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Common Errors (ENGLISH)

edited March 2013 in CSAT
i will be posting some common errors and some basic rules
inputs invited @fallen_leaves @Partho @madico7 @rm1
Rule 1
some nouns always take a singular verb

advice, information, stationary, fuel, rice, repair, physics/mathematics, classics, gallows, abuse.

Eg.
he has given advices(incorrect)
he has given advice (correct)
the indian team defeated the english by innings (wrong)
the indian tem defeated the english by an innings (correct)
«1345

Comments

  • edited March 2013
    Rule 2
    it is a common practice to make a statement and ask for confirmation eg you are not busy, aren't you? which is incorrect.
    here two points are to be kept in mind
    1. if the statement is +ve
    then Auxiliary + n't + Subject

    2. if the statement is -ve
    then Auxiliary + Subject.

    note- question tag will always have the same verb form which we have in the main statement.
  • @Anurag_Sinha =D>
    Good initiative! Will contribute.
  • Great initiative. :)
  • @Anurag Sinha: thanx! thats a nice initiative =D>
    Regarding that singular noun, it is very difficult to know which one is singular e.g. before your advice, i would have used' he hurled abuses' instead of'abuse. Plz share any comprehensive list of such words if it is feasible for you.
  • A number of plural nouns, mostly derived from Latin do not end in -s. Nevertheless, they are plural and should be treated as such. Words such as criteria, phenomena, memoranda, and media are plural. Their singular forms are datum,criterion, phenomenon, memorandum, and medium.



  • "Maybe" and "may be" are different:

    Maybe (one word) is an adverb meaning "perhaps." [Maybe it will rain today]
    May be (two words) is a verb phrase showing possibility. [It may rain today]
  • Common mistake by 90% of junta...it is VACUUM and not VACCUM
  • I before E except after C an awful overgeneralization:

    en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_before_E_except_after_C
  • @Madico7
    This is an amazing rule! Really helpful! :-bd
  • another mistake many make.....its definition not defination....
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