Common Mistakes
Common Mistakes
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Subject-Verb Agreement:
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Use of Articles:
11. Incorrect: I want to buy a new car and house.
Correct: He is an engineer.
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21. Incorrect: She walks into the room and finding the note on the table.
Correct: She walks into the room and finds the note on the table.
24. Incorrect: She had her breakfast before she will go to work.
25. Incorrect: The company launches a new product last week and now they
are planning another one.
Correct: The company launched a new product last week and now they are
planning another one.
26. Incorrect: He was working at the company for five years before he quits.
Correct: He had been working at the company for five years before he quit.
28. Incorrect: She is going to the store, and then she buys milk.
Correct: She went to the store, and then she bought milk.
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Pronoun Usage:
Word Order:
46. Incorrect: She quickly ran out of the house to catch the bus.
Correct: She ran quickly out of the house to catch the bus.
47. Incorrect: There was lying a book on the desk.
50. Incorrect: She only found her keys after searching for hours.
Correct: She found her keys only after searching for hours.
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Parallel Structure:
51. Incorrect: She likes swimming, to read books, and going for walks.
Correct: She likes swimming, reading books, and going for walks.
52. Incorrect: He enjoys playing tennis, to go hiking, and watching movies.
53. Incorrect: They are responsible for cooking, cleaning, and to take care of
the kids.
Correct: They are responsible for cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the
kids.
54. Incorrect: The project requires creativity, attention to detail, and being
organized.
55. Incorrect: She is good at singing, dancing, and to play the piano.
Correct: They were asked to proofread, edit, and rewrite the document.
59. Incorrect: His duties included making coffee, answering phones, and to
schedule meetings.
60. Incorrect: She was singing, dancing, and she was playing the guitar.
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Misplaced Modifiers:
61. Incorrect: She only found her keys after searching for hours.
Correct: She found her keys only after searching for hours.
65. Incorrect: She barely passed the exam after studying all night.
Correct: She passed the exam barely after studying all night.
66. Incorrect: They almost finished all the food at the party.
68. Incorrect: Running quickly, the book fell out of her pocket.
Correct: While she was running quickly, the book fell out of her pocket.
69. Incorrect: The teacher told the students to only write their names on the
test.
Correct: The teacher told the students to write only their names on the test.
70. Incorrect: She almost drove the car for six hours without stopping.
Correct: She drove the car for almost six hours without stopping.
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Use of Prepositions:
Run-on Sentences:
81. Incorrect: I woke up late this morning I had to rush to catch the bus.
Correct: I woke up late this morning, so I had to rush to catch the bus.
82. Incorrect: The party was fun everyone danced and laughed all night long.
Correct: The party was fun. Everyone danced and laughed all night long.
83. Incorrect: She went to the store she bought some groceries and then she
went back home.
Correct: She went to the store, bought some groceries, and then went back
home.
85. Incorrect: They studied hard for the exam they were determined to do
well.
Correct: They studied hard for the exam because they were determined to do
well.
86. Incorrect: It started to rain we had to leave the picnic early.
87. Incorrect: She prepared dinner I set the table we ate together.
Correct: She prepared dinner, I set the table, and we ate together.
90. Incorrect: She read the book she enjoyed it very much.
Correct: She read the book, and she enjoyed it very much.
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Confusing Words:
91. Incorrect: Their going to the park tomorrow.
99. Incorrect: We're going on vacation next week, so pack your suitecase.
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