COMMON ERRORS : TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE AND SOCIETY- I

 

COMMON ERRORS IN EVERYDAY LIFE: TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE AND SOCIETY- I  

Dear readers, in the previous post, we discussed the common errors in terms of “Talking about Family” that we commit in our daily conversations. In this post, let us explore more about communicative errors in terms of “Talking about People and Society”. Some of the important errors that tend to occur naturally in our conversation are briefed below:

Look at the following statements:

1.   People in my age spend time at shopping malls.

People of my age spend time at shopping malls.

 While using nouns with ‘my/your/his/her age’, use the form: noun + of+ determiner+ age

  

2.   I have to care for my aged parents.

I have to care for my elderly parents.

 Elderly is less formal and more polite than aged which means very old and weak.

 

3.   We should behave obediently with the teachers.

We should behave obediently towards the teachers.

   Use behave towards somebody and not behave with somebody.

 

4.   March 8 is called as International Women’s Day.

March 8 is called International Women’s Day.

 Use call somebody/something + name (don’t use ‘as’).

 

5.   People coming from Tamil Nadu are hard-working.

People who come from Tamil Nadu are hard-working.

 Choose the Simple Present over Present Continuous Tense when we talk about someone’s place of origin. Coming from means travelling from.

 

6.   Some youngsters disagree to eating of traditional food.

Some youngsters disagree with the eating of traditional food.

We always disagree with somebody/something.

 

7.   People dream to visit mount Kailash.

People dream of visiting mount Kailash.

 Dream of is a fixed expression and means hoping for something pleasant to happen.

 

8.   Siva is good in softball.

Siva is good at softball.

 Good at is used with an activity.

 

9.   The almighty is superior than every one.

The almighty is superior to every one.

 Use inferior or superior to and not inferior/superior with.

 

10.   The child smiled to me in a lovable way.

       The child smiled at me in a lovable way.

We always smile at somebody and not smile to.

 

 

Reference:

Saumya Sharma. (2017). Common Errors in Everyday English

Author:

 K. Nandhakumar

Assistant Professor of English

Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science (Autonomous)

Coimbatore-641 020