Unit 8
Common Errors
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this unit, the learner will be able to:
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Prerequisites
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Do you face any difficulty while speaking or writing the English language? Have you become nervous when you were asked to speak in English? Is the nervousness due to your thought that you may make mistakes while writing or speaking the language? The English language is only our second language and we are likely to make mistakes while using it. You might be aware of the fact that English is one of the most spoken languages in the world. It is most widely used for formal conversations, academic writings, business purposes, etc. So, it is important to figure out the common errors that one would commit while using the language. Look at the following sentences: America was discovered by Columbus. You might have learned the above facts in your school days. We should never say that America was invented by Columbus and the computer was discovered by Charles Babbage, though it is a commonly committed mistake by the users of English as a second language. What do you think is the reason behind such wrong usages? Now, let us find out and rectify the commonly made errors that we make with the help of examples. |
Key words
Common Errors, Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives, Articles
Discussion
3.8.1 Common Errors
In a multilingual country like India, English has emerged as an important medium of communication. However, there are certain errors which are commonly made by the English speakers of the country. These include errors in the use of Nouns, Adjectives, Verbs, Tenses, Articles etc. Let us discuss and clarify some of the most commonly made errors that occur in our daily usage of the English language.
3.8.2 Errors in the use of Nouns
The errors that occur while using the Nouns include the improper use of certain synonymous nouns and the usage of certain slang words and phrases in a formal writing.
1. Centre/middle
You should stand in the middle of the circle.(Incorrect)
You should stand in the centre of the circle. (Correct)
He is standing in the centre of the road. (Incorrect)
He is standing in the middle of the road. (Correct)
Here, Centre refers to a point which is at an equal distance from the whole edges of a circle. Middle refers to the midpoint which is at an equal distance from two sides.
2. Cause/reason
She has a good cause to be angry. (Incorrect)
She has a good reason to be angry. (Correct)
The geologists were not able to explain the reasons for floods? (Incorrect)
The geologists were not able to explain the causes of floods? (Correct)
The meaning of both cause and reason are different and hence their usages vary in different contexts. Cause conveys the meaning of the production of a result and reason justifies the cause.
3. House/home
She has decided to rent a home. (Incorrect) She has decided to rent a house. (Correct) He built a new home. (Incorrect)
He built a new house. (Correct)
House refers to a physical structure or building whereas home is the place where someone’s family resides.
4. Habit/custom
He has a custom of smoking. (Incorrect)
He has a habit of smoking. (Correct)
Habit is associated with a person’s activities while custom refers to a practice followed by society.
5. Poem/poetry
The students have to learn all these three poetry. (Incorrect)
The students have to learn all these three poems. (Correct)
A poem refers to a single piece of poetry whereas poetry is a form of literature which deals with different types of poems.
6. Scene/scenery
The police immediately rushed to the crime scenery. (Incorrect)
The police immediately rushed to the crime scene. (Correct)
Scene refers to a particular place whereas scenery refers to the general surroundings of a region.
7. Ground/floor
She laid the blanket on the ground.(Incorrect)
She laid the blanket on the floor. (Correct)
Ground refers to the surface of the earth (outside the house), whereas floor is the surface of a room, on which one may walk.
8. Room/place
Is there any place for this child on that bench? (Incorrect)
Is there any room for this child on that bench? (Correct)
In the above sentence, room refers to space.
9. Foot/leg
She hurt her foot in that accident. (Incorrect)
She hurt her leg in that accident. (Correct)
Foot refers to the part of the human body below the ankle, and leg refers to the part from hip to above ankle.
10. Finger/toe
There are five fingers in my feet. (Incorrect)
There are five toes in my feet. (Correct)
Fingers are associated with hands and toes are associated with the foot.
11. Appetite/desire
Rahim has no appetite for money.(Incorrect)
Rahim has no desire for money. (Correct)
She has an insatiable desire for chocolates. (Incorrect)
She has an insatiable appetite for chocolates. (Correct)
Appetite is a strong desire, especially for food while desire refers to a wish or an ambition.
12. Cousin/cousin sister
My cousin sister is an entrepreneur.(Incorrect)
My cousin is an entrepreneur. (Correct)
Cousin sister/cousin brother is Indian slang usage, whereas the word cousin is a gender neutral noun.
13. Means
Her means is very small, yet she financially supports her mother. (Incorrect)
Her means are very small, yet she financially supports her mother. (correct)
When the noun means indicates wealth or income, the following verb should be plural
14. Phenomena
The scientists predicted that some unusual phenomena is likely to happen today. (Incorrect)
The scientists predicted that some unusual phenomena are likely to happen today. (Correct)
The term Phenomena is plural and hence plural verb should be used in the sentence.
3.8.3 Errors in the use of Verbs
Errors that occur while using Verbs include the incorrect use of certain identical verbs, the improper use of certain synonyms of verbs and the wrong use of verbs in their past participle form.
1. Lie/lay
Lie down the blanket on the floor. (Incorrect)
Lay down the blanket on the floor. (Correct)
Lie means to recline or rest. Lay means to put. Lie is an intransitive verb and it does not take any object whereas lay is a transitive verb and it requires an object.
Lie- lay- lain
Lay-laid- laid
Note: Lie also means to tell something that
is not true.
Lie-lied-lied
Eg: She lied to me.
Lay also means to produce eggs.
Eg: The hen lays eggs.
2. Rise/raise
Rise your hands to show your support.
(Incorrect)
Raise your hands to show your support.
(Correct)
Rise refers to come up or go up or get up from lying and sitting positions whereas raise means to lift something.
3. Hanged/hung
The children hanged the chart on the wall.(Incorrect)
The children hung the chart on the wall.(Correct)
Hanged is often used to refer to the death/ killing of a person by hanging. In other cases,for instance, to attach to hook on a wall, hung is used
4. Borrow/lend
I want to lend a book from my teacher.(Incorrect)
I want to borrow a book from my teacher. (Correct)
I will borrow you my pen. (Incorrect)
I will lend you my pen. (Correct)
Borrow means to obtain something from someone for a period of time. Lend refers to give something to be used for a period of time.
5. Steal/rob
Someone robbed my money. (Incorrect)
Someone stole my money. (Correct)
That bank was stolen yesterday. (Incorrect)
That bank was robbed yesterday. (Correct)
The correct meaning of steal is to take something from someone without permission, whereas rob focuses on a person or a place from which the thing is taken.
6. Deny/refuse
The poor lady denied to take the food and money we offered. (Incorrect)
The poor lady refused to take the food and money we offered. (Correct)
He refused that he was a criminal. (Incorrect)
He denied that he was a criminal. (Correct)
Refuse means to turn down an offer. To deny is to state that something is not true.
7. Discover/Invent
The telephone was discovered by Graham Bell. (Incorrect)
The telephone was invented by Graham Bell. (Correct)
To invent means to create something new. To discover means to find out something that has already existed but remained unknown.
8. Made of/made from
She gifted me a necklace made from silver.(Incorrect)
She gifted me a necklace made of silver. (Correct)
The paper is made of trees (Incorrect)
The paper is made from trees. (correct)
When a substance undergoes a complete transformation from its original form, made from is used. If the material has not undergone for a major change, made of is used.
9. Drown/sink
The old man was sunk in this river.(Incorrect)
The old man was drowned in this river. (Correct)
They saw a ship drowning in the sea. (Incorrect)
They saw a ship sinking in the sea. (Correct)
To drown means to die or suffocate by being under water for a long time. To sink means to go below the water’s surface.
10. Flown/flowed
All the birds had flowed away from the field. (Incorrect)
All the birds had flown away from the field. (Correct)
Flown is the past participle of fly and flowed is the past participle of flow.
Fly-flew-flown
Flow-flowed-flowed
11. Agree/accept
They agreed our gifts. (Incorrect)
They accepted our gifts. (Correct)
They accepted to come with us. (Incorrect)
They agreed to come with us. (Correct)
Accept means to receive something that is offered or given to you. Agree to means to do exactly what somebody has asked you to do or to be in harmony or accordance in opinion.
12. I want that you should bake some cookies. (Incorrect)
I want you to bake some cookies. (Correct)
The clause that is not used with the verb want. The verb want is accompanied with to-infinitive.
13. She suggested them to watch a film.(Incorrect)
She suggested that they should watch a film. (Correct)
The verb suggest is not used with to-infinitive, but with that clause.
14. We enjoy to play football. (Incorrect)
We enjoy playing football. (Correct)
The verb enjoy should be followed by an ing form of verb, not by to- infinitive.
15. They made her to clean the table.(Incorrect)
They made her clean the table. (Correct) Bare infinitive is used after make.
16. The villagers called him as a wizard.(Incorrect)
The villagers called him a wizard. (Correct)
The verb call is not followed by as
3.8.4 Errors in the use of Adjectives
Apart from the mistakes made while using the English Nouns and Verbs, the users of English as a second language also commit errors in the usages of Adjectives. Most of these faults are associated with Degrees of Comparison.
1. Use of the Superlative degree
Of my two daughters, Geeta is the most brilliant. (Incorrect)
Of my two daughters, Geeta is more brilliant. (Correct)
A Comparative degree is used when two things or persons are compared.
2. Use of the double Comparative or Superlative
He is more taller than his friend. (Incorrect)
He is taller than his friend. (Correct)
Sachin is selected as the most best cricket player. (Incorrect)
Sachin is selected as the best cricket player. (Correct)
3. Use of other
Seema is cleverer than any girl in her class.(Incorrect)
Seema is cleverer than any other girl in her class. (Correct)
No girl in the class is as clever as Seema. (Incorrect)
No other girl in the class is as clever as Seema. (Correct)
4. Use of all instead of any
Seema is the cleverest of any girls in the class. (Incorrect)
Seema is the cleverest of all the girls in the class. (Correct)
5. Comparative Degree
The cost of the mangoes is higher than oranges. (Incorrect)
The cost of the mangoes is higher than that of oranges. (Correct)
The mountains in South India are higher than the North Indian mountains. (Incorrect)
The mountains in South India are higher than those of the North Indian mountains. (Correct)
3.8.5 Errors in use of Adverbs
Errors in the use of Adverbs are primarily associated with the wrong usage of certain Adverbs with almost the same meaning.
1. Very/too
The sand in the desert is too hot. (Incorrect)
The sand in the desert is very hot. (Correct)
This tea is very hot to drink. (Incorrect)
The tea is too hot to drink. (Correct)
Very means exceedingly, suggests a higher degree of something. Too suggests that something is more than enough.
2. Very/much
My son is much happy. (Incorrect)
My son is very happy. (Correct)
The elephant is very stronger than a lion.(Incorrect)
The elephant is much stronger than a lion. (Correct)
Very is often preceded by adjective’s positive degree whereas Much is used as a comparative degree.
3. Before/ago
Gopal met his friend before one month.(Incorrect)
Gopal met his friend one month ago. (Correct)
I have watched this movie ago. (Incorrect)
I have watched this movie before. (Correct)
Both ago and before refer to a past time. But ago is used to indicate a point in the past with reference to the moment of speaking. Before is used to indicate a point in the past preceding the time of any specific event or action.
4. Hard/hardly
She worked hardly to get the scholarship.(Incorrect)
She worked hard to get the scholarship. (Correct)
There is hard any salt left. (Incorrect)
There is hardly any salt left. (Correct)
Hard means to do something heavily or severely. Hardly is used as an adverb to mean almost not at all.
5. Fairly/rather
The competition was fairly difficult.(Incorrect)
The competition was rather difficult. (Correct)
Fairly is only used in a positive/affirmative sense while rather is used in both positive and negative senses.
6. Lately/late
He always comes home lately. (Incorrect)
He always comes home late. (Correct)
Lately means recently and Late is the opposite of early.
6. Still/yet
She is yet sleeping in her room. (Incorrect)
She is still sleeping in her room. (Correct)
The chief guest has not arrived still. (Incorrect)
The chief guest has not arrived yet. (Correct)
Still is used to refer to an action which commenced in the past and is still progressing in the present. Yet is used to indicate an action which is about to happen soon, but has not happened till now.
3.8.6 Errors in the use of Prepositions
Some of the Nouns, Verbs and Adjectives take only certain specific Prepositions after them. So, the most common errors in the use of Prepositions are associated with the incorrect use of Prepositions after these Nouns, Verbs and Adjectives.
1. Resemblance/resembles
The child has a great resemblance with its father. (Incorrect)
The child has a great resemblance to its father. (Correct)
She resembles to her mother. (Incorrect)
She resembles her mother. (Correct)
Resemblance is followed by the preposition to. No preposition is used after resemble.
2. Pride /proud
I am very pride of you. (Incorrect)
I am very proud of you. (Correct)
He takes proud of his wife’s achievements.(Incorrect)
He takes pride in his wife’s achievements. (Correct)
Pride means the pleasure being felt in any achievement and proud is the feeling of pride. While pride can be used as a noun or a verb, proud can only be used as an adjective. The usage is:
Pride + in, Proud + of
3. Suitable for
This white gown is suitable with her wedding. (Incorrect)
This white gown is suitable for her wedding. (Correct)
Suitable for means appropriate for a purpose or an occasion.
4. Glanced at/ glanced over
The stranger glanced over me. (Incorrect)
The stranger glanced at me. (Correct)
The kid glanced at a few pages of the colour book. (Incorrect)
The kid glanced over a few pages of the colour book. (Correct)
Glanced at someone.
Glanced over something.
5. Fond of / fondness for
The children are fond for watching the cartoon. (Incorrect)
The children are fond of watching the cartoon. (Correct)
She has a fondness of jewels. (Incorrect)
She has a fondness for jewels. (Correct)
While the adjective fond is followed by the preposition of, the noun fondness is followed by the preposition for:
Fond of something
Fondness for something
6. Discuss
They discussed about the matter with our principal. (Incorrect)
They discussed the matter with our principal. (Correct)
7. Enter/ enter into
The bride entered into the auditorium.(Incorrect)
The bride entered the auditorium. (Correct)
They entered an agreement with their director. (Incorrect)
They entered into an agreement with their director. (Correct)
Enter means to go into. For instance, enter the hall.
Enter into means to be part of or involved in an agreement or conversation
8. Attend/ attend to
We attended to the seminar organised by the panchayat. (Incorrect)
We attended the seminar organised by the panchayat. (Correct)
The doctor has a severely wounded patient to attend. (Incorrect)
The doctor has a severely wounded patient to attend to. (Correct)
Attend means to be present at a place or to go to a place. Attend to means give attention to.
3.8.7 Errors in the Use of Tense
Errors in the use of Tense include the use of inappropriate form from tense formats of a verb.
1. Use of an incorrect sequence of tense
Merlin asked me where I am going.(Incorrect)
Merlin asked me where I was going. (Correct)
If the verb in the Main Clause is in the Past tense, only the Past tense should be used in the Subordinate Clause. However, this rule is not applicable for permanent facts and verbs within quotations. For eg:
She said that India is located in the Northern Hemisphere. He said, “I am reading a poem”.
2. Incorrect use of will instead of would in the Subordinate Clause
They said that they will attend the function. (Incorrect)
They said that they would attend the function. (Correct)
If the Verb in the Main Clause is in the Past tense, will should be changed to would in the Subordinate Clause. (Also applicable to may and can)
3. Incorrect use of the Simple Past tense after to-infinitive
They tried to caught some fish from the pond. (Incorrect)
They tried to catch some fish from the pond. (Correct)
The Simple Past tense is not used after to-infinitive.
4. Incorrect use of the Present Continuous tense instead of the Simple Present tense
He is playing hockey every day. (Incorrect)
He plays hockey every day. (Correct)
The Simple Present tense is used to indicate habitual actions.
5. Incorrect use of the Present Perfect tense instead of the Simple Past tense
I have met her yesterday. (Incorrect)
I met her yesterday. (Correct)
As yesterday is the time word for past tense, use the Simple Past tense instead of the Present Perfect.
6. Incorrect use of the Present Continuous tense instead of the Present Perfect Continuous tense.
We are working together since 2015. (Incorrect)
We have been working together since 2015. (Correct)
How long are you learning French? (Incorrect)
How long have you been learning French? (Correct)
The Present Perfect Continuous tense should be used with since, for and how long
7. Incorrect use of the Future tense instead of the Simple Present tense
We shall meet him when we will go to London. (Incorrect)
We shall meet him when we go to London. (Correct)
The Simple Present tense (instead of Future tense) is used in the Subordinate Clauses which refer to future action.
8. I wish I have a laptop. (Incorrect)
I wish I had a laptop. (Correct)
To indicate an unreal situation, the Past subjunctive is used after the verb wish.
9. I would quit if I am you. (Incorrect)
I would quit if I were you. (Correct)
To refer to an imaginary or an unreal situation in the if-clause, the Past subjunctive should be used.
10. It is time we leave this village.(Incorrect)
It is time we left this village. (Correct)
The usage It is time + subject + past verb means a present moment and also indicates that it is already late.
3.8.8 Errors in the Use of Articles
There are certain general rules for the use of the articles such as a, an and the. However, the rules may vary in some exceptional cases.Errors in the use of the articles include their wrong use in some peculiar cases, which are discussed below:
- Do you believe in the God? (Incorrect) Do you believe in God? (Correct)
The definite article the is not used before: Heaven, hell, nature, space, god, paradise. - Himalayas are a type of fold mountains.(Incorrect)
The Himalayas are a type of fold mountains. (Correct)
The Everest is the highest peak in the world. (Incorrect)
Everest is the highest peak in the world. (Correct)
The is used before the names of mountain ranges and island groups. It is to be noted that the is not used before the name of a single mountain, island, peak or hill. - Delhi is the capital of the India.(Incorrect)
Delhi is the capital of India. (Correct)
Generally, the is not used before the names of countries and places. But the is used before the words like Kingdom, Republic and also before those countries formed of smaller units, such as The United States, The United Kingdom, etc. - He played guitar for the children.(Incorrect)
He played the guitar for the children. (Correct)
The is used before the names of musical instruments. - I like to play the football daily. (Incorrect)
I like to play football daily. (Correct)
The is not used before the names of games. - She is learning the Kannada. (Incorrect)
She is learning Kannada. (Correct)
She is learning Kannada language.(Incorrect)
She is learning the Kannada language. (Correct)
The is not used before the names of languages. But if the name of a language is followed by the word language, the is used. - The gold is a good conductor of electricity. (Incorrect)
Gold is a good conductor of electricity. (Correct)
Diamond excavated from South Africa is very costly. (Incorrect)
The Diamond excavated from South Africa is very costly. (Correct)
The is not used before the names of metals if they are used in a general sense. But to mention a particular kind of metal, the should be used. - The Lunch will be served at noon.(Incorrect)
Lunch will be served at noon. (Correct)
Lunch she prepared will be served at noon. (Incorrect)
The lunch she prepared will be served at noon. (Correct)
The is not used before the names of meals unless it is specified. - He was admitted to the hospital last week. (Incorrect)
He was admitted to hospital last week. (Correct)
The is not used before the nouns, such as church, school, college, prison, and hospital, when they are used for the primary purpose for which they are constructed. - He is an European. (Incorrect)
He is a European. (Correct)
Generally, an is used before a vowel sound and a is used before a consonant sound. But the words, such as European, unit, university, yard, year, union, etc., have the sound of a consonant (j), though they begin with a vowel. Thus, a is used before these words.
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