
\nCorrect:<\/strong> I cannot cope with this pressure
\nThe meaning of cope is to manage. \u2018cope\u2019 is followed by the preposition \u2018with\u2019 and never followed by \u2018up\u2019. <\/li>\n
\nCorrect:<\/strong> I came to the office on foot.
\nWe can say \u201cby Car\u201d \u201cby bike\u201d \u201cby bus\u201d \u201cby train\u201d and \u201cby flight\u201d. However, we cannot say \u201cby walk\u201d as it is the \u201cfoot\u201d that is being used to travel and not \u201cwalk\u201d.<\/li>\n
\nCorrect:<\/strong> What is the time by your watch?<\/li>\n
\nCorrect:<\/strong> Our office is on the 2nd floor. <\/li>\n
\nCorrect:<\/strong> The price of this laptop is higher than that of yours
\nWhile comparing two individuals\/things than is followed by the pronoun that.<\/li>\n
\nCorrect:<\/strong> His sons-in-law have come home.
\nIn plural form, it is always mothers-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law.<\/li>\n
\nCorrect:<\/strong> Devi has white hair.
\nAll the hair on one’s head is considered uncountable and so, “hairs” is almost always incorrect. <\/li>\n
\nCorrect:<\/strong> I prefer coffee to tea.
\n\u2018Prefer\u2019 is always followed by the preposition \u2018to\u2019.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nSome Other Important Tips<\/h2>\n
\nMore often than not, these words are misused. \u201cTheir\u201d refers to people whereas \u201cthere\u201d is used to refer to places.
\nExamples: <\/em>
\nI have been there many times.
\nLet\u2019s hope they achieve their target quickly.<\/p>\n
\nThe main purpose of a comma in a sentence should be to indicate a pause in a long sentence or split a list of items mentioned. When a sentence is split, it accounts for the misuse of a comma. <\/p>\n
\nThis is referred to as sentence splitting and is in fact wrong. The comma basically confuses the sentence and creates what is commonly referred to as sentence fragments. <\/p>\n
\nThese two words basically mean the same thing and can never be used in a sentence at the same time.
\nExample:<\/em> Sam could see her blunder mistake.
\nThis is wrong. It can either be \u201cSam could see her making a mistake\u201d or \u201c Sam could see her blunder\u201d. <\/p>\n
\nAt no point should they be used together in a sentence.
\nExample:<\/em> My laptop is good but you\u2019ll find my brother\u2019s laptop to be more better.
\nThe word better in itself implies superiority hence the use of the word
\n\u2018More\u2019 in the sentence is seen as being unnecessary. <\/p>\n
\n\u201cDoes\u201d is used in singular form while \u201cDo\u201d indicates the plural nature of the subject.
\nExample:<\/em> Why does <\/strong>he bothers you a lot?
\nWhy \u201cdo\u201d<\/strong> they bother you a lot? <\/p>\n
\nOne of the major mistakes that cuts across all nationalities. \u201cThat\u201d should be used as a restrictive pronoun while \u201cWhich\u201d should be used as a relative pronoun to imply the available options. In a nutshell, \u201cWhich\u201d defines and \u201cThat\u201d limits.
\nExample:<\/em> I never watch movies that are not HD. This means that you limit yourself to HD movies.
\nI only watch HD movies which are available on DVD. It means that you can watch HD movies available on DVD and do not have to download them.<\/p>\n
\nAs a subjective pronoun \u201cWho\u201d is used in situations where a pronoun acts as the subject of a particular sentence. On the other hand, \u201dWhom\u201d is used as an objective pronoun and used whenever a pronoun acts as an object in a sentence.
\nExample:<\/em> Who will participate in the competition today?
\nThis is the person whom I told you about?<\/p>\n
\nThis is a very common grammar mistake made by us people. There is a school of thought of the opinion that \u201dthat\u201d should never have a comma before it while others provide for some discretion in certain scenarios.
\nExample:<\/em> He spoke so well, that everybody was pleased (This is wrong.)<\/em>
\nCorrect:<\/em> He spoke so well that everybody was pleased. <\/p>\n
\nEvery time you start a quotation mark, it must be followed by a capital letter.
\nExample:<\/em> John said, \u201dThe meeting is on Saturday.\u201d<\/p>\n