Common errors in English usage for IBPS, SSC, UPSC, GRE, and other exams.

 Singular or Plural           what is causative verbs Conditional structure          Verbs after Neither...                         and many more errors.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                               
1. Unless aid arrives (A)/ within the next few weeks (B)/ thousands are starving.(C) / No error (D)

Answer: (C), use will starve in place of are starving.

Rule:
This is the first conditional sentence; first conditional always indicates future: something possible in the future. Here, the sentence indicates about future. Hence future tense is used rather than present tense in the main clause.
 There are mainly four conditional sentence in English Grammar:
1. Zero conditional : It is open and possible at any time. Use present tense in both of the clause: if and main.
2. First Conditional : It indicates about future. Use present tense in If clause and future tense in main clause.
3. Second conditional: It is hypothetical and not possible in the present. For instance,  If I were..., I would...
4. Third conditional : Impossible in the past. For example, If I had..., I would/could/should/might have...

2. I have been (A)/ working in this organization (B)/ since three years. (C) / No error (D)

Answer: (C), use for in place of since

Rule:
For period or length of time, for is used,  whereas for point of time since is used. Here, three years is a period of time; therefore for is right here.


3. Neither of the two (A)/ candidates have (B)/ paid his subscription. (C) / No error (D)

Answer: (B), use has in place of have

Rule:
Neither means not either means not any one of two, it indicates a singular subject; this is why, singular verbs are always used with it.
When None, neither, either and any are followed by of + plural noun/ pronoun, they are normally used with singular verbs. - Oxford.

4. My uncle forced (A)/my friend and I (B)/ to stay back. (C) / No error (D)

Answer: (B), use me in place of I

Rule:
Forced is a transitive verb, and transitive verbs demand object, so an objective case is needed here. Pronoun I, however, is in subjective case, we must change "I" into "me" as the verb requiring objective case.


5. We had scarcely (A)/ reached the place (B)/ than it stared to rain heavily. (C) / No error (D)

Answer: (C), use when in place of than

Rule:
Scarcely is not comparative hence than is not suitable here. We should use when here. Than is only used with comparative like: No sooner... than.
We should not use than with hardly or scarcely. When or before is used with hardly or scarcely .


6. I am really disappointed (A)/ in not having saw my friends (B)/ while I was in New Delhi on vacation this summer. (C) / No error (D)

Answer: (B), use seen in place of saw

Rule:
Having + V3 is always used in the prefect participle.

7. The company have (A)/ thousands of customers (B)/ happy with its service. (C) / No error (D)

Answer: (A), use has in place of have

Rule:
Company is a singular noun, and has is used with singular instead of have.

8. They are residing (A)/ in this city (B)/ for the last two decades. (C) / No error (D)

Answer: (A), use have been in place of are

Rule:
Use the present perfect continuous to talk about an ongoing state or action which began in the past and is still continuing or has just finished.
 Use the present continuous tense for the present continuous action which is happening now.

9. The cruel lady made (A)/ her step daughter to do (B)/ all the household chores. (C) / No error (D)

Answer: (B), use only do  in place of to do

Rule:
Make (= force) , See, Make, and Help are known as causative verbs. In active sense, it is followed by object + infinitive without to (verb without to). In passive structures, however, to is used before verbs.

For instance:
Active: The cruel lady made her step daughter do all the household chores. 
Passive:The step daughter was made to do all the household chores. 

10. The US (A)/ don't want (B)/ India in the Security Council.(C) / No error (D)

Answer: (B), use doesn't in place of don't

Rule:
The US is singular noun not plural.



RECOMMENDED BOOK: The best book for common errors in the English Grammar.

                                                  

  || Next Post

Please let us know any errors you find in this post.

I have read some fantastic books on English language that really helped me improve my writing. You can buy my recommended books on Amazon. Here is the lists below:

Books on Grammar:
Books Buy Links Rating

The Elephants Of Style

4.5/5

English Grammar in Use Book

4.5/5

Practical English Usage

4.5/5

The Elements of Style

4.5/5

Essentials of English

4.5/5

Handbook of English Grammar and Usage

4.5/5

Woe Is I

4.5/5

Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

4.5/5

It was the best of sentences, it was the worst of sentences.

4.5/5

If you want more books on English language, click the link



2 comments:

  1. This is my first time visit to your blog and I am very interested in the articles that you serve. Provide enough knowledge for me. Thank you for sharing useful and don't forget, keep sharing useful info: Programa Raio

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I love seeing blog that understand the value of providing a quality resource for free. entertainment speech

    ReplyDelete

Appreciate Vocabeasy By Your Valuable Comments



Looking for something? Find here!






Ads