TOP 20 GRAMMAR MISTAKES

TOP 10GRAMMARMISTAKESWRITERS COMMONLY MAKE1. Subject Verb AgreementGenerally

-you can put an -s on a noun to make it plural,

- but you put an -s on a verb to make it singular.

Formula: S.N + S.V or P.N + P.V

Agreement with Special Subjects a. Collective Nouns can be plural or singular depending on how it was used in the sentence.

Ex. My entire family has gone to Tagaytay for vacation.The family are still in disagreement about which car to buy

b. Nouns ending in s

Some takes singular verbs

Physics - Mumps - Mathematics - Economics

Some takes plural verbs

- Eyeglasses - Pants - Pliers - Shortsc. Indefinite nouns

Those ending in one and body are singular

Several, few, both and many are always singular

Some, all, any, most and none can be either singular or plural2. ConjunctionsTake note that we have two classes of conjunctions

Coordinating - indicate units of equal status (yet, and, but, or, for, so, nor)

Subordinating- indicate that one unit is more important than the other (after, although, as, because, before, if, since, that, unless, until, when, where, while).3. Misplaced ModifiersModifiersinclude words such as almost, hardly, even, just, merely, not, only, and simply.

modifiersshould always go before the word or words they modify in a work.

Ex. She was Edwards only love.4. NegativesAvoid using two negatives in one sentence, or you will end up saying the opposite of what you mean.

Pam didnt hardly ever try.He doesnt have no time.Dan never goes nowhere.5. Either and OrNeither and Nor The old rule states that nor typically follows neither, and or follows either. However, if neither either nor neither is used in a sentence, you should use nor to express a second negative, as long as the second negative is a verb. If the second negative is a noun, adjective, or adverb, you would use or, because the initial negative transfers to all conditions.6. Who and Whom

Who is a subjective pronoun, along with "he," "she," "it," "we," and "they." Its used when the pronoun acts as the subject of a clause. Whom is an objective pronoun, along with "him," "her," "it", "us," and "them." Its used when the pronoun acts as the object of a clause. When in doubt, substitute who with the subjective pronouns he or she, e.g.,Who loves you?cf.,He loves me.Similarly, you can also substitute whom with the objective pronouns him or her. e.g.,I consulted an attorney whom I met in New York.cf.,I consulted him.7. Your and Youre Your is a possessive adjective that describes something belonging to you.

Youre is a contraction short for you are, and is often followed by a word ending in -ing8. Its versus ItsIts is a contraction short of it is or it has. Its is a possessive pronoun.

The best way to make sure you are using the word right is if you can replace its with it is or it has in a sentence then you are using it properly.

There is no such word as its.9. Confusing the word There with Their10. Whether and If Whether expresses a condition where there are two or more alternatives. If expresses a condition where there are no alternatives.

I will come whether you like it or not.I will come if I have money.