Major Grammar Errors

It is very important that you listen to the audio for this presentation as all of the examples are poor examples, and I want you to understand why they are wrong and how to fix them. Sound starts with next slide.

• Errors with verbs– Faulty agreement

Poor: The family often sing the praises of education.Poor: Everyone in both businesses think it a good

idea.

– Subjunctive [untrue if or wish]• Poor: If I was rich, I would travel the world.• Poor: Darla wishes she was an empress.

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• Errors with verbs– Tense Shift

Poor: Luke doesn’t eat breakfast, so he felt 2 desserts will make up for it.

– Split Infinitive• Not terribly worried about this

– Double NegativesPoor: I didn’t not want to see Monica.

– Passive VoicePoor: Many people have been instructed by medical

personnel that vitamins have been proven to help fight certain cancers.

• Errors with Nouns– Faulty Agreement

Poor: Everyone in the class hates it when they get a bad grade.

– Vague ReferencePoor: When Dave saw Bill, he was kissing Sally.

– Pronoun ShiftPoor: I don’t like messy foods you eat with your

fingers.

– Incorrect CasePoor: Bill didn’t give the book to Sally or I.Poor: Mary likes fish better than me.

• Errors with Adverbs and Adjectives

– Incorrect UsagePoor: Although he lies good, I’m not convinced.

– Faulty ComparisonPoor: Mary is more lovely than Sharon.

Poor: Of the two sisters, Donna is the most cruel.

• Errors in Modifying Phrases– Dangling Modifiers

Poor: Shutting the door quickly, the house rocked with the sudden bang.

Poor: Lighting the Pipe, the smoke rose slowly to the ceiling.

– Misplaced ModifiersPoor: Mary rode the pony in the pink skirt.

Poor: The policeman chased the criminal in the squad car.