Incorrect | I have a good news for you. |
Correct | I have good news for you |
Incorrect | The men are national beings. |
Correct | Men are national beings. |
Incorrect | The boys leave the school at four o'clock. |
Correct | The boys leave school at four o'clock. |
Incorrect | He sent a word that he would come soon. |
Correct | He sent word that he would come soon. |
Incorrect | I have read the Shakespeare's Macbeth. |
Correct | I have read Shakespeare's Macbeth |
Incorrect | You cannot set a foot in this house. |
Correct | You cannot set foot in this house. |
Incorrect | The envy is an evil passion. |
Correct | Envy is an evil passion. |
Incorrect | He has not yet gone to the bed. |
Correct | He has not yet gone to bed. |
Incorrect | He is Daniel in judgment. |
Correct | He is a Daniel in judgment. |
Incorrect | He made very wise decision. |
Correct | He made a very wise decision. |
Incorrect | Fire broke out in our village. |
Correct | A fire broke out in our village. |
Incorrect | Andamans are a group of islands. |
Correct | The Andamans are a group of islands. |
Incorrect | He is sick. |
Correct | He is ill. |
Incorrect | I have strong headache. |
Correct | I have a severe headache. |
Incorrect | This is more preferable than that. |
Correct | This is preferable to that. |
Incorrect | No less than fifty students were present. |
Correct | No fewer than fifty students were present. |
Incorrect | I want a little quantity of milk. |
Correct | I want a small quantity of milk. |
Incorrect | Ram only is guilty. |
Correct | Ram alone is guilty. |
Incorrect | Do not go out in the sun with your head open. |
Correct | Do not go out in the sun with your head bare OR uncovered. |
Incorrect | Give a verbal translation of the passage. |
Correct | Give a literal translation of the passage. |
Incorrect | The association has three thousands of rupees in cash. |
Correct | The association has only three thousand rupees. |
Incorrect | He does not know to swim. |
Correct | He does not know how to swim. |
Incorrect | Don't go in the sun. |
Correct | Don't go out in the sun. |
Incorrect | I know him too well. |
Correct | I know him very well. |
Incorrect | I shall of course do it. |
Correct | I shall certainly do it. |
USE OF CONJUNCTIONS | |
Incorrect | Now you are tired, you may rest awhile. |
Correct | Now that you are tired, you may rest awhile. |
Incorrect | No sooner had he died, when his sons began to quarrel. |
Correct | No sooner had he died than his sons began to quarrel. |
Incorrect | He asked me that why I had not gone there. |
Correct | He asked me why I had not gone there. |
Incorrect | Until you remain idle, you cannot succeed. |
Correct | As long as you remain idle, you cannot succeed. |
Incorrect | One of his family members is dead. |
Correct | A member of his family is dead. |
Correct | One of the members of his family is dead. |
Incorrect | My brother's all the books have been stolen. |
Correct | All my brother's books have been stolen. |
Correct | All the books of my brother have been stolen. |
Incorrect | For what you are here ? |
Correct | What are you here for ? |
Incorrect | Tell me why did you go there ? |
Correct | Tell me why you went there ? |
Incorrect | I, you and he will go together. |
Correct | You, he and I will go together. |
Incorrect | Exercise is good both for work as well as health. |
Correct | Exercise is good for work as well as health. |
Incorrect | He did not abstain to smoke but persisted to purchase valuable cigars. |
Correct | He did not abstain from smoking but persisted in purchasing valuable cigars. |
Incorrect | To him I did a request which he did not comply. |
Correct | To him I made a request with which he did not comply. |
Incorrect | I cannot bear your separation. |
Correct | I cannot bear separation from you. |
Incorrect | Open the last but one page of the book. |
Correct | Open the last page but one of the book. |
Incorrect | I solicit your favor to grant me leave. |
Correct | I solicit the favor of your granting me leave. |
Incorrect | Those who are absent, I shall punish them. |
Correct | I shall punish those who are absent. |
Incorrect | After doing the work, his face brightened. |
Correct |
After
he had done the work, his face brightened.
|
Incorrect | We shall be glad to get your good news. |
Correct |
We shall
be glad to get good news from you.
|
Incorrect | I feel myself feverish. |
Correct |
I feel
feverish.
|
Incorrect | You have no excuse to be forgetful. |
Correct | You have no excuse for being forgetful. |
Incorrect | He rose equal to the occasion. |
Correct | He rose to the occasion. |
Correct | He was equal to the occasion. |
Incorrect | Are your work busy ? |
Correct | Do you have a busy job ? |
Incorrect | I am going to a picnic. |
Correct | I am going on a picnic. |
Incorrect | I am a bit in a hurry. |
Correct | I am in a bit of a hurry. |
Incorrect | I'll date her out this Saturday. |
Correct | I'll take her out on a date this Saturday. |
Incorrect | If one day I am good in English, I would definitely admit it. |
Correct |
If someday
I am good at English, I will definitely admit to it.
|
Incorrect | How do you think to learn the English ? |
Correct | What is your point on learning English ? |
Incorrect |
Are you investing on stock market ?
|
Correct | Are you investing in the stock market ? |
Incorrect | I am difficult to learn English. |
Correct |
It is
difficult for me to learn English.
|
Incorrect | We have full off and half off on Sunday. |
Correct | We are given the option to work either full or half day on Sunday. |
Incorrect | In fact, Billy really owns some personality to be a VIP. |
Correct | In fact, Billy really has what it takes to be a VIP. |
Incorrect |
China is coming into rainy weather.
|
Correct | China is in rainy season now. |
Incorrect |
All
these three cities are similar warm as Malaysia.
|
Correct | All three of these cities are as warm as Malaysia. |
Incorrect |
What
time of a day now in your country ?
|
Correct | What is the time now in your country ? |
Incorrect | Comes to think of it, it sounds right ! |
Correct | Come to think of it, it does sound right ! |
Incorrect | You can try it more .......... |
Correct | You can try a few times ........... |
Incorrect | He went to abroad to further his study. |
Correct | He went abroad to further his study. |
Incorrect | Today, I'll wash my cat. |
Correct |
I'll
give my cat a bath today.
|
Incorrect | How many days left for you to quit your position ? |
Correct | How many days are left before you quit your job? |
Correct | How many days are left until you quit your job? |
Incorrect | Did Thailand come into rain season ? |
Correct | Is it the rainy season in Thailand ? |
Incorrect | How was your sleeping yesterday ? |
Correct | Did you have a good sleep yesterday ? |
Incorrect | He is trying to look cute to make himself forgiven. |
Correct | He is trying to get away with it by looking cute. |
Incorrect | Why don't stay more time here ? |
Correct | Why don't you stay a little longer ? |
Incorrect | But you know a lot about computer, isn't it ? I know nothing at all about it ! |
Correct | But you know a lot about computer, don't you ? I myself know nothing about it ! |
Incorrect | The sales of light arms is the main cause of heavy casualty in conflicting nations. |
Correct | The sale of light arms to conflicting nations is the main cause of heavy casualties. |
Incorrect | Why you want to know more about me ? I am just a small people. |
Correct | Why do you want to know more about me ? I am a nobody. |
Incorrect | Make sure that it is a high pay job. |
Correct | Make sure that it is a high paying job. |
Incorrect | I wonder if there is a comment on the certificate by GE about how good a student perform in the course ? |
Correct | I wonder if there is a comment on the certificate by GE about how well a student performs in the course ? |
Incorrect | We have lots of rain, because we're in monsoon season. |
Correct | There is a lot of rain here as we are in monsoon season now. |
Incorrect | How much is the temperature? |
Correct | What is the temperature ? |
Incorrect | Don't feel anger with me !!! I'm just kidding. |
Correct | Don't be mad at me !!! I'm just kidding. |
Incorrect | Kitty, your honey was left just now because I told him you will coming soon. |
Correct | Kitty, your honey has just left as I told him you would be coming soon. |
Incorrect | I am a Chinese and have been abroad 10 years. |
Correct | I am Chinese and have been in abroad for 10 years. |
Incorrect | OK, tell me how does he like ? |
Correct | OK, tell me what he looks like ? |
Incorrect | I think you should go to abroad find a job make your life a little bit changed. |
Correct | I think you should go abroad to find a job and make your life a little bit different for a change. |
Incorrect | Lilian is living far away with China. |
Correct | Lilian is living far away from China. |
Incorrect | I am sure not even one man can control himself if he meet this kind of situation. |
Correct | I doubt that there is even one man who can control himself in this situation. |
Incorrect | Are you a saler, Alvin ? |
Correct | Are you a salesman, Alvin ? |
Incorrect | The team bring a lot of happy for football fan in the world but now I doubtful them. |
Correct | The team used to bring a lot of fun to the soccer fans in the world but I am doubtful of them now. |
Incorrect | Which kind of car ? |
Correct | What type of car ? |
Incorrect | I think your express will have a little difficult, but that is a lucky thing, I can understand you. |
Correct | I think you have difficulty in expressing your idea. Luckily, I can understand you. |
Incorrect | How are you this week ? |
Correct | How have you been this week ? |
Incorrect | I know you are good in computer and English. |
Correct | I know you are good at computers/computing and English. |
Incorrect | I think your qualification will surely make you open a computer or English training center. |
Correct | I think you can open up a computer or English training center with your qualifications. |
Incorrect | I am no exceptional. |
Correct | I am no exception. |
Incorrect | My telephone conversation with you for past one and half week has made me feel you as a very firm character. |
Correct | Having telephoned with you for one week, I think you have a very firm/strong character. |
Incorrect | It is easy or not get visa? |
Correct | Is it easy to get visa ? |
Incorrect | I wonder why are you keep study after graduated high school ? |
Correct | I wonder why you keep studying after graduation from high school ? |
Incorrect | He will be great help for you. |
Correct | He will be of great help to you. |
Incorrect | Am I a simple girl and has not any brains ? |
Correct | Am I a naive lady who doesn't have intelligence ? |
Incorrect | What sport are you interest ? |
Correct | What sports are you interested in ? |
Incorrect | The discussion will begin after the dinner. |
Correct | The discussion will begin after dinner. |
Incorrect | Can the communism coexist with the capitalism ? |
Correct | Can communism coexist with capitalism ? |
Incorrect | Professor Li will speak on the latest development in the chemistry. |
Correct | Professor Li will speak on the latest development in chemistry. |
Incorrect | We make the bread with the flour. |
Correct | We make bread with flour. |
Incorrect | The experience is the best teacher. |
Correct | Experience is the best teacher. |
Incorrect | David has just been commissioned as the captain. |
Correct | David has just been commissioned as captain. |
Incorrect | When children grow up, they are sent to the school. |
Correct | When children grow up, they are sent to school. |
Incorrect | They study in the England. |
Correct | They study in England. |
Incorrect | Some of the students speak the Mandarin very well. |
Correct | Some of the students speak Mandarin very well. |
Incorrect | More and more people today die of the cancer. |
Correct | More and more people today die of cancer. |
Incorrect | I like to play the football. |
Correct | I like to play football. |
Incorrect | The blue is my favorite color. |
Correct | Blue is my favorite color. |
Incorrect | Mary went shopping on the Saturday. |
Correct | Mary went shopping on Saturday. |
Note : When
seasons, months or days are specified, they are preceded by
the definite article.
In
the winter of 1976 she met with an accident.
I shall be going to the
States in the fall.
|
|
Incorrect | The dogs are faithful animals. |
Correct |
Dogs are faithful animals.
|
Incorrect | She has not answered to his question. |
Correct |
She has not
answered his question.
|
Incorrect | We had a meeting in this afternoon. |
Correct |
We had a meeting
this afternoon.
|
Note : With the,
the preposition in is used.
I work best
in the morning.
He will be back
in the afternoon.
|
|
Incorrect | My sister she is at school. |
Correct |
My
sister is at school.
|
Note : In speaking, one may sometimes
repeat the subject for emphasis, but such a construction normally
occurs in this type of sentence.
You people must come earlier tomorrow.
|
|
Incorrect | The company, having finished the construction project, it received its pay. |
Correct |
The
company, having finished the construction project,
received its pay.
|
Incorrect | The hunter took aim and then he shot the boar. |
Correct |
The hunter took aim
and then shot the boar.
|
Incorrect | I bought a story book to read it. |
Correct |
I bought a story book
to read.
|
Incorrect | John said that, "I know the answer." |
Correct | John said, "I know the answer." |
Incorrect | Although he was ill, but he went to work as usual. |
Correct | Although he was ill, he went to work as usual. |
Incorrect | You may not realize that how important time is. |
Correct | You may not realize how important time is. |
Incorrect | He is a more nicer person than you. |
Correct | He is a nicer person than you. |
Incorrect | John's work is more perfect than Tom's. |
Correct | John's work is better than/superior to Tom's. |
Incorrect | This book is the most unique of all. |
Correct | This book is unique. |
Incorrect | I don't have enough money to buy big house. |
Correct | I don't have enough money to buy a big house. |
Note : If the noun
is specified, the is used
I want to buy
a computer. The
computer must be versatile in function.
|
|
Incorrect | Why do you need hundred dollars ? |
Correct | Why do you need a hundred dollars ? |
Incorrect | He has good knowledge of English grammar. |
Correct | He has a good knowledge of English grammar. |
Incorrect | Japanese are industrious and frugal. |
Correct | The Japanese are industrious and frugal. |
Note : Once the is
omitted, the meaning changes from people to language.
Not all
the Chinese are proficient in
Chinese.
Is
French a beautiful language ?
|
Incorrect | I seldom go to theatre. |
Correct | I seldom go to the theatre. |
Incorrect | Smiths invited me to a dinner. |
Correct | The Smiths invited me to a dinner. |
Note : It is a common practice in English to use a family name to refer to a certain family and its members. Such a family name mus tbe pluralized and preceded by the definite article the. | |
Incorrect | Uncle's advice is great significance. |
Correct | Uncle's advice is of great significance. |
Incorrect | The judge has decided the case. |
Correct | The judge has decided upon the case. |
Incorrect | Do you want to try my new car ? |
Correct | Do you want to try out my new car ? |
Incorrect | I enjoyed during the holidays. |
Correct | I enjoyed myself during the holidays. |
Incorrect | Mary felt sorry about the matter but she did not voice. |
Correct | Mary felt sorry about the matter but she did not voice it. |
Incorrect | Many people in the past died from malaria. |
Correct | Many people in the past died of malaria. |
Incorrect | We were astonished by his sudden resignation. |
Correct | We were astonished at his sudden resignation. |
Incorrect | He took his girlfriend in the hand. |
Correct | He took his girlfriend by the hand. |
Incorrect | What is the difference of these two things ? |
Correct | What is the difference between these two things ? |
Incorrect | What is the time on your watch ? |
Correct | What is the time by your watch ? |
Incorrect | Lucy has been absent from Monday ? |
Correct | Lucy has been absent since Monday ? |
Note : To express
the idea of from a certain time to now, we normally say "from ...
to/till now ?".
Every week, I work
from Monday to
Saturday.
|
|
Incorrect | We will tolerate no interference with our internal affairs. |
Correct | We will tolerate no interference in our internal affairs. |
Note : ( In
means to meddle ; With means to hinder/obstruct. )
I don't allow any
interference with my work.
|
|
Incorrect | The answer of this question is quite complicated. |
Correct |
The
answer to this question is quite complicated.
|
Incorrect | Under the help of an influential friend, he got the job. |
Correct |
With the help of an influential friend, he got the job.
|
Note : To express
various states or conditions, we use under.
Business improved under
the new management.
|
|
Incorrect | Nobody is bound to suffering. |
Correct |
Nobody is bound to
suffer.
|
Incorrect | Some people are not used to live in a hot country. |
Correct |
Some people are not used
to living in a hot country.
|
Incorrect | Susan is incapable to complete the task by herself. |
Correct |
Susan is
incapable of completing the task by
herself.
|
Incorrect | Nobody can avoid to make mistakes. |
Correct |
Nobody can
avoid making mistakes.
|
Incorrect | He succeeded to get the prize. |
Correct | He succeeded in getting the prize. |
Incorrect | The students were busy to prepare their lessons. |
Correct | The students were busy preparing their lessons. |
Incorrect | Please tell him don't come now. |
Correct | Please tell him not to come now. |
Incorrect | I saw them to work. |
Correct | I saw them work. |
Incorrect | You had better to go now. |
Correct | You had better go now. |
Incorrect | The country is belonged to every citizen. |
Correct | The country belongs to every citizen. |
Note : Verbs like belong, happen, occur etc. are not used in the passive voice. | |
Incorrect | Water composes of hydrogen and oxygen. |
Correct | Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen. |
Incorrect | Shelley looks cheerfully. |
Correct | Shelley looks cheerful. |
Incorrect | I didn't see him too. |
Correct | I didn't see him either. |
Note : In English, the adverbs also and too appear in affirmative sentences. The adverb either appears at the end of negative sentences. | |
Incorrect | She bought a new scissors. |
Correct | She bought a new pair of scissors |
Incorrect | His room's windows are open. |
Correct | The windows of his room are open. |
Incorrect | It is everybody's duty to defend their country. |
Correct | It is everybody's duty to defend his country. |
Incorrect | Either of them are to go. |
Correct | Either of them is to go. |
Incorrect | More police was sent to the scene of the crime. |
Correct | More police were sent to the scene of the crime. |
Note : The noun police is singular in form but plural in sense. | |
Incorrect | Mary pretended to not recognize me. |
Correct | Mary pretended not to recognize me. |
Incorrect | She neither speaks English nor Malay. |
Correct | She speaks neither English nor Malay. |
Incorrect | Only I and my friend were at the concert. |
Correct | Only my friend and I were at the concert. |
Incorrect | There is a dirty mark on the rug which must be removed. |
Correct | On the rug, there is a dirty mark which must be removed. |
Incorrect | Lizzie approached me and held my hand, said, "Hello !" |
Correct | Lizzie approached me, held my hand, and said, "Hello !" |
Incorrect | The climate of Japan is different from Taiwan. |
Correct | The climate of Japan is different from that of Taiwan. |
Incorrect | We realized where our weak points were and how to get rid of them. |
Correct | We realized where our weak points were and how we could get rid of them. |
Incorrect | All I know is my friend is right. |
Correct | All I know is that my friend is right. |
Note : When the "that clause" is the object of a verb, the subordinating conjunction that may be omitted. When it is a complement of the verb be, that cannot be omitted. | |
Incorrect | Most of us found difficult to comprehend his speech. |
Correct | Most of us found it difficult to comprehend his speech. |
Incorrect | Her heart sank and could hardly stand. |
Correct | Her heart sank and she could hardly stand. |
Note : Not changing the subject will make "her heart" seem to have "feet" on which it stands. | |
Incorrect | While doing the work, there are obstacles ahead. |
Correct | While doing the work, they met with obstacles. |
Note : A certain action must be attached to the actor; otherwise the action becomes dangling. | |
Incorrect | Mandy is easy to suffer from cold. |
Correct | Mandy suffers from cold easily. |
Incorrect | How much is the price of this pen ? |
Correct | How much is this pen ? Or How much does this pen cost ? Or What is the price of this pen ? |
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