Correcting common errors (found in HK learners’ writing) 2
Part 1
Retype the sentences below correcting the mistake in each one. There is one mistake in each sentence. You may click on ‘See hint’ if you are unsure where the mistake is. Click ‘show answer’ to check your answers and score as you progress.
- Information on how to improve grammar for writing are available in the ICOSA website.Hint:
countable vs uncountable / subject does not agree with verbAnswer:
Information on how to improve grammar for writing is available in the ICOSA website.Explanation:
Information is an uncountable noun and therefore requires the singular verb is. - University professors emphasize on the necessity of writing clearly and accurately.Hint:
wrong word formAnswer:
University professors emphasize the necessity of writing clearly and accurately.Explanation:
The preposition on is not used with the verb emphasize. On is used only with the noun form: e.g. to put emphasis on (something) - The students hardly to understand their professor’s English.Hint:
do not use infinitive after hardlyAnswer:
The students hardly understand / could hardly understand /hardly understood their professor’s English.Explanation:
Hardly is an adverb which modifies the verb understand. It does not modify infinitives such as to understand. Hardly means barely / not much (not difficult or hard). - There are many people have eye problems due to overuse of computers and smart phones.Hint:
check relative clauseAnswer:
There are many people who have eye problems due to overuse of computers and smart phones. / Many people have eye problems due to overuse of computers and smart phones.Explanation:
have eye problems is part of a relative clause describing people and requires the word who to link it to people. Or, if the word who is not used, there are should be deleted. - The research conducted several times with conflicting results.Hint:
use passive voiceExplanation:
This is passive voice; the verb was must come before the verb past participle verb conducted. - Improved English skills has associated with the new DSE system of education in Hong Kong.Hint:
use passive voiceAnswer:
Improved English skills have been associated with the new DSE system of education in Hong Kong.Explanation:
Skills is plural so requires the plural verb have. The verb been is required to make the sentence passive. - Pollution and other kinds of environmental damage are major issues in nowaday’s Hong Kong.Hint:
nowadays cannot be possessiveAnswer:
Pollution and other kinds of environmental damage are major issues in Hong Kong today. Pollution and other kinds of environmental damage are major issues in today’s Hong Kong.Explanation:
Today can be possessive but not nowadays. - Although many countries in the Middle East are experiencing turmoil, but multi-lateral peace talks will soon occur.Hint:
check use of althoughAnswer:
Although many countries in the Middle East are experiencing turmoil, multi-lateral peace talks will soon occur.Explanation:
The conjunction but is not necessary when a sentence begins with although. Although already signifies contrast, so the word but is not necessary. - Several rivers in Ghana are heavily polluting with toxic waste chemicals.Hint:
participle problemExplanation:
The past participle polluted is needed to complete the passive voice form. - Learners must know many vocabularies before they can read and write well.Hint:
countable vs uncountableAnswer:
Learners must know a lot of / a great deal of vocabulary before they can read and write well. Hide answer.Explanation:
Vocabulary is an uncountable noun which cannot be pluralized with ies. - Fiona Wilson, she is the manager of the English Language Support Suite, believes in self-access language learning.Hint:
check information between the commasAnswer:
Fiona Wilson, the manager of the English Language Support Suite, believes in self-access language learning. / Fiona Wilson, who is the manager of the English Language Support Suite, believes in self-access language learning.Explanation:
You may delete she is here. This is an appositive, which allows writers to give more information about the subject between commas. Or, add who is to make a relative clause. - The spread of AIDS in America has declined in the last few year due to greater sexual education about the need for contraception.Hint:
Check the nouns!Answer:
The spread of AIDS in America has declined in the last few years due to greater sexual education about the need for contraception.Explanation:
The word few means more than one; therefore years must be plural. - AIDS is serious problem in many African countries.Hint:
a small word is missingExplanation:
problem is a countable noun, so it must have an article before it. Pollution is just one problem, so the correct article is a. - The practice exercise on common mistakes made by learners in Hong Kong is almost finished , it was long but informative and helpful.Hint:
check punctuationAnswer:
The practice exercise on common mistakes made by learners in Hong Kong is almost finished. It was long but informative and helpful.Explanation:
The two sentences cannot be connected with a comma as the second sentence has a new subject and verb and introduces a new idea. This is a comma splice error. Here it is best to use a full stop. - This is the last question in this activity, more exercises on common errors can be found on the ICOSA website.Hint:
check punctuation; use connectiveAnswer:
This is the last question in this activity, but more exercises on common errors can be found on the ICOSA website. / This is the last question in this activity. However, more exercises on common errors can be found on the ICOSA website.Explanation:
The two sentences cannot be connected with a comma as the second sentence has a new subject and verb and introduces a new idea. This is a comma splice error. Here is best to use a full stop.
Copyright© 2012-2013 UGC ICOSA Project, Hong Kong. All rights reserved.