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.