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Common mistakes (choose the correct option)

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  • Both of them did not pass the test. OR Neither of them passed the test.
    Neither of them passed the test.
  • It is high time she improved her behavior. OR It is high time she improves her behavior.
    It is high time she improved her behavior. ( After It’s time / It’s high time, we use a past tense to refer to the present.)
  • The gold is a precious metal. OR Gold is a precious metal.
    Gold is a precious metal. (Material nouns are used without articles.)
  • None of us had been invited. OR We all had not been invited.
    None of us had been invited.
  • rite your name with pencil. OR Write your name in pencil.
    Write your name in pencil. (We say in pen, in pencil, in ink etc.)
  • I found an envelope among all those papers on the table. OR I found an envelope between all those papers on the table.
    I found an envelope among all those papers on the table.
  • He has been waiting for you since 10 o’clock. OR He is waiting for you from 10 o’clock.
    He has been waiting for you since 10 o’clock.
  • Hardly the sun had risen when we set out. OR Hardly had the sun risen when we set out.
    Hardly had the sun risen when we set out.
  • We enjoyed ourselves during the holidays. OR We enjoyed during the holidays.
    We enjoyed ourselves during the holidays.
  • They discussed about the whole matter. OR They discussed the whole matter.
    They discussed the whole matter. (Discuss is one of those verbs that are not followed by a preposition.)
  • Have you got a pencil?’ ‘No, I haven’t got.’ OR ‘Have you got a pencil?’ ‘No, I haven’t got one.’ / ‘No, I don’t have one’.
    ‘Have you got a pencil?’ ‘No, I haven’t got one.’ / ‘No, I don’t have one’. (Have is a transitive verb. It needs an object to complete its meaning.)
  • She told that she would be coming. OR She said that she would be coming.
    She said that she would be coming.(We use said when there is no personal object.)
  • Each of these girls sing very well. OR Each of these girls sings very well.
    Each of these girls sings very well.
  • A big number of people want to buy cars. OR A large number of people want to buy cars.
    A large number of people want to buy cars. (The words amount and number can be modified by the expressions small and large. Big and little are not used here)
  • None of us went. OR We all did not go.
    None of us went.
  • I paid a lot of money in tax last year. OR I paid very much money in tax last year.
    I paid a lot of money in tax last year. (In affirmative sentences, we do not usually use the modifier ‘very much’ with verbs like eat, pay or cost. )
  • Do not carry heavy luggages during travel. OR Do not carry heavy luggage during travel.
    Do not carry heavy luggage during travel. (The words scenery, luggage and news are uncountable in English. )
  • I went past his house. OR I went passed his house.
    I went past his house. ( when past is used as a preposition, it will be followed by a noun.)
  • I asked him a question. OR I asked a question to him.
    I asked him a question. ( When ask is followed by two objects, the indirect object (person) usually goes before the direct object.)
  • Besides the violin, she can play the piano. OR Beside the violin, she can play the piano.
    Besides the violin, she can play the piano. (Beside shows position. It means next to. )Besides means ‘in addition’.
  • The person who works hard he will get the prize. OR The person who works hard will get the prize.
    The person who works hard will get the prize. (The relative pronoun serves as the subject of the verb in the relative clause.)
  • Unless you do not apologize, you will not be admitted to class. OR Unless you apologize, you will not be admitted to class.
    Unless you apologize, you will not be admitted to class.
  • We have bought new furnitures. OR We have bought new furniture.
    We have bought new furniture. (The word furniture does not have a plural form in English. )
  • Both did not come. OR Neither came.
    Neither came.
  • I saw many deer in the jungle. OR I saw many deers in the jungle.
    I saw many deer in the jungle. (The nouns sheep and deer have identical singular and plural forms.)
  • One should love his country. OR One should love one’s country.
    One should love one’s country.