English Grammar is an important part of the language. It ensures effective communication. Whether we’re writing an important email, crafting a professional report, or engaging in everyday conversations, using proper grammar helps us convey our thoughts accurately and confidently. Even experts and seasoned language users can sometimes make mistakes.
In this blog post, we will explore five common grammar mistakes that even experts make. By understanding these English grammar rules, you can improve your English grammar skills. So, let’s dive in and learn from these valuable lessons!
Misuse of Past Indefinite Tense:
We use past indefinite tense to describe actions that started and ended in the past. However, one common mistake experts make is using the past indefinite tense incorrectly. This often happens when the verb forms are not properly conjugated or when irregular verbs are not used correctly.
For instance, instead of saying,
Incorrect: I eated dinner last night.
Correct: I ate dinner last night.
Incorrect: She runned in the race.
Correct: She ran in the race.
Incorrect: Last night, I went to the movies and meet my friends.
Correct: Last night, I went to the movies and met my friends.
Incorrect: She talk to her boss about the project yesterday.
Correct: She talked to her boss about the project yesterday.
Incorrect: We studied hard and pass the exam.
Correct: We studied hard and passed the exam.
Incorrect: He doesn’t like the movie that I watched last week.
Correct: He didn’t like the movie that I watched last week.
Incorrect: Sarah buy a new car last month.
Correct: Sarah bought a new car last month.
Paying attention to the correct verb forms in the past indefinite tense is important for accurate communication.
Subject-Verb Agreement Errors:
Subject-verb agreement is another area where even experts stumble occasionally. This error occurs when the subject and the verb do not match in terms of number (singular or plural).
For example, a common mistake is saying,
Incorrect: The book that explains the topic are on the shelf.
Correct: The book that explains the topic is on the shelf.
Incorrect: Neither of the boys were at the party.
Correct: Neither of the boys was at the party.
Incorrect: Each of the apples are ripe.
Correct: Each of the apples is ripe.
Incorrect: My favorite color are blue and green.
Correct: My favorite colors are blue and green.
Here, “bunch” is the subject, however, it alludes to different people inside the gathering, consequently requiring a plural action word structure.
To avoid subject-verb agreement errors. It is important to identify the subject correctly and ensure that the verb agrees with it in terms of singular or plural form.
Incorrect Use of Articles:
Articles (a, an, the) play an important role in English grammar. Even experts can sometimes misuse or omit articles, leading to grammatical errors.
For instance, saying,
Incorrect: She wants to become teacher.
Correct: She wants to become a teacher.
Incorrect: Neha saw dog running in the street.
Correct: Neha saw a dog running in the street.
Incorrect: He is engineer and loves his job.
Correct: He is an engineer and loves his job.
Incorrect: Can you pass me salt?
Correct: Can you pass me the salt?
Incorrect: Rakesh has brother and sister.
Correct: Rakesh has a brother and a sister.
These are some English grammar rules.
Articles are important for specifying whether we are referring to a specific or nonspecific noun, and their correct usage enhances clarity and precision in communication.
Remember, even experts can make these errors, but with awareness, practice, and a commitment to improvement. We all can become masters of grammar and enhance our communication skills
Confusion among “Their,” “They’re,” and “There”:
Confusion among “their,” “they’re,” and “there” is another common mistake made by experts. These words are homophones, meaning they sound the same but have different meanings and uses.
Their” is a possessive pronoun, used to show ownership, as in “Their house is beautiful.” They’re” is a contraction of “they are,” as in They’re going to the park.
On the other hand, there” indicates a place or location, as in “The bookstore is over there.”
Understanding the difference and using these words correctly is important to avoid confusing the reader or listener and to maintain clarity in your writing or speech.
Improper Use of Commas:
Commas are important punctuation marks that help structure sentences and show pauses or separations. However, even experts can struggle with the proper use of commas, resulting in unclear or confusing sentences.
One common mistake is the misuse or omission of the Oxford comma. The Oxford comma is the comma set before the planning combination (as a rule “and” or “or”) in a rundown of at least three things.
For instance,
Incorrect: I like to eat pizza, pasta and burgers.
Correct: I like to eat pizza, pasta, and burgers.
Incorrect: Sarah went to the store, but she forgot to buy milk.
Correct: Sarah went to the store but she forgot to buy milk.
Incorrect: Sanjay studied hard, yet, he failed the exam.
Correct: Sanjay studied hard, yet he failed the exam.
The Oxford comma before “and” clarifies the separation between items in the list.
Furthermore, experts sometimes overuse commas or place them incorrectly within sentences, disrupting the flow and meaning of the text.
Understanding the rules and guidelines for English grammar lessons and usage is important for effective writing.
Conclusion
Grammar mistakes can happen to anyone, even experts. However, by being aware of these common errors and learning from them, we can improve our English grammar rules.
Make sure to use the right tense for past events, match subjects with verbs correctly, use articles (like “a” or “the”) properly, watch out for words that sound the same but have different meanings, and use commas correctly.
To improve your language skills, keep learning, do grammar exercises, and get feedback from others. By avoiding these grammar mistakes, you’ll be better at expressing yourself clearly and accurately.
Remember, even experts can make mistakes, but by being aware, practicing, and committing to getting better, we can overcome these challenges and become masters of English grammar.