R&W 11: SENTENCE ERROR IDENTIFICATION PART 2

SENTENCE ERROR IDENTIFICATION PART 2

READING AND WRITING 11

Multiple Choice

Identify the error in the sentence: Could you tell me how can I get in touch with Mr. Yamamoto?

• could

• tell

• can I

• in touch with

• no error

​Could you tell me how can I I can get in touch with Mr. Yamamoto?

​After expressions like Do you know…, Could you tell me,.. and I was wondering if… we do not invert the subject and the verb. These are called indirect questions.

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​Examples:

I was wondering if you could help me with something.

I was wondering if could you help me with something. 

Could you tell me how I should do this?

Could you tell me how should I do this?

 

Multiple Choice

Identify the error in the sentence: She’s very sick and has been in the hospital for two weeks.

• very

• and

• in

• for

• no error

She’s very sick and has been at in the hospital for two weeks.

To communicate that someone is a patient at the hospital, we say in the hospital. If someone is not a patient, we use at the hospital.

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Example:

The surgery went well. She was only in the hospital for two days.

The surgery went well. She was only at the hospital for two days.

Multiple Choice

Identify the error in the sentence: We’re using all the informations we have to make an informed decision.

• we're

• informations

• informed

• decision

• no error

We’re using all the informations we have to make an informed decision.

Information is a non-count noun. There is no plural form of information. Other non-count nouns students frequently misuse include evidence, advice, stuff, and furniture. There is no plural form of these words.

Multiple Choice

Identify the error in the sentence: They change often our seats at work.

• they

• often

• seats

• at

• no error

They often change often our seats at work.

​We put adverbs of frequency (always, usually, never, etc.) before the main verb or after the verb to be.

Examples:

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Mike never talks about his ex-wife.

Mike talks never about his ex-wife.

Mike talks about his ex-wife never.

Multiple Choice

Identify the error in the sentence: Do we have some coffee or tea to offer our guests?

• do

• we

• some

• our

• no error

Do we have some any coffee or tea to offer our guests?

In general, we use some with affirmative statements and any with questions and negative statements.

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Examples:

We’ve had some difficulty getting approval.

We’ve had any difficulty getting approval.

Have you had any difficulty getting approval?

Have you had some difficulty getting approval?

Multiple Choice

Identify the error in the sentence: I called Kate this morning and she told me she’ll call me back in a half an hour.

• called

• this

• told

• she'll

• no error

I called Kate this morning and she told me she’ll she would (or she’d) call me back in a half an hour.

When reporting what someone said, will becomes would and won’t becomes wouldn’t. 

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Example:

Before the election, both candidates promised they wouldn’t raise taxes.

Before the election, both candidates promised they won’t raise taxes.

Multiple Choice

Identify the error in the sentence: Yesterday, I must sent a very important email to a client.

• must

• very

• to

• a

• no error

Yesterday, I must sent had to send a very important email to a client.

We don’t use must to communicate a past obligation or necessity. Instead, we use had or needed.

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​Examples:

To travel to Indonesia, I had to get a visa.

To travel to Indonesia, I must got a visa.

Multiple Choice

Identify the error in the sentence: We knew there was a gas leak because it smelled really badly inside the house.

• knew

• was

• smelled

• badly

• no error

He says that he’s been really tired since several weeks ago for the last several weeks.

We use since with a point in time (9 AM, Tuesday, 1994, etc.). We use for to talk about a duration of time (three days, 12 seconds, two months, five years, etc.).

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Examples:

They’ve been in the lobby for two hours.

They’ve been in the lobby since two hours.

They’ve been in the lobby since 10 AM.

They’ve been in the lobby for 10 AM.

Multiple Choice

Identify the error in the sentence: He says that he’s been really tired since several weeks ago.

• he's

• been

• since

• several

• no error

We knew there was a gas leak because it smelled really badly bad inside the house.

We use bad, not badly to modify states of being (look, smell, taste, feel, etc.). Similarly, we use good, not well to modify states of being.

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​Examples:This coffee tastes bad.

This coffee tastes badly.

Do you think the decorations look good?

Do you think the decorations look well?

Multiple Choice

Identify the error in the sentence: We’re used to have a lot of work to do, so meeting the deadline won’t be a problem.

• used

• to have

• to do

• won't

• no error

We’re used to have having a lot of work to do, so meeting the deadline won’t be a problem.

To talk about something that someone is accustomed to doing, we use the following formula:

Subject + verb to be + used to + gerund 

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Example:

I’m used to getting up early, so I don’t mind coming in at 7 a.m.

I’m used to get up early, so I don’t mind coming in at 7 a.m.

Multiple Choice

Identify the error in the sentence: Despite I was tired, I came to work today.

• despite

• was

• came

• today

• no error

Despite Even though/Although I was tired, I came to work today.

We use despite/in spite of before a noun or gerund.  We use even though/although before a subject and a verb.

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Examples:

Despite being sick, I came to work.

In spite of being sick, I came to work.

Despite I was sick, I came to work.

In spite of I was sick, I came to work.

Multiple Select

Identify the error in the sentence: We have people from all over the world here: India, United States, Venezuela, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, and France. (two mistakes)

• United States

• Canada

• United Kingdom

• France

• no error

We have people from all over the world here: India, the United States, Venezuela, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. (two mistakes)

We use the in the names of certain countries:

the United States the United Kingdom the Czech Republic the Dominican Republic the Netherlands the Philippines the Bahamas the Maldives the United Arab Emirates the Sudan

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General rules for when we use the in the name of a country:

a. if the country or area is a collection of islands (the Maldives, the Canary Islands).

b. If we are using the complete name of the country with the word “of.” The People’s Republic of China, for example.