Retype the sentences below correcting the mistake in each one. There is one mistake in each sentence. You may click on ‘See hint’ if you are unsure where the mistake is. Click ‘show answer’ to check your answers and score as you progress.
Information on how to improve grammar for writing are available in the ICOSA website.
Hint:
countable vs uncountable / subject does not agree with verb
Explanation: Hardly is an adverb which modifies the verb understand. It does not modify infinitives such as to understand. Hardly means barely / not much (not difficult or hard).
Answer:
There are many people who have eye problems due to overuse of computers and smart phones. / Many people have eye problems due to overuse of computers and smart phones.
Explanation: have eye problems is part of a relative clause describing people and requires the word who to link it to people. Or, if the word who is not used, there are should be deleted.
Answer:
Pollution and other kinds of environmental damage are major issues in Hong Kong today.
Pollution and other kinds of environmental damage are major issues in today’s Hong Kong.
Explanation:
The conjunction but is not necessary when a sentence begins with although. Although already signifies contrast, so the word but is not necessary.
Answer:
Fiona, the manager of the English Language Support Suite, believes in self-access language learning. / Fiona, who is the manager of the English Language Support Suite, believes in self-access language learning.
Explanation:
You may delete she is here. This is an appositive, which allows writers to give more information about the subject between commas. Or, add who is to make a relative clause.
Explanation:
The two sentences cannot be connected with a comma as the second sentence has a new subject and verb and introduces a new idea. This is a comma splice error. Here it is best to use a full stop.
Answer:
This is the last question in this activity, but more exercises on common errors can be found on the ICOSA website. / This is the last question in this activity. However, more exercises on common errors can be found on the ICOSA website.
Explanation:
The two sentences cannot be connected with a comma as the second sentence has a new subject and verb and introduces a new idea. This is a comma splice error. Here is best to use a full stop.
