Some Quick Tips For Sentence Corrections---- Set Two ----- Use of different words in sentences.

·       Use of ‘Since’ & ‘For’

In Perfect Continuous tense of Present, Past and Future tenses, ‘since’ and ‘for’ are used to depict time.

Since is used for a ‘point of time’ i.e. morning, January & 2003 etc.

For is used where there is duration of time. i.e. two hours, one year & one month etc.

Example : 

• Boys have been playing since morning.
• Girls have been singing for two hours.

·       Conditional sentences

In case of sentences, where two actions are taking place in the past, one taking place first and the second thereafter, Past Perfect tense is used in first and past indefinite in the second sentence. i.e.

• The train had left before I reached the station.
• It had started raining before I reached home.

·    Sentences with Principal & Subordinate clauses in past tense.

·        

If in Principal clause Past tense is used subordinate clause too will have Past tense.

Example

• The teacher noticed that the boy was making a noise.
• There is exception to this, In case of Universal Truth.

Past tense in Principal clause & Present tense in subordinate clause: 

Example:

• My mother said that God helps them who helps themselves.

·     Sentences with two actions in the past, one dependent on the  other.

In such cases, in one sentence past perfect tense is used and in the second future perfect is used.

• Past Perfect =  Had + third form of verb.
• Future Perfect = would have+ third form of verb.

In such cases actual action does not take place but if first action would have taken place second too would have happened. i.e.

Example: 

• If I had worked hard I would have passed.

In this case I have not worked hard nor have I passed. Here action required was to take place in both the clauses in past but has not taken place.

Example:

• ‘If I had worked……’ is also written in this way also
• ‘Had I worked hard…..’

·       Sentences with both Principal as well as subordinate clause having actions taking place in future tense.

In such cases, two actions are to take place in future, one depending on the  other. In these sentences in principal clause, present indefinite tense is used and in subordinate clause, future indefinite tense is used.

Present Indefinite Tense= 1st form of Verb +s or es.

Future Indefinite Tense= will or shall + 1^st form of verb.

Example :

• If I go to Delhi, I shall  bring a watch for you.

Here both the actions are to take place in future.

·       Use of ‘As if’

In sentences having ‘As if’, action shown is not actual but   it is pretended about the action.

• He walks as  if he were lame.

Note :

Here he is not lame but he pretends to be lame.
Here Principal clause is as per requirement and in subordinate clause, word ‘were’ is used.

He talks as  if  he were a king.

·       Use of Unless & Until

Words Until & Unless are themselves negative in their meaning and donot require word ‘not’ with them.

Example:

• Unless you work  hard,  you cannot pass.
• Until he realises his fault, I shall not forgive him.

·       Use of ‘Either…or’ & ‘Neither…nor’

Words ‘Either…or’ & ‘Neither…nor’ show relation between two subjects or objects. Here verb is used according to which is nearer to it. i.e.

• Either he or you are to attend the  meeting.
• Neither I nor she will come tomorrow.

·       Use of ‘As well as’, ‘along with’ ‘In addition to’ & ‘together with’ etc.

With the help of these words two subjects are joined together. Here verb is used according to the subject preceding these words.

• I as well as you shall go there.
• The boss along with all the employees is going there.
• Food in addition to clothes was provided to the poor. 

·       Sentences making comparison between two.

In such sentences comparison should  be between the equal things i.e. words making comparison should be  used  with words which are  to be  compared.

My salary is more than John. ……incorrect.

My salary is to be compared with the salary of John and not with John.

This sentence gives impression that my salary is being compared with John. It should be….

My salary is more than the salary of John.

If salary word is not to be repeated it will be….

My salary is more than that of John.

Here  ‘that of’  means ‘salary of’.

·       Sentences making comparison with any other

In such sentences, comparison is made with any other thing.

He is more intelligent boy than any other boy in the class.  And not ……….

He is more intelligent than any boy in the class…..incorrect.

Generally in comparison between two things word ‘than’ is used but there are some exceptions  to it.

With words like  senior,junior,anterior,posterior,prior & prefer etc. word ‘to’ is used.

• He is junior to me.
• I prefer milk to tea.
• This box is inferior to that.

·       Use of Scarcely, Hardly, No sooner etc.

Scarcely and Hardly are followed by when…

No sooner is followed by  than

• Hardly had I reached the office when it started raining.
• Scarcely had I reached home when lights went off.
• No sooner did I reach the station than the train left.

·       Use of Although & Though

• Although and though are followed by yet.
• Although he worked hard yet he did not succeed.
• Though he walked fast yet he could not catch the train.

Quick Tips For Sentence Corrections-------Use of different words in sentences.

Some  Quick Tips For Corrections

SET ONE

·       Little, A little. The Little

1. Little is negative in sense and means ‘hardly any’ ‘or not much’: as

There is little water in the jug.
meaning There is  no water in the jug.

2. A little is affirmative in sense and means some quantity though not much; as

I gave him a little money.
meaning I gave him some money.

3.The little is both  in affirmative as well as negative in sense. It means not much but all of that much.

I drank the little water that was in the jug.Meaning I drank that little water that was in the jug.

·       Few, A few, the few.

1. Few is negative in sense and means ‘not many’He has few books. Meaning no  books.

2. A few is affirmative in sense and means some or in small number.
He purchased a few more books. Meaning some more books.

3. The few is both affirmative and negative and means not many but that small number.

He took away the few books that I had.

Meaning that number books was small and he took away that small number of books.

·       Farther & Further

Farther  is comparative degree of ‘Far’. It implies distance.

There is a temple at the farther end of this street.

His house is farther from school than mine.

Further means additional,  in addition to

The child could not walk further.

·       Later, Latest; Latter, Last

Later and latest are comparative and superlative degrees of late. These two relate to time.

I shall reach there later on.What is the latest news of the day?

Latter and Last are also comparative and superlative degrees but relate to order.

John and Smith are fast friends. The former is more intelligent than the latter.He was the last to come but the first to go.

·       Some, Any

Some is used in affirmative and shows quantity.
Any also shows quantity but is used in negative and interrogative.

I gave him some money.Did you give him any money ?Has he any money on his person? (any means some)He did the work without any difficulty. (means no)He did not like any of these dresses.He did not give him any money.

In exception cases some is used in interrogative sentences also.

Will you lend me some money?Have you some money in your purse?

·       Much, Many, Many a, a great many, No, None

Much implies quantity, and Many refers to number :
I have much work to do.

Many boys are at work.
Many a is followed by singular verb.Many a boy is at work.

·       ‘A great many’ implies a large number, it is followed by plural noun and plural verb.

A great many members were present in the meeting.

No is used when the noun it qualifies is expressed, but

None is used when the noun it qualifies is understood.

No man was present in the hall.

None attended the meeting.

·       Each Other, One another

Each other refers to two while one another to more than two.

John and Smith are quarrelling with each other.John, Smith and Peter are talking with one another.

·       The number of  & A number of

If the number of is used as subject, verb is singular &If a number is used as subject, the verb is plural.

The number of participants was very small.

A number of persons was ready to accompany us.

·       Less  &  Fewer

Less is used in case of quantity and Fewer in case of number.

No fewer than a dozen persons  were present in the meeting.

He paid me less money.

·       Words showing time like Morning evening etc.

Words like morning, evening, afternoon have preposition of ‘in’ before them.

He went to Delhi in the morning and shall  return in  the evening. I shall go to see him in the afternoon.

But words  like Noon, Midday, Midnight and daybreak have preposition of ‘at’ before them.

·       Use of word ‘Only’

The word ‘only’ should be preceded immediately prior to the word it relates to.

He only makes a noise in the class……incorrect.Here only qualifies ‘makes a noise’ which is not correct.Only he makes a noise in the class…….correct.

Here it implies that it is he only who makes a noise in the class.

Your views /suggestions about subject/subject matter are splicited Do post/e-mail.

Sentence Correction -----Clarifications And Tips----Use of Pronoun - 'It'

USE OF PRONOUN ‘IT’ :

The Pronoun ‘It’ is used:

1. For things without life; as:  

There is a book on the table. Give it to me. 

2. For animals; as : 

He has a pet cow. He loves it very much.

3. For a young child; as:

 I saw the child in the market. It was weeping bitterly.

4. To refer to a statement going before; as:

He told a lie and he knows it. He will not win the match and he knows it.

5. As a subject before the verb to be; as:

It is sure that he will win the match.( He will win the match is sure).
It  is easy to find fault with others.

6. To emphasize the noun or pronoun that follows; as:

It was he who brought this to my notice.
It is he who is at fault. It was he who helped me. It is a fool who does not learn from past follies.

7. As an impersonal pronoun; as :

It is raining. It snows.  It thunders.

8. In Indefinite sense; as: 

It is very hot. It is clear today. It is close today.

Use of My, Mine, Your, Yours, Her, Hers, their, Theirs;

..are called possessive pronouns. 

 Mine, yours, hers, theirs are not followed by any noun whereas My, your, his, her there are followed by a noun ;  as :

This is my book and that is yours. (your book)
This is his box.  Where is hers?
It is my fault and not theirs. He lost his purse and stole mine.(my purse)

Numerical adjectives are often used as a pronoun; as:

The underlined words  are pronouns.

Either of the teams can win the match.
Neither of the two brothers is at fault.
Some of the boys are brilliant, others are dull.
Both of the girls are beautiful.
John has done much but more is expected from him.
Be fair in your dealings that is all I need from you.
They came by threes and fours.
There are two dogs in the  house one is white, the other black.
Each has natural talents, only if each will develop it.
There are nine plants in the garden, two are small,three are of medium size and four are tall. 

USE OF THAN, BUT & WHAT :

There is often a great confusion about use of ‘than’ & ‘but’
But if we use the complete clause in the sentence it  can be avoided; as:

‘THAN’

Her sister is more beautiful than she (is).
I love her more than he (loves her).
She loves you more than (she loves) me.

‘BUT’

But  is used as a preposition in  a sentences.
Nobody  will help you but me.(not I)
None but him was present. (not he)

WHAT

What is used for things only.
What is lying there? …… a thing.
What  does he want?
What did you get?
What is this table made of?

But what also refers to profession when used with a noun or pronoun.
What is your father? He is a doctor.  What is your mother? She is a teacher.

USE OF ‘HE’ ‘YOU’ & ‘I’

For good acts the order of use is :

Second person, third person and first person.
You, he and I ,         You and I,   He and I,

For bad acts it is:

First person, third person and second person
I, he and you,    I and you, I and he.
You, he and I are good friends.
I, he and you are at fault.

Sentence Correction Exercises No. 1,2 & 3 ...with answers & explanations

Exercise No. 1.

Find out error in the following sentences if any and mark Sr. no. of the relative part. In case of no error mark Sr no.5.

Ignore punctuation errors.

A. 1.Supposing if it rains tomorrow,  2.it will not be  3. possible for me  4.to visit you

B. 1.As it was raining yesterday,  2.we had no other choice  3. but to stay indoors  4.for the whole day.

C. 1.We are so much engrossed in our daily routine  2.these days that we have  3.no freedom and leisure  4.of free thinking.

D. 1. John is  2.more intelligent  3.than any student  4. In the college.

E. 1. If he would have applied  2.his mind a little  3.he  would not have  4.committed this mistake.

Answers for Question 1

A. 1.Supposing and if have the same meaning. So here either of the two will suffice the purpose. ‘If it rains tomorrow……..’

B. 3. ‘other’ is always followed by ‘than’.  ‘ ……….we had no other choice than to stay………’.

C.  4. ‘for’ in place of   ‘of’. …..we have no freedom and leisure for……

D. 3. ……. than  any other student……

E. 1.If he had applied his mind…….Or it can be ……..Had he applied his mind……..

Exercise No.2.

Find out error in the following sentences if any and mark Sr. no. of the relative part. In case of no error mark Sr no.5.

Ignore punctuation errors.

A. 1.Today our nation  has been  2.saved from  3.the greatest misfortune that has ever  4.or could  fall on her.

B. 1.The person  2.who met you  3.in the market yesterday  4. is our English teacher.

C. 1.John went to his native village  2.after four years  3.and his friends were too glad  4.to meet him after such  a long time.

D. 1.My wife  asked  me  2.that when I was  3.to leave for Delhi  4.the next morning.

E. 1.My father advised me  2.that as my mother was unwell,  3.I should care for her  4.during his absence to  Bombay.

Answers for Question 2

A. 3. ….the greatest misfortune that has  ever fallen or could  fall on her.

B.  4 ……is our teacher of English. The words ‘English teacher’ give an impression of a person residing in England.

C. 3. …..were very glad to meet him…..

D. 2. Delete ‘that’. My wife asked me when I was ……

Change Narration  of….. My wife said  to me. “When are you to leave for  Delhi …….” It will be ----- My wife asked me when I was to leave for Delhi……

E. 3 ‘Take care of’ instead of  ‘care for’ . ….

Exercise No.3.

Find out error in the following sentences if any and mark Sr. no. of the relative part. In case of no error mark Sr no.5.

Ignore punctuation errors.

A. 1.The affection of   2.all my office colleagues   3.have come to me   4. in an abundant measure.

B. 1.One of the shortcomings  2.of modern education system  are  3.that it is  not employment oriented   4. and does not produce technical hands.

C. 1. The charge of murder  2.being proved  3.against him,  4.the judge sentenced the accused to death.

D. 1.I was trying to  2. get admission  in a medical college  3. Even though my parents wanted me  4.to go for an engineering course.

E. 1. My brother has told me 2. that he might have saved 3.much time had he traveled 4.by a shorter route.

Answers for Question 3

A. 3. ‘has’ in place of ‘have’

B. 2. ……of modern education  system is……

C. The sentence gives an impression that charge has been proved against the judge where as it is the accused. First part of the sentence is in passive voice whereas the latter pat is in active voice. Both parts should be  in the same voice. The charge of murder being proved,  the accused was sentenced to death by the judge.

D. 3. Had wanted in place of wanted.

E. 1. Change ‘has told me, to ‘told me’.

(Valuable comments solicited )

Fill in the Blanks out of given options ......Exercise.

Choose set of words from the given options and fill in the blanks in following sentences.

A. I am desirous …….. studying but all rests ………my parents whether they allow me to study further or not.

1. to , on.      2. for, by         3. of, on.         4. Of , with.             5.in,upon.

B. All the members of the committee  disagreed………his proposal and nobody was ready to agree ………..him .

1. by,at.           2.on,with        3. To,with        4. For, with           5. With, on.

C. Being afraid……….a monkey, the child clung……..her mother.

1.of,to             2. By,with       3. To ,by.        4. To,with              5.in,on.

D.I warned my sister……..the danger but she paid no heed …….my advice.

1. with in.        2. For , of         3. Of, to        4. Against,to.   5. Against,on.

E. The officer was charged………tempering of record of the office and  he was dismissed …………his service.

1. with in.          2. by, of.        3. from, of.        4. with,from.   5. into, for.

Sentence Corrections Exercise no. 17 & 18. with answers and explanations.

Exercise No. 17.

Find out error in the following sentences if any and mark Sr. no. of the relative part. In case of no error mark Sr no.5.

Ignore punctuation errors.

A. 1.She is 2.one of the best 3. teachers that 4. has taught us.

B. 1. We should not disturb him2. at midnight and 3.we shall see him 4.at the morning.

C. 1. It is her opinion 2. that if she was present there 3. the dispute between brothers 4. would have been averted.

D. 1. It is you 2.who has pocketed this insult, 3.if it were I, 4.I would not have.

E.1.The boss ordered 2.that all the employees 3.were present in the office 4. at 9a.m. sharp.

Answers Exercise No. 17

A. 4. ‘have’ in place of ‘has’. that qualifies teachers and not she, so verb will be plural ‘have’.

B. 4. ‘In’ in place of at. With midday or midnight, ‘at’ is used but with morning and evening ‘in’ is used.

C. 2. ‘were’ in place of ‘was’. Here action has not taken place but if it had taken place…..

D. 2. ‘have’ in place of ‘has’ who qualifies you which is followed by have.

E. 3.’be’ in place of ‘were’.

Exercise No. 18

Find out error in the following sentences if any and mark Sr. no. of the relative part. In case of no error mark Sr no.5.

Ignore punctuation errors.

A. 1.Every man, woman and child 2. of free India are proud of 3.sacrifices made by martyrs 4. to free the country.

B. 1.The basic difference between 2. poems of Keats and Shakespeare is 3.the presence of romanticism in the former 4. and its absence in the latter.

C.1. The chance 2.of passing examination 3. by these students 4.are very bleak now.

D.1 John as well as his brother 2.are going to see 3.their parents in the village 4.on Sunday.

E. 1.None of the two ladies 2.present in the meeting 3. was ready to 4.accept his advice.

Answers Exercise No. 18

A. 2, ‘is’ in place of are.

B. 2. …….and those of Shakespeare…..

C.  4. ‘is’ in place of  ‘are’.The chance……..is…..

D. 1. ‘and’ in place of as well as. Otherwise the complete sentence (‘is’ in place of are & ‘his’ in place of ‘their’ ) will have to be changed to suit   ‘as well as’.

 E. 1. ‘Neither’ in place of ‘None’