Verbs - Common Errors / Mistakes

Rules:

COMMON ERRORS IN THE USE OF VERBS

1. Use of "There" in Intransitive Verbs

When the subject of an intransitive verb is placed after the verb instead of before it, the verb is preceded by the introductory adverb "there."

Erroneous Sentences:

1. Were ten men in the boat.

2. Seems to be a very rough wind.

3. Outside the gate stands a man.

Corrected Sentences:

1. There were ten men in the boat.

2. There seems to be a very rough wind.

3. Outside the gate, there stands a man.

2 Omission of Reflexive Pronouns

The reflexive pronoun is often omitted after many transitive verbs, making them intransitive.

Erroneous Sentences:

1. He kept himself inside the house.

2. Move yourself over to this side.

3. He made himself off with the money.

4. The monsoon has burst itself.

5. Let us bathe ourselves here.

Corrected Sentences:

1. He kept inside the house.

2. Move over to this side.

3. He made off with the money.

4. The monsoon has burst.

5. Let us bathe here.

When the omission of the reflexive pronoun is incorrect:

Erroneous Sentences:

1. He availed of the offer.

2. He resigned to his fate.

3. He exerted to win a prize.

Corrected Sentences:

1. He availed himself of the offer.

2. He resigned himself to his fate.

3. He exerted himself to win a prize.

Both forms are correct, but the addition of the reflexive pronoun gives more emphasis:

Emphatic Form:

1. He rested himself on the bed.

2. I engaged myself in business.

3. The clouds have dispersed themselves.

4. He prepared himself for the journey.

5. The fog has spread itself over the field.

General Form:

1. He rested on the bed.

2. I engaged in business.

3. The clouds have dispersed.

4. He prepared for the journey.

5. The fog has spread over the field.

3 Placement of "Not" in Negative Sentences

In negative sentences, "not" must be placed between some auxiliary verb and the main verb.

Erroneous Sentences:

1. He loves not his work.

2. He came not back to his post.

3. He is coming not here again.

Corrected Sentences:

1. He does not love his work.

2. He did not come back to his post.

3. He is not coming here again.

4. Structure of Interrogative Sentences

In interrogative sentences, the subject must be placed between some auxiliary verb and the main verb.

Erroneous Sentences:

1. Why he told that falsehood?

2. How you know that?

3. When you will return home?

4. Where you lived last year?

5. What study he likes best?

6. Which book you will read first?

7. You ever saw him before?

8. He comes back today?

Corrected Sentences:

1. Why did he tell that falsehood?

2. How do you know that?

3. When will you return home?

4. Where did you live last year?

5. What study does he like best?

6. Which book will you read first?

7. Did you ever see him before?

8. Does he come back today?

5 Use of "Shall" and "Will"

When merely denoting future time with no implied command or intention, the first person is expressed by "shall" and the second and third persons by "will."

Erroneous Sentences:

1. I will be drowned; nobody shall save me.

2. I will receive my pay today.

3. You shall sleep well if you are thoroughly tired.

4. You shall remember what you read if you read attentively.

5. He shall seem foolish if he says that again.

6. I think I will pass.

7. I hope you shall pass.

8. They believe that he shall pass.

9. I have no doubt he shall come.

Corrected Sentences:

1. I shall be drowned; nobody will save me.

2. I shall receive my pay today.

3. You will sleep well if you are thoroughly tired.

4. You will remember what you read if you read attentively.

5. He will seem foolish if he says that again.

6. I think I shall pass.

7. I hope you will pass.

8. They believe that he will pass.

9. I have no doubt he will come.

6 Use of the Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect connects a completed event with present time in some sense.

(a) The Present Indefinite Misused for the Present Perfect

Erroneous Sentences:

1. I am ill for two days.

2. For one whole week there is no break in the rains.

3. It is two weeks since I am here.

4. I am long of this opinion.

5. My son is ill all this week.

Corrected Sentences:

1. I have been ill for two days.

2. For one whole week there has been no break in the rains.

3. I have been here for the last two weeks.

4. I have long been of this opinion.

5. My son has been ill all this week.

(b) The Past Indefinite Misused for the Present Perfect

Erroneous Sentences:

1. I did not yet finish the work.

2. I did not see him from a long time.

3. I finished my work just now.

4. I lived here for the last three years.

5. The grass began to sprout as the rains have now set in.

Corrected Sentences:

1. I have not yet finished the work.

2. I have not seen him for a long time.

3. I have just finished my work.

4. I have lived here for the last three years.

5. The grass has begun to sprout as the rains have now set in.

(c) The Present Perfect Misused for the Past Indefinite

Erroneous Sentences:

1. Baber has founded the Mogul Empire.

2. Aurangzeb has done much evil to the Mogul Empire.

3. The rain has begun to fall as soon as the wind went down.

4. He has not come at the time when he was ordered.

Corrected Sentences:

1. Baber founded the Mogul Empire.

2. Aurangzeb did much evil to the Mogul Empire.

3. The rain began to fall as soon as the wind went down.

4. He did not come at the time when he was ordered.

(d) The Present Perfect Misused with an Adverb or Phrase Denoting Past Time

Erroneous Sentences:

1. The rain has ceased yesterday.

2. I have finished my letter last night.

3. This custom has formerly been much practiced.

4. The parrot has died a few days ago.

5. Our horse has run away in the night.

6. I have come here this morning.

7. The sun has set at seven o'clock.

8. I have matriculated in April last.

9. The famine of 1877 has been very severe.

Corrected Sentences:

1. The rain ceased yesterday.

2. I finished my letter last night.

3. This custom was formerly much practiced.

4. The parrot died a few days ago.

5. Our horse ran away in the night.

6. I came here this morning.

7. The sun set at seven o'clock.

8. I matriculated in April last.

9. The famine of 1877 was very severe.

7 Use of the Past Perfect Tense

The past perfect tense invariably denotes that some action or event had been completed before another was commenced.

(a) The Past Perfect Misused for the Past Indefinite

Erroneous Sentences:

1. I had bought two books yesterday.

2. The sun had set at seven o'clock.

3. The meeting of the 8th instant had unanimously resolved, etc.

4. I had sent notice in December last.

Corrected Sentences:

1. I bought two books yesterday.

2. The sun set at seven o'clock.

3. The meeting of the 8th instant unanimously resolved, etc.

4. I sent notice in December last.

(b) The Past Indefinite Misused for the Past Perfect

Erroneous Sentences:

1. He was ill for two days, when the doctor was sent for.

2. The sheep were scattered; for a wolf entered the fold.

3. The doctor came to the patient, who was long ill.

Corrected Sentences:

1. He had been ill for two days when the doctor was sent for.

2. The sheep were scattered; for a wolf had entered the fold.

3. The doctor came to the patient who had long been ill.

8. Omission of "To" Before Simple Infinitive

After certain words and in certain constructions, the "to" is omitted before the simple infinitive.

Erroneous Sentences:

1. I heard him to say so.

2. We saw him to take aim with his bow.

3. I have known him to laugh for nothing.

4. You had better not to remain here.

5. I had rather to take this than that.

6. He did nothing but to laugh.

7. You need not to stop here.

Corrected Sentences:

1. I heard him say so.

2. We saw him take aim with his bow.

3. I have known him laugh for nothing.

4. You had better not remain here.

5. I had rather take this than that.

6. He did nothing but laugh.

7. You need not stop here.

9 Use of Prepositions with Gerundial Infinitives

When the gerundial infinitive of an intransitive verb is used to qualify a noun, the infinitive verb must be invariably followed by a preposition.

Erroneous Sentences:

1. Bring me a chair to sit.

2. I want a stick to walk.

3. The boy must have a companion to play.

4. He had no bed to lie.

Corrected Sentences:

1. Bring me a chair to sit on.

2. I want a stick to walk with.

3. The boy must have a companion to play with.

4. He had no bed to lie on.

10 Use of the Past Participle of Intransitive Verbs

The past participle of intransitive verbs, when used, must be placed before the noun which it qualifies.

Erroneous Sentences:

1. There is no scent in the rose faded this morning.

2. I am sorry for the candidate failed in the last examination.

3. He is a candidate passed last year.

Corrected Sentences:

1. There is no scent in the rose which faded this morning.

2. I am sorry for the candidate who failed in the last examination.

3. He is a passed candidate of last year.

369. Use of the Genitive Case Before a Gerund

When using a noun before a gerund, the genitive case should be used.

Erroneous Sentences:

1. I was pleased at him coming back.

2. He was amused at the horse running after him.

3. I ask your favour of sending me an answer.

4. I depend upon the wall's being built.

Corrected Sentences:

1. I was pleased at his coming back.

2. He was amused at the horse's running after him.

3. I ask the favour of your sending me an answer.

4. I depend upon the wall being built.

11 Use of Noun-Infinitive and Gerund

A noun-infinitive and a gerund are equivalent in meaning, but if a preposition is required, the gerund must be used.

Erroneous Sentences:

1. He persisted to say this.

2. I insisted to have my fee paid.

3. We should refrain to do evil.

4. They prohibited me to borrow a book.

5. Do not prevent me to work.

6. I insisted on him to go away.

7. I depend on you to do this.

8. Abstain to speak evil of others.

9. I take this opportunity to send you a specimen.

Corrected Sentences:

1. He persisted in saying this.

2. I insisted on having my fee paid.

3. We should refrain from doing evil.

4. They prohibited me from borrowing a book.

5. Do not prevent me from working.

6. I insisted on his going away.

7. I depend on your doing this.

8. Abstain from speaking ill of others.

9. I take this opportunity of sending you a specimen.