Correction of incorrect sentences

Correction of incorrect sentences with rules, Reason and explanation

AGREEMENT BETWEEN VERB AND SUBJECT

A verb must agree with its subject in number and person. Thus a singular subject requires a singular verb and a plural subject requires a plural verb.

Incorrect	Correct
The number of students have increased in our class.	The number of students has increased in our class.
Love beget love.	Love begets love.
One of the dogs bite the children.	One of the dogs bites the children.
Our company have a good policy for promoting its employees.	Our company has a good policy for promoting its employees.
Five thousand dollars are a lot of money.	Five thousand dollars is a lot of money.
A range of mountains enclose the city of Abbotabad.	A range of mountains encloses the city of Abbotabad.
Ten miles are a long distance.	Ten miles is a long distance.
Five hundred thousand rupees are not a big amount these days.	Five hundred thousand rupees is not a big amount these days.
A list of essential items have been prepared.	A list of essential items has been prepared.
The focus of our thoughts have been on the strong points of the scheme.	The focus of our thoughts has been on the strong points of the scheme.

(a) Reason: A singular subject takes a singular verb.

Incorrect	Correct
Three months of my work was wasted.	Three months of my work were wasted.
The petals of flower has been scattered.	The petals of flower have been scattered.
I was one of these who was present in the meeting.	I was one of these who were present in the meeting.
Supply and demand of goods affects the prices.	Supply and demand of goods affect the prices.
Loaves of bread was given away among the beggars.	Loaves of bread were given away among the beggars.

(b) Reason: A plural subject takes a plural verb.

Incorrect	Correct
None of us like this food.	None of us likes this food.
Each of us have finished their work.	Each of us has finished our work.
None of our employees are incompetent.	None of our employees is incompetent.
Everyone of them are dutiful.	Everyone of them is dutiful.
Many a man do not know their shortcomings.	Many a man does not know his shortcomings.
Neither of these students were absent.	Neither of these two students was absent.
Either of these two boys have made a noise.	Either of these two boys has made a noise.
Are either of your parents at home?	Is either of your parents at home?

(c) Reason: The indefinite pronouns like one, each, none, someone, somebody, every, everyone, either, neither, many a, anybody, anyone, take singular verbs.

Incorrect	Correct
The lawyer, with his clerks, are attending the court.	The lawyer, with his clerks, is attending the court.
The vice-president, in addition to three departmen heads, were transferred from Lahore.	The vice-president, in addition to three department heads, was transferred from Lahore.
Mr. Haseeb, alongwith with children, have gone abroad.	Mr. Haseeb, alongwith with children, has gone abroad.
A Pakistani delegation, including three ministers, are visiting China.	A Pakistani delegation, including three ministers, is visiting China.
This example together with those quoted in my reports, are sufficient to explain the situation.	This example together with those quoted in my reports, is sufficient to explain the situation.
The referee as well as players were present in the ground.	The referee as well as players was present in the ground.

(d) Reason: A singular subject followed by with, alongwith, together with, including, in addition to, as well as requires a singular verb:

Incorrect	Correct
The board was unable to agree among itself.	The board were unable to agree among themselves.
The jury lakes its seats.	The jury take their seats.
The staff was called in the meeting.	The staff were called in the meeting.
The crew was on the ship when they found that a great storm was brewing before them.	The crew were on the ship when they found that a great storm was brewing before them.
The majority are poor in our country.	The majority is poor in our country.
The team have lost their opening match.	The team has lost their opening match.

(e) Reason: A collective noun requires a singular verb if reference is made to groups as a unit and it requires a plural verb if reference is made to the individual units of the group separately.

ERRORS IN THE USE OF VERB

Incorrect	Correct
She insisted to go there.	She insisted to going there.
He persisted to join the army.	He persisted to joining the army.
He succeeded to pass the examination.	He succeeded to passing the examination.
I prevented him to go abroad.	I prevented him to going abroad.
He is addicted to smoke.	He is addicted to smoking.
I prohibited him to leave the country.	I prohibited him to leaving the country.

(a) Reason: Certain verbs are followed by "ing-form".

Incorrect	Correct
You had better to work hard.	You had better work hard.
I Would rather to die than be insulted.	I Would rather die than be insulted.
You did nothing but to beat about the bush.	You did nothing but beat about the bush.

(b) Reason: "To" is not used when the infinitive is used after: had better, rather, but, would, rather.

Incorrect	Correct
She made him to obey her orders.	She made him obey her orders.
Let me to work.	Let me work.
He dared not to face the crisis.	He dared not face the crisis.
His father bade him to come.	His father bade him come.
We observed him to play.	We observed him play.

(c) Reason: "To" is omitted when the infinitive follow the verb: feel, hear, let, make, dare, bid, observe, need.

THE ADVERB

An adverb is a word that adds to the meanings of a verb, an adjective or another adverb.

Incorrect	Correct
He speaks the truth always.	He always speaks the truth.
She sings good.	She sings well.
He knows to make the best of the bad job.	He knows how to make the best of the bad job.
I never remember having done it.	I do not remember ever having done it.
Faruq's family felt sadly when he left to study overseas.	Faruq's family felt sad when he left to study overseas.
He went directly to college.	He went direct to college.
You oftenly shirk work.	You often shirk work.
Rice sells dearly abroad.	Rice sells dear abroad.
He is very obliged to me.	He is much obliged to me.
I am much tired.	I am very tired.
Tea is very hot to take.	Tea is too hot to take.
His officer is much pleased with him.	His officer is very pleased with him.
He was named as Umair.	He was named Umair.

Reason: Errors in the use of adverb

ERRORS IN THE USE OF NOUN

Incorrect	Correct
Furniture's are being purchased for the bride.	Furniture is being purchased for the bride.
Sceneries of Swat are charming.	Scenery of Swat is charming.
I am fond of poetries by the classical poets.	I am fond of poetry by the classical poets.

(a) Reason: Some nouns in singular form are always used in the plural.

Incorrect	Correct
The murderer will be hanged on the gallow.	The murderer will be hanged on the gallows.
Pakistan's first inning has a good start.	Pakistan's first innings has a good start.
Good news of his success were sent by me.	Good news of his success was sent by me.
Mathematics are a difficult subject for him.	Mathematics is a difficult subject for him.
Economics are an important subject.	Economics is an important subject.
Statistics help us in collecting data.	Statistics helps us in collecting data.
Ethics are preached by every religion.	Ethics is preached by every religion.
Physics give him tough time.	Physics gives him tough time.
Politics are my chief interest.	Politics is my chief interest.

(b) Reason: Some nouns though in plural form are always used in the singular.

INCORRECT	CORRECT
Cattle is grazing in the filed.	Cattle are grazing in the filed.
Peoples follow their rulers.	People follow their rulers.
The gentry of the city was invited in the function.	The gentry of the city were invited in the function.

WRONG USE OF ARTICLES

The adjectives 'a or 'an' and 'the' are usually called Articles. They are really demonstrative adjectives. There are two kinds of Articles.

(i) The Indefinite Articles

(ii) The Definite Articles.

A" and "An" are called the Indefinite Articles because they do not refer to a definite or particular person or thing. Their function is not to define but generalize. They are used before thing that we count.

"The" is called the definite Article because it particularized a person or thing.

INCORRECT	CORRECT
Indus rs a largest river in Pakistan.	The Indus rs a largest river in Pakistan.
Muslims read Holy Qur'an every day.	The Muslims read Holy Qur'an every day.

Reason: (a) Definite article "The" should be used with the name of rivers, nations, heavenly books and superlative degree.

INCORRECT	CORRECT
Earth moves round sun.	The earth moves round the sun.
Moon shines in sky.	The moon shines in the sky.
Sun rises in east.	The sun rises in the east.

Reason: (b) Definite article "The" should be used with the name of heavenly bodies and directions.

INCORRECT	CORRECT
I saw lion in the zoo.	I saw a lion in the zoo.
He ordered peon to bring cup of tea.	He ordered the peon to bring cup of tea.
Zain bought book today.	Zain bought a book today.

Reason: (c) An article (a, an,The) is used before a common noun in the singular number.

INCORRECT	CORRECT
The beauty needs no ornament.	Beauty needs no ornament.
The bravery of the soldier was praised.	Bravery of the soldier was praised.

Reason: (d) No article is placed before an abstract noun.

INCORRECT	CORRECT
The milk is useful food.	Milk is useful food.
The gold is a precious metal.	Gold is a precious metal.

Reason: (e) No article is placed before a material noun.

INCORRECT	CORRECT
The man is mortal.	Man is mortal.
The woman is as answerable to God as man.	Woman is as answerable to God as man.

(f) Reason: When "woman" and "man" are made to represent the whole human race, article "the" should not be placed before them.

INCORRECT	CORRECT
More we get, more we want.	the more we get,the more we want.
Higher we go, cooler it is.	The higher we go, the cooler it is.
Slower you walk. more time your take.	The slower you walk, the more time your take.

Reason: (g) Article "the" should be placed before adjectives and adverbs like more, higher, cooler, slower when one action results from the other.

INCORRECT	CORRECT
Eagle is a bird of prey.	The eagle is a bird of prey.
Cow is a useful animal.	The cow is a useful animal.

Reason: (h) Article "the" is placed before the name of a bird or an animal when it is made to represent the whole class.

INCORRECT	CORRECT
The all boys are going to canal.	All the boys are going to canal
The both boys were going to school.	Both the boys were going to school.

Reason: (i) "The" always comes after "all" and "both".

INCORRECT	CORRECT
Whole the nation is grateful to Quaid-e-Azam.	The whole nation is grateful to Quaid-e-Azam.

Reason: (j) "The" always comes before "whole"

SPLIT INFINITIVE

The form of the verb with "to" is called the infinitive. It should not split by putting a word between it's two parts .

INCORRECT	CORRECT
I wanted to closely scrutinize the manuscript.	I wanted to scrutinize the manuscript closely.
He tried to wisely solve the problem.	He tried to solve the problem wisely.
The customer urged the firm to promptly supply the goods.	The customer urged the firm to supply the goods promptly.
I request you to kindly grant me leave.	I request you kindly to grant me leave.
He is trying to quietly win their favour.	He is trying quietly to win their favour.
The boys wanted to properly prepare for their examination.	The boys wanted to prepare properly for their examination.

Reason: An adverb must not be placed between the two parts of the infinitive.

ERROR IN THE USE OF PRONOUNS

Pronoun is a used in place of noun.

INCORRECT	CORRECT
MY country expects every man to do their duty.	MY country expects every man to do his duty.
Last week our hockey team lost their match.	Last week our hockey team lost its match.
If one wishes to drive a car, you must first get a licence.	If one wishes to drive a car, one must first get a licence.
Everyone knows that they will receive a bonus.	Everyone knows that he will receive a bonus.
Has everybody brought their walking shoes?	Has everybody brought his walking shoes?
I expect all my students to do his work independently.	I expect all my students to do their work independently.

Reason: (a) The pronoun should agree in number, person and gender with the noun to which it refers.

INCORRECT	CORRECT
She is more inteiligent than me.	She is more intelligent than I.
You are as brave as him.	You are as brave as he.
I can type faster than her.	I can type faster than she(can).
My brother can play hockey better than me.	My brother can play hockey better than I.

Reason: (b) The pronouns following the conjunctions "than" and "as" should be in the subjective/nominative case i.e. (I, We, You. She. They, It)

The pronoun should not be placed in a position where it refers to move one antecedent.

INCORRECT	CORRECT
Jameel told his friend that he would be home soon.	Jameel said to his friend "I shall be home soon.
Amjad asked Rasheed if his car would be safe in his garage.	Amjad said to Rasheed "will my car would be safe in his garage?
Javed told Junaid that he was not satisfied with his job.	Javed said to Junaid "I am not satisfied with your job.

Reason: (c) Reference of pronoun is not clear. It should not be placed where it refers to more than one antecedent.

INCORRECT	CORRECT
The man who comes here first he will get the job.	The man who comes here first, will get the job.

Reason: (d) Unnecessary repetition of pronoun.

The Preposition

A preposition is a word placed before a noun or pronoun to show its relation to some words which may be, Noun, adjective, Verb in a sentence.

A proposition is generally placed before es object.

INCORRECT	CORRECT
Please write with link.	Please write in link.
We are tired from such a long vacation.	We are tired of such a long vacation.
He lives with a small income.	He lives on a small income.
The set the building to fire.	The set the building on fire.
She covered her head by her duppatta.	She covered her head with duppatta.
He took pity at the poor boy.	He took pity on the poor boy.
I prefer History over Urdu.	I prefer History to Urdu.
We are getting late form collage.	We are getting late for collage.
He was allowed to sit in the annual examination.	He was allowed to sit for the annual examination.
He parted with his friends.	He parted from his friends.
Aren't you pleased on me?	Aren't you not pleased with me?
This wall is built by bricks.	This wall is built of bricks.
I am satisfied by her work.	I am satisfied with her work.

Reason: Wrong preposition was used

INCORRECT	CORRECT
He will reach in Lahore.	He will reach Lahore.
He ordered for cold drinks.	He ordered cold drinks.
Ahmed passed in the examination.	Ahmed passed the examination.
We love with our country.	We love our country.
She Married with a rich man.	She Married a rich man.
Pakistan will control over narcotics.	Pakistan will control narcotics.
He resembles with his father.	He resembles his father.
His speech affected on the audience.	His speech affected the audience.
He entered into the room.	He entered the room.
Your name precedes before mine in the list.	Your name precedes mine in the list.
The president signed on the agreement.	The president signed the agreement.
The police investigated into the matter.	The police investigated the matter.
I asked from him where he lived.	I asked him where he lived.

Reason: No preposition is used with certain verbs.

INCORRECT	CORRECT
I shot the tiger but missed It.	I shot at the tiger but missed It.
He prayed God for his success.	He prayed to God for his success.
I wrote him yesterday.	I wrote to him yesterday.
He searches his lost books	He searches for his lost books
The patient was operated.	The patient was operated upon.
You should attend your work.	You should attend to your work.
He strongly objected my proposal.	He strongly objected to my proposal.
You should immediately inform him this loss.	You should immediately inform him of this loss.
He suggested me a different course of action.	He suggested to me a different course of action.
The hunter used the gun to shoot.	The hunter used the gun to shoot at.
This is the same man told you.	This is the same man told you about.
She offered me a chair to sit.	She offered me a chair to sit in.
We presented him an expensive watch.	We presented him with an expensive watch.

Reason: Error in preposition.

THE CONJUNCTION

A conjunction is a word that connect words, phrases and clauses.

INCORRECT	CORRECT
He had hardly reached the river that it started raining.	He had hardly reached the river when/before it started raining.
We had scarcely left home that a strong wind started blowing.	We had scarcely left home before/when a strong wind started blowing.

Reason: Scarcely and hardly are followed by conjunction "when" or "before".

INCORRECT	CORRECT
Unless you do not work hard, you cannot pass the examination.	Unless you work hard, you cannot pass the examination.

Reason: "Unless" is equal to "if not" therefore "do not" is unnecessary.

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