Tips for avoiding English grammar mistakes

Today everyone speaks English. However, not everyone speaks it well. If you want to improve your language skills, these interesting and useful tips can help you. Try to apply them one after another and you will be fine. Remember, learning should be fun:
1. If you write a lot on your computer in English, investing in a grammar checker can be a good thing. The best part is that you will find lots of them online, and you will pay only when you want to check something. If you are going to use those grammar checkers from Microsoft Word, you should know that they are not very accurate. You will need some proper skills and the computer will just help you with typos and other small mistakes.
2. Hiring an English tutor can be one of the best choices but you will have to pay some extra money. There is no computer program or book that can teach you so many things as a professor. You can even hire it online. This way you will pay less and in the same time, you will stay in your own home learning. If you do not have any other solutions and you want to learn English in a fast way, hiring someone is the answer for you.
3. When you read a book or a magazine, you have to be careful at the structure of the sentence. This way you will learn them better. After that, you can write your own sentences based on that structure. It is not going to be easy but it will worth it in the end. Along with reading books, you can also try exercises. They will provide you a better grip for understanding certain patterns and structures.
4. Learn what the most common mistakes in the English Grammar are. This way you will know how to avoid them. Even more, you will be able to realize where you arestanding with your knowledge. Do not forget that many people do not know when to use ‘A’ or ‘The’ when they are constructing a sentence. Try not to be like those people.
5. Internet may be you biggest resource of information. You will find everything you need and even more, you can find it free. Use it well. You can find exercises, games and even more, you can find foreign people and even natives. Only by discussing with them, you can improve your skills.
6. Search for help around you. It is impossible for you not to have people around you that speak English better than you do. You can ask them for help. Lots of them will help you gladly. Do not try to learn English in only one day. You will not be able to do it and you will be disappointed. Learning a new language can be difficult. Take it systematically and you will succeed. Do not forget that if English surround you you will learn it faster. Watch movies in English and you will learn even more.

English Grammar Exercise 7(Advance Grammar)

Each of the following sentences may contain an error in grammar, idiom or usage. If there is an error, it will appear in one of the underlined portions. Answers are given at the answer part. First try to answer by yourself, and then check it against the given answer. Answer explanation for each sentence is also given. If you go through this exercise, we can assure you that you will have a vast idea in English.

71. While my uncle and I were walking through the zoo my uncle was frightened by the roar of a lion. Answer
72. Mathematics is his favorite subject; he finds them very interesting. Answer
73. After the accident took place, neither the passengers nor the policeman were able to catch the bus driver. Answer
74. I only bought what was necessary; I was not whimsical. Answer
75. I believe that story about the tiger hunting because he himself had told us the story was true. Answer

Answers of Exercise 7(Advance Grammar)

71. The sentence is correct.
72. Here ‘mathematics’ is a subject and is singular. So it should be ‘it’ instead of ‘them’.
73. In a ‘neither-nor’ construction the verb agrees with the noun or pronoun which comes immediately before the verb. So here ‘the policeman was able’ is correct.
74. There is a wrong use of modifier in this sentence. ‘I bought only’ should be the correct answer.
75. The sentence is correct.
76. The sentence is correct.
77. Here verb ‘affect’ should be changed to noun ‘effect’ because it is the object of the clause. Never use a verb in subject or object position.
78. ‘I’ should be changed to ‘me’, because here the pronoun ‘me’ is the object of the preposition ‘among’.
79. The rule is (would like + complement + infinitive). So here it should be ‘to spend’.
80. The sentence is correct.

Confusing Words

INSIST vs PERSIST
Despite my illness, Anthony insisted on going to market.
They persisted in taking decision against the principle.
INTENSE vs INTENSIVE
Most of them felt hot due to intense heat.
Five years ago I took intensive course from Japan.
JOURNEY vs TOUR vs TRIP
We will go for a trip to Coxesbazar on Monday.
Mr Khan had a nice tour in Europe last month.
The journey was too long.
LATE vs LATELY vs LATER vs LATTER vs LATEST vs LAST
She hasn't seen him lately.
Khan and Koli both are hardworking pupils, but the latter is more active at home.
I want a car of latest fashion.
I couldn’t understand the last line of that poem.
You are always late for office.
I will do it later.

Confusing Words

HOPE vs EXPECT vs WISH
He doesn't expect to see her at the college next Monday.
I wish she will be your friend.
She hopes I will be admitted in the university.
IMAGINARY vs IMAGINATION vs IMAGINATIVE
This film was about imaginary situation.
Why do you have too much imagination?
She's got really imaginative mind.
IMMIGRATE vs EMIGRATE vs IMMIGRANT
Our family will emigrate to France tomorrow.
Thousands of people immigrate into Unites States over few years.
Many immigrants may face various problems.
INTERESTING vs INTERESTED vs INTEREST
These books seem to interest them.
I’m so much interested in reading books.
That movie was really interesting.

Confusing Words

EQUAL vs IDENTICAL vs SIMILAR
This two subjects are not equal.
This book is almost similar to my book.
We were really surprised to see that our caps were identical.
ERROR vs MISTAKE vs CRIME vs SIN vs FAULT
I call him by mistake.
This is nothing but a typing error.
Don't punish her. It isn’t her fault.
You should confess your sin to us.
She is sentenced to death because of her serious crime.
EXCITING vs EXCITED vs EXCITEMENT
We all were excited when we were watching such exciting cricket match.
After hearing her result she jumped with excitement.
EVERYDAY vs EVERY DAY
I don’t know what is he doing every day?
You seem not to be busy with everyday task.
She writes ten poems every day.
GAOL vs GOAL
He had been in a gaol for ten years.
This is my goal of my life.
HANG vs HANGED vs HUNG
The criminal will be hanged tomorrow.
I hung her picture years ago.
HARD vs HARDLY
He hardly does his homework.
I tried really hard for my improvement.
HIRE vs LET vs RENT
This flat is to let.
That couple rent a house.
I hired a lorry to carry our furniture to the new flat.

Confusing Words

DISINTERESTED vs UNINTERESTED
The judge will have to be disinterested; otherwise he won’t be able to make right decision.
She is uninterested in reading.
DIVIDE vs SHARE
Jony shared his book with Raz.
The leader divided the pupils into three groups.
ECONOMIC vs ECONOMICAL vs ECONOMICS vs ECONOMY
Mr. Khan is really an economical business man.
He is taking honors degree in economics.
The economy of our country isn’t so well.
People will have to lead a miserable life in the period of economic recession.
ELIGIBLE vs LEGIBLE
You are the only person who is eligible for this job.
Her handwriting isn’t legible.
EMINENT vs IMMINENT
Dr John is really an eminent surgeon in that city.
We have to be out of this locality as a cyclone is imminent.

Confusing Words : supposed to and suppose, than and then, their-there-they'er, to-too-two, who and whom

supposed to and suppose:
• SUPPOSED TO-correct form for "to be obligated to" or "presumed to" NOT "suppose to"
I was supposed to go there.

SUPPOSE-to guess or make a conjecture
Suppose u are a member of this family.
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than and then:
• THAN-use with comparisons
I like you more than your brother.

THEN-at that time, or next
I went to the market, then he called me.
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there, their and they're:
• THEIR-possessive form of ’they’
Their behavior is really polite.

THERE-indicates location
There are many flowers in this garden.

THEY'RE-contraction for "they are"
They're going to have dinner.
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to, too and two:
• TO-toward
He went to the school.

TOO-also, or excessively
He talks too much.

TWO-a number
Only two people can join here.
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who and whom:
• WHO-used as a subject or as a subject complement
He is the person who can do everything for me.

WHOM-used as an object
Whom did Ali choose as his replacement?

Confusing Words : precede and proceed, principal and principle, quote and quotation, stationary and stationery

Precede and Proceed:
• PRECEDE-to come before
The exchange of angry words that preceded the scuffle.

PROCEED-to go forward
I will proceed to the degree of M.A.
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Principal and Principle:
• PRINCIPAL-adjective, most important; noun, a person who has authority
Our principal is now on vacation.

PRINCIPLE-a general or fundamental truth
The basic principle of this topics is not so complicated.
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Quote and Quotation:
• QUOTE-verb, to cite
She quoted a few lines from ‘Hamlet’.

QUOTATION-noun, the act of citing
This book is full of nice quotations.
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Stationary and Stationery:
• STATIONARY-standing still
Things have remained stationary.

STATIONERY-writing paper
My father bought me stationary office.

Confusing Words : its and it's, lead and led, lose and loose, passed and past

Its and It's:
• ITS-of or belonging to it
The baby screamed as soon as its parents walk out of this room.

IT'S-contraction for it is
It's really nice weather.
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Lead and Led:
• LEAD-noun, a type of metal
The pipe was made of lead.

LED-verb, past tense of the verb "to lead"
He led the students on that journey.
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Lose and Loose:
• LOSE--verb, to misplace or not win
Don’t come home, if you lose the match.

LOOSE--adjective, to not be tight; verb (rarely used)--to release
Yesterday the criminal got loose from the jail.
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Passed and Past:
• PASSED-verb, past tense of "to pass," to have moved
Hope you have passed a nice day.

PAST-belonging to a former time or place
She was the past vice president of our committee.

English Grammar Exercise 6(Advance Grammar)

Each of the following sentences may contain an error in grammar, idiom or usage. If there is an error, it will appear in one of the underlined portions. Answers are given at the answer part. First try to answer by yourself, and then check it against the given answer. Answer explanation for each sentence is also given. If you go through this exercise, we can assure you that you will have a vast idea in English.

61. That is mostly for his work on evolution Charles Darwin is remembered. Answer
62. Kader Siddiqui, who wrote a 860-page book on liberation war, was barred from entering the country until the fall of President Ershad. Answer
63. Because it was faster, Kalam insisted in my taking the bus to Chittagong instead of the train. Answer
64. No one but he knew which questions were going to be asked on this test. Answer
65. Although I am playing tennis for more than five years, I could not win any national trophy. Answer
66. After Kamal had broken his leg, the coach had wanted us to visit him in the hospital. Answer
67. These shirts are all too expensive for us to buy at this time but we think we will return later. Answer
68. If Samir would have studied Economics in college he would not have found the business terminologies so difficult to understand. Answer
69. As a result of the bad weather, Rana is the only one of my colleagues who plan to attend the conference. Answer
70. After his heart attack, he was ordered to lay in bed and rest for one month. Answer

Answers of Exercise 6(Advance Grammar)

61. Here ‘that’ should be ‘it’, because the use of ‘that’ is unidiomatic in this regard.
62. Here the indirect article ‘a’ has to be changed to ‘an’, because the word after it begins with a ‘vowel’ sound.
63. Wrong use of preposition ‘in’. Here the correct preposition after ‘insisted’ is ‘on’.
64. In this sentence ‘but’ is used as a preposition meaning ‘except’. As an object of this preposition, ‘he’ is to be changed to ‘him’.
65. Here present perfect continuous form is to be used. So ‘am playing’ is to be changed into ‘have been playing’.
66. Here ‘want’ is the action that happened later. So simple past tense (wanted) should be used to indicate it.
67. The sentence is correct.
68. ‘Would’ can never be used after ‘if’. So it should be ‘had studied’.
69. Here the antecedent of ‘who’ is ‘one’ which is singular. So it should be ‘plans’ instead of ‘plan’.
70. Here ‘lay’ is wrong. It should be ‘lie’.

Confusing Words : conscience and conscious, council and counsel, elicit and illicit, eminent-immanent-imminent

Conscience and Conscious:
• CONSCIENCE-sense of right and wrong
Conscience kept someone from copying on the exam.

CONSCIOUS-awake
She was conscious enough when the police entered the office.
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Council and Counsel:
• COUNCIL-a group that consults or advises
Everyone on the council supported me.

COUNSEL-to advise
The teacher counseled me to read more.
________________________________________
Elicit and Illicit:
• ELICIT-to draw or bring out
The professor elicited correct answers from his student.

ILLICIT-illegal
The leader was banned for her illicit activities.
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Eminent-Immanent-Imminent:
• EMINENT-famous, respected
The eminent cricketer won the Cricketer of the Year award.

IMMANENT-inherent or intrinsic
The significance of the story was immanent, and hard to recognize.

IMMINENT-ready to take place
A clash between my me and my sister is imminent from the second I enter here.
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Confusing Words : breath and breathe, capital and capitol, cite-sight-site, complement and compliment

Breath and Breathe:
• BREATH-noun, air inhaled or exhaled
His breath was stopped.

BREATHE-verb, to inhale or exhale
If someone doesn't breathe, then he is dead.
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Capital and Capitol:
• CAPITAL-seat of government. Also financial resources.
The capital of England is London.

Do you have enough capital to start this business?

CAPITOL-the actual building in which the legislative body meets
The announcement of governor was made in the capitol.
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Cite, Sight and Site:
• CITE-to quote or document
He cited five quotes from the different author in his paper.

SIGHT-vision
The sight beside that lake is really charming.

SITE-position or place
My site provides everything about grammar.
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Complement and Compliment:
• COMPLEMENT-noun, something that completes; verb, to complete
A nice wine complements a seafood entree.

COMPLIMENT-noun, praise; verb, to praise
Thanks for your nice compliment.

Confusing Words : allready and al ready, all together and altogether, apart and a part, ascent and assent

All ready and Already:
• ALL READY-prepared
Lunch was all ready when we arrived.

ALREADY-by this time
It has already been made.
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Altogether and All together:
• ALTOGETHER-entirely
Altogether, he thought that they made everything.

ALL TOGETHER-gathered, with everything in one place
We are all together now.
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Apart and A part:
• APART-to be separated
His old cycle fell apart before they reached school.

A PART-to be joined with
This job is a part of our main plan.
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Ascent and Assent:
• ASCENT- climb
They made a steep ascent.

ASSENT-agreement
They are not in assent in this point.

Confusing Words : accept and except, affect and effect, a lot and alot, allusion and illusion

Accept and Except:
• ACCEPT-to receive
She accepts us well.

EXCEPT-to take or leave out
I like every books of this table except this one.
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Affect and Effect:
• AFFECT-to influence
Lack of concentration affects the worth of your labor.

EFFECT-n., result, v., to accomplish
The effect of anger is not good.
________________________________________
A lot and Alot:
• A LOT (two words)-many.

ALOT (one word)-Not the correct form.
________________________________________
Allusion and Illusion:
• ALLUSION-an indirect reference.
The teacher made an allusion to Virginia Woolf's work.

ILLUSION-a false perception of reality.
This is nothing but an illusion.

English Grammar Exercise 5(Advance Grammar)

Each of the following sentences may contain an error in grammar, idiom or usage. If there is an error, it will appear in one of the underlined portions. Answers are given at the answer part. First try to answer by yourself, and then check it against the given answer. Answer explanation for each sentence is also given. If you go through this exercise, we can assure you that you will have a vast idea in English.

51. They said that the man jumped off of the building and smashed on to the hard ground. Answer
52. Carbon-di-oxide, together with other CFC gases, are causing many problems in our environment. Answer
53. Kalam asked me what did happen last night, but I was unable to tell him. Answer
54. Rony hardly never misses an opportunity to sing in television. Answer
55. Salam is one of the most intelligent boys of the science class. Answer
56. The president emphasized the need for justice and equality between his countrymen. Answer
57. Albert Einstein has become one of the greatest scientist that the world has ever known. Answer
58. The chairman of the company refuses to accept either of the four new proposals made by the board of directors. Answer
59. The machinery in the factory was badly in need of to be repaired. Answer
60. Each of the students in the geography department has to type their own excursion report. Answer

Answers of Exercise 5(Advance Grammar)

51. The preposition ‘of’ is not necessary after the preposition ‘off’. So ‘of’ should be omitted.
52. Here carbon-di-oxide is a singular subject. So it should be ‘is’ instead of ‘are’.
53. This is a subject question. So the rule is (question word + subject + verb). So it should be ‘what happened’.
54. ‘Hardly never’ is a double negative and, therefore, is wrong. It should be ‘hardly ever’.
55. Here it should be ‘in. the rule for this is (one of the + superlative degree + noun + ‘in’ + singular count noun).
56. When there are two entities, ‘between’ is used, and when there are more than two, ‘among’ in used. So here ‘among’ has to be used.
57. The rule is –after ‘one of the’ there must be plural noun. So here it should be ‘scientists’.
58. ‘Either’ is used only for two items, and ‘any’ is used for more than two items. So here ‘either’ should be ‘any’.
59. The rule is (in need of + noun). So it should be only ‘repair’.
60. The correct pronoun should be ‘his’. ‘Each’ is singular, so ‘each’ must be followed by a singular verb and pronoun.

English Grammar Exercise 4(Advance Grammar)

Each of the following sentences may contain an error in grammar, idiom or usage. If there is an error, it will appear in one of the underlined portions. Answers are given at the answer part. First try to answer by yourself, and then check it against the given answer. Answer explanation for each sentence is also given. If you go through this exercise, we can assure you that you will have a vast idea in English.

41. The doctor, accompanied by his wife and children, are staying in the hospital until after the seminar. Answer
42. Kamal was very late getting home last night, and unfortunately for him the dog barking woke everyone up. Answer
43. After walking for two miles, he suddenly realized that he has been walking in the wrong direction. Answer
44. The girl whom my brother married was used to be an actress in the ‘group theatre’. Answer
45. The Royal Bengal Tiger has long been a symbol of strength, power and it is very cruel. Answer
46. Because the workers had worked so deligent to construct the bridge, the contractor arranged a party. Answer
47. Hardly he had entered the classroom, when he realized that he had forgotten his homework. Answer
48. I do not understand where could he have gone so early in the morning. Answer
49. Lack of sanitation in households are a major cause of diarrhoea in different parts of our country. Answer
50. Kamal is looking forward to go to the USA after he finishes his studies at the college. Answer

Answers of Exercise 4(Advance Grammar)

40. Here ‘lend’ or ‘loan’ should be used instead of ‘borrow’.
41. Here the subject is singular because ‘accompanied by’ is a prepositional phrase and has no effect on the verb. So ‘are’ should be ‘is’.
42. Possessive form is used before a gerund. So it should be “dog’s”.
43. ‘After walking’ is past in this sentence but ‘has been walking’ is present. So it should be ‘had been walking’.
44. The correct form is : (subject + be + used to + gerund) and (subject +used to +verb in simple form). Here only ‘used to’ is to be used, because ‘be’ is the simple form of verb.
45. Here for parallel structure ‘cruel’ should be changed to noun ‘cruelty’ because ‘strength’ and ‘power’ are nouns.
46. Here the verb ‘had worked’ should be modified by an adverb. So the correct form is ‘diligently’.
47. Here it should be ‘Hardly had he’. Because if an adverbial appears at the beginning of a sentence, the rule is : (adverbial + auxiliary + subject + verb . . .).
48. This is an embedded question: the rule is (subject + verb + question word + subject + verb). So, here it should be ‘he could have’.
49. Here ‘lack of sanitation’ is a singular subject. So the verb should be ‘is’ instead of ‘are’.
50. The rule is (look forward to + verb + ing). So ‘going’ should be used.