🍟🍟CSEC Grammar

TROUBLE SPOTS

Retrieved from ‘Developing Proficiency in CXC English A’

(Paper 1 - Multiple Choice)
By Roy Narinesingh

1. Pronoun Reference

A pronoun agrees with a word it refers to (antecedent) in both

person and number, for example:
- They placed the files in the cabinet so that they can find them
easily.
- The pronoun, ‘them,’ refers to files, the antecedent.
-
Note: Remember to use a singular pronoun when reference is made to words
such as everyone, everybody, each, every, anyone, anybody, nobody, no one,
either or with singular verbs and, neither nor with singular verbs.

Incorrect: Anyone can write the examination provided that they prepare
thoroughly.

Correct: Anyone can write the examination provided that he or she prepares
thoroughly.

Incorrect: John can write the examination provided that they prepares
thoroughly.
Correct: John can write the examination provided that he prepares
thoroughly.
2. Pronoun Case

a) Who and Whom

Who is a NOMINATIVE pronoun. It is used as a subject. The

pronoun, ‘who,’ must always DO THE ACTION. Whom is an
OBJECTIVE pronoun. It is used as an object. The pronoun, ‘whom,’
must always RECEIVE THE ACTION.

Questions: Who are you?

Incorrect: Who do you see?

Whom do you see?

Sentences: She is the engineer who designed the over-pass.

Who is the subject in the nominative case - of the verb designed.

Incorrect: This is Gary who you met at the party.

Whom is the object of met.

This is Gary whom you met at the party.

b) Shift in Person - One

One is used as a subject or object.

When one is used as a subject, one is also used later in the sentence to
refer to one. Be consistent in the use of pronouns.

Incorrect: One cannot succeed unless you try hard.

Correct: One cannot succeed unless one tries hard.

 Incorrect: It is true that one’s cultural background determines your
attitude to life.

Incorrect: It is true that one’s cultural background determines their

attitude to life.
Correct: It is true that one’s cultural background determines one’s
attitude to life.

c) We and Us

We and Us are used as modifiers.

We is a NOMINATIVE (SUBJECT) pronoun (does the action).
Us is an OBJECTIVE pronoun (receives the action).

We and Us are sometimes used as MODIFIERS before nouns.

If the noun is a subject, WE is used.
If the noun is an object, US is used.

Incorrect: Us workers should be paid for overtime work.

Correct: We workers should be paid for overtime work.

Incorrect: The management of the company should give we workers

overtime compensation.
Correct: The management of the company should give us workers
overtime compensation.
 d) Personal Pronouns after the verb To Be (am, is, are, was, were, has
been, have been, will be)

After verbs such as is, am, are, was, were, has been, will be, etc, use
pronouns that are the NOMINATIVE case or SUBJECT pronouns.
Subject Pronouns: I, He, She, We, They, It, You
Object Pronouns: Me, Him, Her, Us, Them, It, You

Incorrect: It is me.
Correct: It is I.

Incorrect: It was her.

Correct: It was she.

Incorrect: It was them.

Correct: It was they.

Incorrect: It will be him.

Correct: It will be he.

3. Pronouns before ING verb forms (helping, walking, listening,

recruiting)

The possessive pronouns are used with verbal nouns or gerunds (ING or
CONTINUOUS forms of verbs).
Possessive Pronouns: My, His, Her, Their, Its, Our, Your

Examples: His coming, her wanting, their playing

 Incorrect: The principal objected to them participating in the
competition.

Correct: The principal objected to their participating in the

competition.

Incorrect: We appreciate you coming to visit us.

Correct: We appreciate your coming to visit us.

Incorrect: Without him knowing…

Correct: Without his knowing…

4. Possessive Pronouns and the Apostrophe

Though these pronouns are possessive in meaning the pronouns ours,

theirs, yours, its, his, and hers are NEVER to be used with an
apostrophe. You’re welcome

It’s; Its
It’s is the contracted form of it is.
Its means belonging to it and never takes an apostrophe.

Incorrect: It’s paws are sharp.

Correct: Its paws are sharp.
5. Pronoun Form after Prepositions

The preposition governs the OBJECT case of pronouns. Prepositions such as

‘between,’ ‘among,’ ‘like,’ ‘to,’ ‘but’ and ‘except’ are followed by the
OBJECT form of the pronoun: me, you, him, her, them, us and whom.

Examples:

Between you and me, everyone received a gift.

NB: The pronoun you can be SUBJECT and OBJECT.

Everyone except me enjoyed the movie.

Everybody but me

NOTE: After ‘as’ and ‘than’, SUBJECT forms of pronouns are used. They
are usually followed by verbs, for example:

My cousin is nearly as tall as I am.

Ian can run faster than she (can).

Confusing the Past Tense form with the Past Participle

Do not confuse the past tense form of the verb and the past participle of
irregular verbs.

REMEMBER that the HELPING VERBS was, had, etc must come before
the participle.
PAST
They broke the window pane while playing football.

PARTICIPLE
The past participle is used with a HAVE (have, has, had) auxiliary or to BE
auxiliary (helping verbs - be, am, is, are, was, were, been, being), for
example:

The window pane was broken.

BROKEN is the past participle of BREAK.

Incorrect: We had swam across the lake before the sun rose.
Correct: We had swum across the lake before the sun rose.

Incorrect: No sooner had they began to…

Correct: No sooner had they begun to…

6. Dangling or Unrelated Participle

a) Dangling Modifier

This is an ING verb form which is not related to the SUBJECT of

the main sentence.

The dangling modifier does not indicate what the subject of the
sentence is or what is being described. It should be replaced by a verb
that has its own subject.

Incorrect: Entering the room, the telephone rang.

Correct: As she entered the room, the telephone rang.

Correct: She is entering the room.

 Incorrect: Entering the room, Lisa took a shower.

Correct: After Lisa entered the room, she showered.

Correct: Upon entering the room, Lisa took a shower.

In this case the reader knows that Lisa is being described.

b) Misplaced Modifier

Sometimes the modifier is placed where it distorts the meaning of the

sentence. Place the word or phrase close to the word it modifies.

Incorrect - I bought a table from an old woman with carved legs.

(Carved legs refers to the woman when it should refer to the
table).

Correct - I bought a table with carved legs from an old woman.

7. Adjective-Adverb Confusion

Adjectives and adverbs are modifiers. Modifiers are words that change or
limit the meaning of other words.

An adjective modifies a noun or pronoun, for example:

- A sunny day
- He is happy.

An adverb modifies a verb, an adjective or adverb, for example:

- He talks hurriedly.
 - She is extremely happy.
- He comes to school quite readily.

Incorrect - The fire raged uncontrollable throughout the day.

Correct - The fire raged uncontrollably throughout the day.

Good vs. Well

a) Good is an adjective. It can only modify a noun or pronoun, for

example:

- He gave a good performance.

b) Well is an adverb. It can only modify a verb, adjective, and other

adverbs, for example:

- He scored well in the cricket match.

- The new motor vehicle runs well.

EXCEPTION: Well is an adjective when it refers to PERSONAL HEALTH.

It modifies a pronoun or noun, for example:

- He seemed well after the doctor’s visit.

NOTE: Bad vs Badly.

a) Bad is an adjective. It modifies a noun or pronoun when it is used
after a linking verb (copular verb), for example:

- He felt bad about reaching late. (Linking verbs do not show

action; they link the subject to the predicate).
Examples of linking verbs are: be (am, is, are, was, were), seem, look,
sound, taste, smell, feel, become, get, appear and grow.

b) Badly is an adverb. It modifies the action verb, for example:

- The students behaved badly in school today.

Adjectives with Copular verbs (Linking Verbs):

Special verbs join adjectives to subjects. These verbs are copular verbs, for
example:

- The food smells good.

- He looks clever.

8. Sequence of Tenses

Use consistent tenses in writing. Check to ensure the verb form fits
consistently with the present or past time, within a sentence and from one
sentence to another.

Incorrect: I should have decided to have gone myself

Correct: I should have decided to go by myself.

Incorrect: It is expected that the government would increase the minimum

wage.
Correct: It is expected that the government will increase the minimum wage.

Incorrect: He was in a happy mood as he jokes with the crowd of spectators.

Correct: He was in a happy mood as he joked with the crowd of spectators.
9. Adjectival Comparisons - See PowerPoint Slides on Adjectives in the
Classroom

10. The Double Negative - See Handout in Google Classroom

11. The Embedded Question

When a question is reported (written) within a statement, it no longer

functions as a question. The word order and punctuation marks become the
same as in a statement.

Incorrect: They did not know whether he was returning home and was he
going to stay permanently.

Correct: They did not know whether he was returning home and whether he
was staying permanently.

12. Parallelism

This refers to the use of phrases and clauses with the same grammatical
structure. In a sentence which contains two or more elements or items of
equal weight or importance in function and content, use the same
grammatical structure for each element or item.

Incorrect: He can manage the project with knowledge, skill and confidently.

Correct: He can manage the project with knowledge, skill and confidence.

Incorrect: He spends his spare time listening to music, reading novels and to
play cards.
Correct: He spends his spare time listening to music, reading novels and
playing cards.

13. Mixed Metaphor

Sometimes writers use metaphors that are conflicting. They do not make
sense (illogical). Metaphors that are not closely related or connected, destroy
the sense of the sentence. There are called mixed metaphors, for example:

- The prime minister hammered home his point making sharp thrusts at
the opposition members for not supporting his case.
- Having attained the summit of academic achievement, the student can
now sail smoothly on the sea of life.

14. Cliche

A cliche is an expression that is overly used and lost its freshness, originality
and effectiveness. It is also referred to as tired language and common place
expressions. Some examples of cliche are:

- Leave no stone unturned

- No holes barred
- The powers that be
- Easier said than done
- Every walk of life
- The life and soul of the party
- He does a roaring trade
- Fight to the bitter end
- Put a spoke in his wheel
- Pull as many strings

15. Redundancy
16. Diction
Word choice

This refers to the appropriate choice of words to express thoughts and

emotions. Effective writers select those words which are appropriate for
achieving good effect.

Than vs But

Both ‘than’ and but can be correct in the same sentence, depending on the
word ‘other’.

Although but is a conjunction, it can also be used as a preposition.

When but is used as a preposition it means except for.

When the word, other, is in the sentence than must be used.

Incorrect: I have no option than to go there.

Correct: I have no option but to go there.

Incorrect: Harry had no choice than to leave the party.

Correct: Harry had no choice but to leave the party.

Incorrect: Harry had no other choice but to leave the party.

Correct: Harry had no other choice than to leave the party.

17. Words often Confused