Common Errors in English
Spotting the Error in sentences is a skillful and intellectual task. We need to spot or locate the part which is grammatically incorrect. The errors may be categorized differently, i.e. tense error, spelling error, punctuation error, part of speech error, sentence error, article-preposition error, singular-plural error etc. Here are some Activity Sets to practise Common Errors in English.
Activity Set No. 1
Wrong: I hope you’ll come in New York soon.
Right: I hope you’ll come to New York soon.
Wrong: Mary works like a waitress on Fridays.
Right: Mary works as a waitress on Fridays.
Wrong: The price of living is very high in London.
Right: The cost of living is very high in London.
Wrong: I did a phone call to her.
Right: I made a phone call to her.
Wrong: He gave an exam in spite of being ill.
Right: He took an exam in spite of being ill.
Wrong: He works in a finance company.
Right: He works for a finance company.
Wrong: We made a meeting yesterday.
Right: We had a meeting yesterday.
Wrong: I am born in Mumbai.
Right: I was born in Mumbai.
Wrong: Would you like to have some desert?
Right: Would you like to have some dessert?
Wrong: Ronald is married with Jennifer.
Right: Ronald is married to Jennifer.
Activity Set No. 2
Wrong: We come at school every morning.
Right: We come to school every morning.
Right: My uncle will arrive on Saturday.
Activity Set No. 3
Right: Clara was punished by her father.
Activity Set No. 4
Wrong: Their house is opposite from ours.
Right: Their house is opposite to ours.
Wrong: He’s the tallest from all the boys.
Right: He’s the tallest of all the boys.
Wrong: The teacher spoke for bad habits.
Right: The teacher spoke about bad habits.
Wrong: Smith’s been ill from last Friday.
Right: Smith’s been ill since last Friday.
Wrong: She’s lived here since two years.
Right: She’s lived here for two years.
Wrong:I may be able to go after a week.
Right: I may be able to go in a week.
Wrong:They’re leaving to England soon.
Right: They’re leaving for England soon.
Wrong: Look to this beautiful picture.
Right: Look at this beautiful picture.
Wrong: He’s very jealous from his brother.
Right: He’s very jealous of his brother.
Wrong: He always insisted to his opinion.
Right: He always insisted on his opinion.
Activity Set No. 5
Wrong: Will you pass from the post-office?
Right: Will you pass by the post-office?
Wrong: The teacher is pleased from me.
Right: The teacher is pleased with me.
Wrong: Who presided in the last meeting?
Right: Who presided at/over the last meeting?
Wrong: He’s very proud for his promotion.
Right: He’s very proud of his promotion.
Wrong: We rejoiced for her success.
Right: We rejoiced at her success.
Wrong: Are you related with Smith in any way?
Right: Are you related to Smith in any way?
Wrong: He repented from his crime.
Right: He repented of his crime.
Wrong: Are you satisfied from your marks?
Right: Are you satisfied with your marks?
Wrong: Your house is similar with mine.
Right: Your house is similar to mine.
Wrong: The bank manager was sitting on his desk.
Right: The bank manager was sitting at his desk.
Activity Set No. 6
Wrong: I hope he’ll succeed at his work.
Right: I hope he’ll succeed in his work.
Wrong: I’m quite sure for her honesty.
Right: I’m quite sure of her honesty.
Wrong: I suspect him for stealing the pen.
Right: I suspect him of stealing the pen.
Wrong: The boys are tired from playing football.
Right: The boys are tired of playing football.
Wrong: Translate this passage to English.
Right: Translate this passage into English.
Wrong: The man was trembling from cold.
Right: The man was trembling with cold.
Wrong: They were warned about the danger.
Right: They were warned of the danger.
Wrong: The woman was dressed with black.
Right: The woman was dressed in black.
Wrong: This is an exception of the rule.
Right: This is an exception to the rule.
Activity Set No. 7
Wrong: Myself I am George.
Right: I am George.
Wrong: I am having four brothers and three sisters.
Right: I have four brothers and three sisters.
Wrong: He do not have a laptop.
Right: He does not have a laptop.
Wrong: Does she has a car?
Right: Does she have a car?
Wrong: Last before year she got very good marks.
Right: Year before last she got good marks.
Wrong: He did not wrote the test last week.
Right: He did not write the test last week.
Wrong: I cannot cope up with this pressure.
Right: I cannot cope with this pressure.
Wrong: I came to office by walk.
Right: I came to office on foot.
Wrong: What is the time in your watch?
Right: What is the time by your watch?
Wrong: Our classroom is in the 2nd floor.
Right: Our classroom is on the 2nd floor.
Wrong: The price of this mobile phone is higher than yours.
Right: The price of this mobile phone is higher than that of yours.
Wrong: His son-in-laws have come home.
Right: His sons-in-law have come home.
Wrong: I prefer coffee than tea.
Right: I prefer coffee to tea.
Activity Set No. 8
Wrong: I’d reached the school till the rain started.
Right: I’d reached the school before the rain started. OR
I’d reached the school when the rain started.
Wrong: The pupil gave his exam.
Right: The pupil took his exam.
Wrong: We made a walk along the river.
Right: We went for a walk along the river.
Wrong: We went for a walk on our bicycles.
Right: We went for a ride on our bicycles.
Wrong: They came down from their horses.
Right: They got off their horses.
Wrong: Shall we go there with the feet?
Right: Shall we go there on foot?
Wrong: I make a shower every morning.
Right: I take a shower every morning. OR
I have a shower every morning.
Wrong: I’ll need an hour to do that.
Right: It’ll take me an hour to do that.
Wrong: You ought to make more exercise.
Right: You ought to take more exercise.
Wrong: He made an interesting lecture.
Right: He gave an interesting lecture. OR
He delivered an interesting lecture.
Activity Set No. 9
Wrong: Peter worked hardly today.
Right: Peter worked hard today.
Wrong: He tore the paper into two halfs.
Right: He tore the paper into two halves.
Wrong: They agreed waiting for one more day.
Right: They agreed to wait for one more day.
Wrong: Twenty years are a long time to spend lonely.
Right: Twenty years is a long time to spend lonely.
Wrong: Every one of us were anxious.
Right: Every one of us was anxious.
Wrong: Bread and butter were all we had for lunch.
Right: Bread and butter was all we had for lunch.
Wrong: He apologized her for breaking her pencil.
Right: He apologized to her for breaking her pencil.
Wrong: She will cut her hair tomorrow.
Right: She will have her hair cut tomorrow.
Wrong: You like chocolates, isn’t it?
Right: You like chocolates, don’t you?
Wrong: The green is my favourite colour.
Right: Green is my favourite colour.
Wrong: They have three son-in-laws.
Right: They have three sons-in-law.
Activity Set No. 10
Wrong: India one the match yesterday.
Right: India won the match yesterday.
Wrong: She is from U.S.
Right: She is from the U.S.
Wrong: Joe can speak the Spanish very well.
Right: Joe can speak Spanish very well.
Wrong: Me and Stella are going to the party tonight.
Right: Stella and I are going to the party tonight.
Wrong: He hit himself in his head.
Right: He hit himself in the head.
Wrong: Rose is used to get up at 6:00 A.M. every day.
Right: Rose is used to getting up 6:00 A.M. every day.
Wrong: Michael didn’t sent the email yesterday.
Right: Michael didn’t send the email yesterday.
Wrong: Are you listening me?
Right: Are you listening to me?
Wrong: Where I can get water?
Right: Where can I get water?
Wrong: It takes me about a hour to reach the college.
Right: It takes me about an hour to reach the college.
Activity Set No. 11
Right: He gave an apple to each of the children.
Right: Every child had an apple.
Right: Smith visits his aunt every Sunday.
Right: Julie visits her uncle every Sunday.
Right: This girl is older than that one.
Right: This girl is the oldest of all.
Right: My elder brother is called Ahmed.
Right: My eldest brother is not here.
Right: I’ve read an interesting story.
Right: Are you interested in your work?
Right: George was injured in a car accident.
Right: Turn the page for further instructions.
Right: Robert has got some milk.
Right: There aren’t any books on the shelf.
Right: Look at that dog across the street!
Right: You should keep your hands clean.
Right: What’s the cause of a sandstorm?
Right: You have a good reason for coming.
Activity Set No. 12
| PDF_1 | PDF_2 | PDF_3 |
| PDF_4 | PDF_5 |
Activity Set No. 13
| Wrong | Right |
| Me and Elizabeth are fast friends. | Elizabeth and I are fast friends. |
| Is this a bag of hers? | Is this her bag? |
| I bought me a new dress. | I bought myself a new dress. |
| Have anyone seen my phone? | Has anyone seen my phone? |
| Did you see any one in the classroom? | Did you see anyone in the classroom? |
| She doesn’t know somebody in the city. | She doesn’t know anybody in the city. |
| Someone of my friends is an actor in the film-industry. | One of my friends is an actor in the film-industry. |
| John didn’t say something to Emma. | John didn’t say anything to Emma. |
| Nobody didn’t attend the function. | Nobody attended the function. |
| It was a lot of crowd on the road. | There was a lot of crowd on the road. |
| I like tea, but she gave me too many. | I like tea, but she gave me too much. |
| Did you study yesterday?- Yes, little. | Did you study yesterday?- Yes, a little. |
| We had invited all relatives and few came. | We had invited all relatives and a few came. |
| Each of them doesn’t listen to me. | Neither of them listens to me. |
| I bought the same backpack like Janet. | I bought the same backpack as Janet. |
Activity Set No. 14
| Wrong | Right |
| John is more smart than his elder brother. | John is smarter than his elder brother. |
| It’s too much stormy to go outside. | It’s too stormy to go outside. |
| Guavas are not enough ripe to eat. | Guavas are not ripe enough to eat. |
| That subject is very bored! | That subject is very boring! |
| Many people were present in the event. | Many people were present at the event. |
| He is confident to stand first in the exams. | He is confident that he will stand first in the exams. |
| She likes all colours, but best of all, she likes the orange. | She likes all colours, but best of all, she likes the orange one. |
| Emma speaks very quick. | Emma speaks very quickly. |
| They are working very hardly. | They are working very hard. |
| After all, I want to express my gratitude towards you. | Finally, I want to express my gratitude towards you. |
| He came firstly in the classroom. | He came first in the classroom. |
| A doctor went to upstairs to see the patient. | A doctor went upstairs to see the patient. |
| Robert never does nothing. | Robert never does anything. |
| I like tea as well coffee. | I like tea as well as coffee. |
Activity Set No. 15
| Wrong | Right |
| The meeting will be conducted at a quarter past twelve O’clock. | The meeting will be conducted at a quarter past twelve. |
| Let us eat out this night. | Let us eat out tonight. |
| The assignment will be submitted until four O’clock. | The assignment will be submitted by four O’clock. |
| They have been in live-in-relationship since six months. | They have been in live-in-relationship for six months. |
| John was born in October 18th. | John was born on October 18th. |
| There was nobody in the hospital in the night. | There was nobody in the hospital at night. |
| We met each other the last month. | We met each other last month. |
| Last afternoon, I finished reading this novel. | Yesterday afternoon, I finished reading this novel. |
| It takes long time to understand it properly. | It takes a long time to understand it properly. |
| I reached at their house on time. | I reached their house on time. |
| Robert goes to office by a car. | Robert goes to office by car. |
| She has a six-months-old baby girl. | She has a six-month-old baby girl. |
| He was seen with a girl about sixteen. | He was seen with a girl of about sixteen. |
| They had the dinner at ten. | They had dinner at ten. |
| Though he is rich but he is unhappy. | Though he is rich, he is unhappy. |
Activity Set No. 16
Wrong: He asked me bring his book tomorrow.
Right: He asked me to bring his book tomorrow.
Wrong: I hate when people make fun of others.
Right: I hate it when people make fun of others.
Wrong: John is thinking to leave his current job.
Right: John is thinking of leaving his current job.
Wrong: I wish I am there with you.
Right: I wish I were there with you.
Wrong: They afford to take an admission in that school.
Right: They can afford to take an admission in that school.
Wrong: He was accused for murdering his wife.
Right: He was accused of murdering his wife.
Wrong: The bird escaped the prison.
Right: The bird escaped from the prison.
Wrong: We left from the function at 10:00p.m.
Right: We left the function at 10:00 p.m.
Wrong: Catherine kept on to cry for hours.
Right: Catherine kept on crying for hours.
Wrong: He bought for his wife a new dress.
Right: He bought a new dress for his wife.
Wrong: You ought to come home by now.
Right: You ought to have come home by now.
Wrong: Would you like have a cup of coffee?
Right: Would you like to have a cup of coffee?
Wrong: They were not let enter that museum.
Right: They were not allowed to enter that museum.
Wrong: The noise woke up the baby.
Right: The noise woke the baby up.
Wrong: It is raining a lot in the month of July.
Right: It rains a lot in the month of July.
Activity Set No. 17
Wrong– James is capable to win the competition.
Right– James is capable of winning the competition.
Wrong– She has all ready submitted her exam form.
Right– She has already submitted her exam form.
Wrong– He was saying lies to me.
Right– He was telling lies to me.
Wrong– Don’t step out in the scorching sun with bear feet.
Right– Don’t step out in the scorching sun with bare feet.
Wrong– They arrived to their home in the evening.
Right– They arrived at their home in the evening.
Wrong– Robert gave to Mike a lot of money.
Right– Robert gave a lot of money to Mike.
Wrong– You must to study hard to obtain more marks.
Right– You must study hard to obtain more marks.
Wrong– I didn’t used to taking part in the competitions.
Right– I am not used to taking part in the competitions.
Wrong– This dress really looks well on you.
Right– This dress really looks good on you.
Wrong– She reads a novel at the moment.
Right– She is reading a novel at the moment.
Wrong– Never Joseph is late for his office.
Right– Joseph is never late for his office.
Wrong– You are seeming very happy today.
Right– You seem very happy today.
Wrong– I am not remembering his name right now.
Right– I do not remember his name right now.
Wrong– Did you saw my phone on the table?
Right– Did you see my phone on the table?
also see:
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Variety of examples for spot the error.
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Very nice examples of common errors
This is a great post for anyone who wants to improve their grammar skills. There are a lot of helpful tips and examples to help you identify errors in your own writing.
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