Common Grammatical Errors

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Common Grammatical Errors
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1

• WRONG!Nadal to Federer I look forward to see
  you next year.
• RIGHT I look forward to seeing you next year.

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WHY?

• Look forward to is a phrasal verb. It is NOT
  followed by an infinitive
• When you look forward to something, you feel
  happy and excited about something that is going
  to happen. We use it like this look forward to
  noun/ noun phrase.
• Here, seeing you is a noun phrase.

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2

• WRONG!In my opinion, I think Hitler is the
  greatest man of all time.
• RIGHT In my opinion, Hitler is the greatest man
  of all time.OR I think Hitler is the greatest
  man of all time.

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WHY?

• In my opinion means I think
• We should delete either one expression to avoid
  repetition

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3

• WRONG! Although Alex has many girlfriends, but
  he is not satisfied.
• RIGHT Although Alex has many girlfriends, he is
  not satisfied. OR Alex has many girlfriends but
  he is not satisfied.

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WHY?

• Although and but are both conjunctions
• Only one of them is needed in one sentence

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4

• WRONG!Victoria eats very little, therefore she
  has poor health.
• RIGHTVictoria eats very little. Therefore, she
  has poor health. OR
• Victoria eats very little and therefore she has
  poor health.

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WHY?

• Therefore is an adverbial adjunct but not
  conjunction (e.g. so)
• It cannot be used to join two clauses

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5

• WRONG! This book is consisted of five chapters.
• RIGHT This book consists of five chapters.

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WHY?

• Consist means to be composed or made up and is
  usually used with of
• For example My breakfast consists of cereal,
  milk, and fruit.
• Consist is NOT a passive verb. We never use the
  phrases "be consisted of."

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6

• WRONG!Both of Joey and Eason sing very well.
• RIGHT Both Joey and Eason sing very well.

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WHY?

• When both is used with two singular nouns joined
  by and, you should NOT use the word of
• You can use of when both is followed by a plural
  noun, but it is not necessary
• For example Both of the students are diligent.
  Both students are diligent.

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7

• WRONG! Congradulation! I cant believe that you
  have won the first prize!
• RIGHT Congratulations! I cant believe that you
  have won the first prize!

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WHY?

• Congratulations is the correct spelling and is
  always in plural form
• You can say He congratulates me on having won
  the first prize.

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8

• WRONG!C. Ronaldo is a man with quick temper.
• RIGHTC. Ronaldo is a man of quick temper. OR
• C. Ronaldo is a man who has a quick temper.

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WHY?

• With is used for physical features or diseases
• For example a man with white hair
• a patient with cancer
• Of is used with permanent qualities like
  character and age
• For example a girl of fifteen

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9

• WRONG!Michael Jackson is my most favourite
  singer.
• RIGHT Michael Jackson is my favourite singer.

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WHY?

• Your favourite thing or person of a particular
  type is the one you like most
• Therefore, most in front of favourite is
  redundant and must be deleted

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10

• WRONG!Please follow the special sitting plan
  designed for the Speaking Period.
• RIGHT Please follow the special seating plan
  designed for the Speaking Period.

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WHY?

• Seating is the act of providing a place with
  seats
• Sitting is the act of one that sits
• Only seating fits the context here