Relative Clauses and Common Errors

 

Relative Clauses and Common Errors 

Dear readers, in the previous post we discussed some of the common errors associated with Tenses that English as non-native speakers encounter in their daily conversation. This present post highlights the common errors that might occur in terms of Relative Clauses.

In this post let us look at some of the important Relative Clauses in English. Relative Clause is a clause used with relative pronouns, namely, who, whom, which, that, whose etc. Let us look at some of the serious and common grammatical mistakes.

1.   I met my friend that studied with me during school days.               (Incorrect)

I met my friend who studied with me during school days.            (Correct)

It is a defining relative clause, so it takes relative pronoun. Here the subject is a human being, so use ‘who’ instead of ‘that’

2.   We have the gift who my father gifted us for New Year.                 (Incorrect)

We have the gift which/that my father gifted us for New Year.    (Correct)

Here the subject is an inanimate object, so use ‘which’/ ‘that’ instead of ‘who’.

3.   He is the officer that the people are waiting for.                             (Incorrect)

He is the officer whom the people are waiting for.                        (Correct)

Use ‘that’ / ‘who’ / ‘whom’ when we deal with object position for human beings. For nonhuman beings use ‘that’/ ‘which’.   

4.   The athlete, which won gold in the Asian Games, is my relative.  (Incorrect)

The athlete, who won gold in the Asian Games, is my relative.    (Correct)

This is a non-defining relative clause that takes commas before and after it. If the subject in such a clause is human being use ‘who’ and if non-human being, use ‘which’.

 5. The laptop was wonderful that my father bought for me.             (Incorrect)

The laptop that my father bought for me was wonderful.            (Correct)

Relative pronouns follow the noun, so do not change their position, or else the sentence will not be clear.  

 Practising all the above-mentioned statements in daily conversation will help us improve our English. Let us discuss some other interesting topic in the next post.

 

Author:

Dr. K. Nandhakumar

Assistant Professor of English

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

Coimbatore- 641 020

 

Reference:

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

 

 

ENGLISH EXPRESSIONS

 1. Out of the woods

🪄This means the worst part of a difficult situation is over, and the end goal is in sight.

Example:

The surgery went very well, so he’s officially out of the woods. He just needs to recover now.

2. Gain ground

🪄If you’re gaining ground, you’re making good progress. This can mean physically crossing ground quickly, as in a race, or it can be figurative.

Example:

We’ve really gained a lot of ground in our group project, and I think we’ll finish on time.

3. Hook line and sinker

🪄To be deceived completely.

Example:

I told him that I would pay him $1,000,000 and he bought it hook line and sinker.

4.  Run around in circles

🪄To put effort into something while making little or no progress.

Example:

My boss has me running around in circles with unnecessary tasks that aren't getting us anywhere.

5. Step up one’s game

🪄To work harder or perform better.

Example:

You need to step up your game if you want a promotion this year.

6. A snowball effect

🪄Something that can continue to get more and more out of control

Example:

 I just invited a couple of people over but there was a bit of a snowball effect and now there's a giant party at my house.

7.  To be hard on someone

🪄To not manage someone very strictly or to not be critical.

Example:

You don't have to be so hard on your employees to be successful.

Blogger:

N.Shanmugan
Assistant Professor of English
Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science
Coimbatore - 641 020

Tenses and Common Errors - II

 

Tenses and Common Errors - II

Dear readers, in the previous post we discussed some of the common errors associated with Tenses that English as non-native speakers encounter in their daily conversation. This present post highlights the common errors that might occur in terms of tenses.

The word tense was derived from the Latin word “Tempus”, which means “time”. We sometimes might go wrong in terms of tense-based errors while communicating in English. Let us look at some of the serious and common grammatical mistakes.

1.   I am playing chess for the past two hours.                                (Incorrect)

I have been playing chess for the past two hours.                  (Correct)

Suresh has been preparing for UPSC exams since 2020.

To mention the duration of an ongoing action that was started in the past and continuing to the present, it is advisable to use present perfect continuous tense (have/has + been + verb + ing).

2.   They reached railway station at right time, but the train left already.            (Incorrect)

They reached railway station at right time, but the train had left already.                                             (Correct)

Since I had eaten more snacks this evening, I could not eat my dinner. (Correct)

Use simple past tense for the new past activity, and use past perfect tense for the earlier action. Past perfect tense is used as (had + past participle of the verb).

3.   If you will come tomorrow, I will meet you.                               (Incorrect)

If you come tomorrow, I will meet you.                                    (Correct)

If it rains tomorrow, I will not come to college.                         (Correct)

Use simple present tense in the first part of a conditional sentence, and use simple future tense in the second part of the sentence. Do not use ‘If’ and ‘will’ together in a clause.

4.   If I would be Prime Minister, I would give equal education to all.          (Incorrect)

If I were Prime Minister, I would give equal education to all.     (Correct)

If we got the prize, we would dedicate it to our parents.        (Correct)

When we mention any imaginary idea by using ‘if’ in the first part of a sentence, use ‘would’/ ‘might’ / ‘could’ with present verb in the second part of the sentence.

 5. If you practised well, you would won the competition.                  (Incorrect)

If you had practised well, you would have won the competition.     (Correct)

If I had studied properly, I would have got the first rank.      (Correct)

When we talk about something that could have happened but did not happen, use past perfect tense with ‘if’ and ‘would/might/could have + past participle of the verb’ in the second part.

 Practising all the above-mentioned statements in daily conversation will help us improve our English. Let us discuss some other interesting topics in the next post.

 

Author:

Dr. K. Nandhakumar

Assistant Professor of English

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

Coimbatore- 641 020

 

Reference:

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

 

 

ENGLISH PHRASAL VERBS

                               ENGLISH PHRASAL VERBS

1. Cut Back

          - When you spend less money on something.

          Ex:

          1. If I don’t cut my spending back, I will be out of money by next week.

2. Cut Down

          - To do less of something or to use something in smaller amount.

          Ex:

          1. I need to really cut down on sweets.

3. Flip out

          - To become very mad or lose control over your emotions.

          Ex:

          1. I need to leave before I flip out on someone.

 

4. Float Around

          - When an object or a person is near, but you cannot pinpoint the exact location.

          Ex:

          1. I can’t find my slippers, but I know they must be floating around here somewhere.

5. Go With

          - To be combined together as one set.

          Ex:

          1. This sheet set goes with a comforter.  

Author: 

Dr M. Selvam

Assistant Professor of English

Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science

Coimbatore – 641 020

GERUND, INFINITIVE AND PARTICIPLE

GERUND, INFINITIVE AND PARTICIPLE

Gerund, Infinitive and Participle are three types of verbs. The non-finite verb is classified as Gerund, Infinitive and Participle. Students often find it easy to understand the basic definition of a Verb. However, exams like Banking and Insurance Exams like IBPS, PO, CLERK, SO, SSC, CDS, RRB and Defence Exams require a deeper understanding of the verb. But before we start exploring Gerund, Infinitive and Participle. Let us go through the basics of the verb. The verb is a grammatical structure that conveys the action of a subject, a state of being, and an occurrence. Verbs are used in different structural forms in a sentence. A verb, generally, is divided into two types, on the basis of the structure.

Example:

1. The ministers boast to win the votes.
2. The ministers boast for winning the votes.
3. Let winning be a habit.
4. Let them win.

AUTHOR

Dr L Suresh

Assistant Professor of English

Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science

Coimbatore - 641020

Contact: 9944138137

e-mail ID: sureshenglit@rmv.ac.in

 

Tenses and Common Errors - I

 

Tenses and Common Errors - I

Dear readers, in the previous post we discussed some of the common errors associated with modals that English as non-native speakers encounter in their daily conversation. This present post highlights the common errors that might occur in terms of tenses.

The word tense was derived from the Latin word “Tempus”, which means “time”. We sometimes might go wrong in terms of tense-based errors while communicating in English. Let us look at some of the serious and common grammatical mistakes.

1.   I am going to temple every morning.                                          (Incorrect)

I go to temple every morning.                                                    (Correct)

To mention habitual actions and universal truths use simple present tense.

2.   Raja works on a government project.                                        (Incorrect)

Raja is working on a government project.                                (Correct)

Use present continuous tense to indicate any temporary action in the present, changes and developments.

3.   We are understanding your situation.                                       (Incorrect)

We understand your situation.                                                 (Correct)

Use simple present tense with state verbs- understand, know, think, love, hate, prefer, believe, want, wish, smell, see etc. 

4.   I have got my ticket yesterday.                                                  (Incorrect)

I got my ticket yesterday.                                                          (Correct)

When we mention the past time, use either simple past or past perfect tense. Don’t use ‘have/has’ to mention completed activities with past adverbs.

 5. They did not wrote the internal test.                                              (Incorrect)

They did not write the internal test.                                             (Correct)

When we mention ‘did’ for past actions, use the main verb in the present form.

 Let us discuss some more ideas regarding Tenses in the next post.

 

Author:

Dr. K. Nandhakumar

Assistant Professor of English

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

Coimbatore- 641 020

 

Reference:

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

 

 

English Phrasal Verbs

  

English Phrasal Verbs

1.    Dying for

-         If you are dying for something, you really feel like it or you want it very much.

Ex:

 1. I am dying for a cup of tea. Let’s have a break and I will make one.

2. After working non-stop for a month, Karthi said he was dying for a day off so he could stay home and do nothing.

2.    A quick study

-         If you are a quick study, you can learn new things quickly.

Ex:

1.    Albert was always a quick study, except when it came to learning languages.

2.    I only need to show Pranithi how to do something once, and she gets it. She is a quick study.

3.    Mixed up in

-         To be involved in something illegal or immoral, such as organised crime or corruption.

Ex:

1. Jake was mixed up in the drugs trade when he got arrested for selling marijuana.

     2. Several high-ranking generals were mixed up in organised crime and oil smuggling.

4. Face the music

          - if someone has to face the music, they have to accept the consequences of doing something wrong.

Ex:

1. Ramu stole some money and bought a car, and when he realized he would have to face the music he drove across the border to escape.

2. If she lied to me, then she will just have to face the music.

Author: 

Dr M. Selvam

Assistant Professor of English

Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science

Coimbatore – 641 020

Modals and Common Errors - I

 

Modals and Common Errors - I

Dear readers, in the previous post we discussed some of the common errors associated with adjectives that English as non-native speakers encounter in their daily conversation. This present post highlights the common errors that people tend to commit while using modals.

Modals are also called modal auxiliary verbs as they are helpful in making a request and questions in conversations. Examples- can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must, etc. Let’s look at some of the modals that might go wrong in daily conversations.

1.   I should to improve my English.                                                (Incorrect)

I should improve my English.                                                   (Correct)

Avoid ‘to’ after modals, like can, may, must etc.

2.   That person must not be my friend.                                          (Incorrect)

That person cannot be my friend.                                             (Correct)

‘Can’ is used to mention the possibility, but not ‘must’.

3.   We like ice cream.                                                                      (Incorrect)

We would like ice cream.                                                          (Correct)

If we like something that is part of our routine. If we want to offer something to someone, or if want something, we should use ‘would’.

For example, I would like some sweet. Would you like lemon tea?

4.   I prefer coffee than tea.                                                              (Incorrect)

I prefer coffee to tea.                                                                  (Correct)

When we prefer something, we should use ‘to’ instead of ‘than’.

5.   They can able to win a prize.                                                  (Incorrect)

They can win a prize                                                               (Correct)

When we mention one’s ability, it is advisable to use either ‘can’ or ‘able’, but not both in the same sentence.

 Let us discuss some more ideas on Modals in the next post.

 

Author:

Dr. K. Nandhakumar

Assistant Professor of English

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

Coimbatore- 641 020

 

Reference:

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