LET Review on Grammar 2021

(Credit to the true owner)

It is important to recognize common errors in grammar and usage based on the basic rules of grammar.  

 

A. Verb Errors

1. Verb Tense.  Check if the correct verb tense has been used in the sentence.

û  When I came home, the children still didn’t finish dinner.

ü  When I came home, the children still hadn’t finished dinner.

In reported speech, check that the rule of sequence of tenses has been observed.

û She promised she will come.

ü She promised she would come.

 

2. Tense Formation.  Know the past participle of irregular verbs.

û He throwed it out the window.

ü He threw it out the window.

 

3. Subject-Verb Agreement.  Check if the verb agrees with the subject in number.

û There is many reasons why I can’t help you.

ü There are many reasons why I can’t help you.

 

4. Conditional Sentences.  The word if will NEVER be followed by the words will or would.

û If I would have known, I wouldn’t have gone.

ü If I had known, I wouldn’t have gone.

 

5. Expressions of Desire.  Unfulfilled desires are expressed by the form “________ had hoped that ________ would (or could, or might) do ________.”

û I wish I heard that story about him before I met him.

ü I wish I had heard (or could have heard or would have heard) that story about him before I met him.

 

6. Verbs Followed by Verb Words.  A verb word is the infinitive without the to.

û   She ignored the doctor’s recommendation that she stops smoking.

      ü She ignored the doctor’s recommendation that she stop smoking.

 

7. Tag Endings.  Check for three things in tag endings: a) Does the ending use the same person as the sentence verb?  b) Does the ending use the same tense as the sentence verb?  c) If the sentence verb is positive, is the ending negative; if the sentence verb is negative, is the ending positive?

û She’s been there before, isn’t she?

ü She’s been there before, hasn’t she?

 

8. Negative Imperatives.  There are two forms for negative imperatives. 

û Would you please don’t smoke here.

ü Please don’t smoke here.  or Would you please not smoke here.

 

9. Affirmative and Negative Agreement of Verbs.  There are two correct forms for both the affirmative and negative agreements.

û  I haven’t seen the film and hasn’t either.

ü I haven’t seen the film and she hasn’t either.

or I haven’t seen the film and neither has she.

 

10. Infinitives of Gerunds in the Complement of Verbs.  Some verbs may be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund.  Others may require either one or the other for idiomatic reasons.

û I intend learning French next semester.

ü I intend to learn French next semester.

 

11. Verbs Requiring How in the Complement.  The verbs KNOW, TEACH, LEARN, and SHOW require the word how before an infinitive in the complement.

û She knows to drive. ü   She knows how to drive.

12. Idiomatic Verbs Expressions.  There are a few commonly used idiomatic verb expressions.

a. must have (done) – it is a logical conclusion

They’re late.  They must have missed the bus.

b. had better (do) – it is advisable

It’s getting cold.  You had better take your coat.

c. used to (do) – was in the habit of doing in the past

I used to smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, but I stopped.

d. to be used to – to be accustomed to

The noise doesn’t bother me; I’m used to studying with the radio on.

e. make someone do – force someone to do

My mother made me take my little sister with me to the movies.

f. would rather – would prefer

I would rather you didn’t speak to her.

 

 

B. Pronoun Errors

1. Pronoun Subject-Object.  Check if a pronoun is the SUBJECT or the OBJECT of a verb or preposition.

û All of us – Fred, Jane, Alice, and me – were late.

ü All of us – Fred, Jane, Alice, and I – were late.

 

2. Who and Whom.  When in doubt about the correctness of WHO/WHOM, try substituting the subject/object of a simpler pronoun to clarify the meaning.

û I don’t know who Sarah meant.

ü I don’t know whom Sarah meant.

 

3. Pronoun Subject- Verb Agreement.  Check if the pronoun and its verb agree in number.

û Jessa is absent, but a few of the class is here.

ü Jessa is absent, but a few of the class are here.

 

4. Possessive Pronoun Agreement.  Check if possessive pronouns agree in person and number.

û If anyone calls, take their name.

ü If anyone calls, take his name.

 

5. Pronouns After the Verb To Be. TO BE is an intransitive verb and will always be followed by a subject pronoun.

û It must have been her at the door.

ü It must have been she at the door.

 

6. Position of Relative Pronouns.  A relative pronoun refers to the word preceding it.  If the meaning is unclear, the pronoun is in the wrong position. 

û He could park right in front of the door, which was very convenient.

ü His being allowed to park right in front of the door was very convenient.

 

7. Parallelism of Impersonal Pronouns.  In forms using impersonal pronouns, use either “one… one’s/his or her” or “you… your.”

û One should take your duties seriously.

ü One should take one’s/his or her duties seriously.

ü or You should take your duties seriously.

 

 

C. Adjective and Adverb Errors

1. Use of Adjectives and Adverbs.  Check if a word modifier is an adjective or an adverb and make sure the correct form is used.

û I sure wish I were rich! ü   I surely wish I were rich!

 

2. Adjectives with Verbs of Sense.  Intransitive verbs are described by adjectives while transitive verbs are modified with adverbs.  

û She looked very well. ü   She looked very good!

 

3. Comparatives.  In using adjectives of one or two syllables ending in –y, add –er.  Other words of more than one syllable use more.  Adverbs of one syllable add –er; longer adverbs use more.

û This exercise is harder then the last one

ü This exercise is harder than the last one.

 

4. Parallel Comparisons.  Check if the correct form is used in parallel comparisons.

û The more you practice, you will get better.

ü The more you practice, the better you will get.

 

5. Illogical Comparatives. Check comparisons to make sure they make sense.

û Texas is bigger than any state in the United States.

ü Texas is bigger than any other state in the United States.

 

6. Identical Comparisons.  Something can be the same as or like something else.  Do not mix up the two forms.

û Your dress is the same like mine.

ü Your dress is like mine. or ü   Your dress is the same as mine.

 

7. Idioms Using Comparative Structures.  Some idiomatic terms are formed like comparatives although they are not true comparisons.

û You may have to spend so much as two hours waiting.

ü You may have to spend as much as two hours waiting.

 

8. Noun – Adjectives.  When a noun is used as an adjective, treat it as an adjective.  Do not pluralize or add ‘s.

û You’re talking like a two-years-old child!

ü You’re talking like a two-year-old child!

 

9. Ordinal and Cardinal Numbers.  Ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.) are preceded by the.  Cardinal numbers (one, two, three, etc.) are not.

û We missed first act. ü   We missed the first act.

 

10. Modifying Countable and Non-countable Nouns.  If a noun can be preceded by a number, it is a countable noun; if not it is uncountable.

û I was surprised by the large amount of people who came.

      ü I was surprised by the large number of people who came.

 

 

D. Errors in Usage

1. Connectors.  Do not mix different forms in connecting ideas.

û She speaks not only Spanish but French as well.

ü She speaks Spanish and French.

ü She speaks Spanish.  She also speaks French.

ü She speaks Spanish and French too.

ü She speaks not only Spanish but also French.

ü She speaks both Spanish and French.

ü She speaks Spanish as well as French.

 

2. Question Word Connectors.  When a question word such as when or what is used as a connector, the clause that follows is not a question.  Do not use the interrogative form.

û Do you know when does the movie start? ü  Do you know when the movie starts?

 

3. Because.  It is incorrect to say:  The reason is because…  Use: The reason is that…

û The reason he was rejected was because he was too young.

ü The reason he was rejected was that he was too young.

ü He was rejected because of his young age.

ü   He was rejected because he was too young.

 

4. Purpose Connectors.  The word so by itself means therefore.  So that means in order to or in order that.

û We took a cab so we would be on time. ü   We took a cab so that we would be on time

5. Dangling Modifiers.  An introductory verbal modifier should be directly followed by the noun or pronoun that it modifies.  Such a modifier will star with a gerund of participial phrase and be followed by a comma.  Look for the modified noun or pronoun immediately after the comma.

û Seeing that the hour was late, it was decided to postpone the committee vote.

ü Seeing that the hour was late, the committee decided to postpone the vote.

 

6. Parallel Construction.  In sentences containing a series of two or more items, check to see if the same form has been used for all the items in the series.  Do not mix infinitives with gerunds, adjectives with participial phrases or verbs with nouns.

û The film was interesting, exciting, and it was made well.

ü The film was interesting, exciting, and well-made.

 

7. Unnecessary Modifiers.  In general, the more simply an idea is stated, the better it is.

û That depends on the state of the general condition of the situation.

ü That depends on the situation.

 

8. Commonly Confused Words.  Be aware of the commonly misused words in English.

û He was laying in bed all day yesterday.

ü He was lying in bed all day yesterday.

 

9. Misused Words and Prepositional Idioms.  Take note of the prepositions in common idioms.

û They came despite of the rain.

ü They came in spite of the rain or ü   They came despite the rain.