Common Errors in English

Use and Misuse of Articles a, an , the

Rule 1: Dont look Utter /listen

a- is used with a consonantal sound . A word may begin with a vowel representing letter , but they may have consonantal sound.

e.g. : It is a / an useful activity. He is a / an European. It was a / an one- man show in the end.
Note : Use a before: unique, uniform, eulogy, one, youth, year etc.

Use an before
Words beginning with a vowel sound:
army, American, enemy, idiot, urgent, ear

MBA, MIT, MP
Words beginning with a silent h

hour, honour, honest, heir

Rule 2: Dont use the :

Before Proper nouns: He lives in the London City
Before Material Nouns : Taj Mahal was constructed using the marble. These vessels are made of the silver.

Rule 3: Use the :

Before an Adjective in the Superlative Degree: e.g.
Socrates was wisest of Greek Philosophers. Socrates was the wisest of Greek Philosophers. He is a / the best friend of mine.

Before the names of rivers, groups of islands, seas .

e.g. He works in the U SA ( group of States)

He works in the America.

( Country- Proper Noun))

a) There is little time left for conclusion. b) There is a little time left for the conclusion

Little and few when used without a negative meaning. Sentence a) means there is no time left for conclusion When a is used before little as in sentence b) - there is some time left..

Prepositions

COMMON pitfalls

since for ?
Since : from a point of time in the past. For : a period of time e.g. He has been standing there since 9 oclock.
He has been standing there since half an hour ( We do not when it started ; only shows how long) He has been standing there for half an hour

between and fromto

When we refer to time it is wrong to use between to - use and after between - The interview will be held between 2 to 4 pm
The interview will be held between 2 and 4 pm

We can use from to..

The interview will be held from 2 to 4 pm.

from?
When we use from to refer to a time it needs to be followed by to. -It would be wrong to use from in isolation as a preposition of
time. e.g . The sessionals starts from / on 22 September.

Congratulations for .. Congratulations on

I congratulated Gundu for his good results. I congratulated Gundu on his good results.
Proper usage is You congratulate someone on their success

a) I am fed up of this class. b) I am fed up with this class.

To fed up means to be dissatisfied, to be bored or tired of something. You are fed up with something and not fed up of something.

e.g. I am fed up with my boss.

a) She could not cope up with the stress in the work place. b.) She could not cope with the stress in the work place.

Do not use the phrase cope up with The proper usage is cope with meaning able to manage

Correct and rewrite the following sentences if you find any mistake:
When an University modifies its regulations, it ought to inform the students well in advance.
The demand for the gold is increasing steadily.

Gundu has been absent since three days.

She has been looking for Gundu since yesterday morning. Best lack all convictions and worst are full of passionate intensity.

 He always dreamt of becoming a richest person of the country. They have been waiting here for two hours. The interview will be held between 2 to 4 pm. She expected a few questions from her classmates. She expected few questions from her classmates.

 The president congratulated the space scientists for their notable achievement. Please spare for me an hour.

Andaman Islands are attracting a number of tourists.

He believes that life in the America is wonderful. He believes that life in the USA is truly wonderful.

 Sweety could not cope up with the pressure in her workplace. I am really fed up with all these grammar exercises.

He has a B.E., a MBA and an M.Tech degree.

The new building will be ready in an year. Rohith is senior than Raghu at least by two years.

 The officer was hit on head by an iron rod. Being an European, he knew how to avoid an one way traffic.

Traffic problems in the Bangalore city are a threat to its reputation.

She lived at London for a brief time. She comes to college by walk everyday.

 He is a best friend of mine. We need at least a hour and half to complete this task. Their room is at the back of the main building. The second sessional exams will start from 22 September 2009.

I do not like that strange smile in your face.