"Recognizing Common Errors in Writing" Exercises (subject-verb
agreement, pronouns, differentiating between adjectives and adverbs, and verb
tenses)
Your goal is to complete twenty questions in a row, or until you feel
comfortable recognizing common errors in writing.
1. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
The boy, along with his two friends, skate
in Griffith Park.
2. Identify the word or phrase that must be
changed in order for the sentence to be correct.
All of the homeworkassigned to the students
areto be completed by next Tuesday.
3. Identify the word or phrase that must be
changed in order for the sentence to be correct.
Next to the tables in the classroom is
the personal computers for which you are looking.
4. Identify the word or phrase that must be
changed in order for the sentence to be correct.
Every studentswill take the History
exam in three weeks.
5. Identify the word or phrase that must be
changed in order for the sentence to be correct.
I learned from my experience that you should
not try to study the same day a test is scheduled. From that
day, consequently, I have decided to prepare in advance before taking an
exam.
6. Identify the word or phrase that must be
changed in order for the sentence to be correct.
Every student must make sure that they have
a valid ID card in order to check out booksfrom the
library.
7. Identify the word or phrase that must be
changed in order for the sentence to be correct.
"I have the book I purchased from
the bookstore. Do you have your?"
8. Identify the word or phrase that must be
changed in order for the sentence to be correct.
None of the students were able to turn in
the research paper in a timely manner.
9. Identify the word or phrase that must be
changed in order for the sentence to be correct.
The competitive boy competed competitively
in acompeted competition.
10. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
I like a person who is gregarious, sociable,
talkable, and friendly.
11.
Suspecting him of stealingher purse,
she looked at him intent.
12. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
During a job interview, one must speak intelligent,
meaning that one should speak educated English.
13. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
When I am a child, I remembergoing
to Disneyland. It was one of the most exciting experiences I have ever
gone on.
14. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
That Thomas Edison invented the light bulb is
a facts.
15. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
Since 1999, she has live in San
with her family.
16. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
It has beennearly twelve years since
I have moved to this city.
17. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
She finished her doctoralstudies in American
Literature by 2001.
18. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
Each of the students are joining the intramural
soccer team this semester.
19.
Most of the presentation focused on how to audit a
companyaccurately and efficiently. Therefore, I was interested
in those.
20.
Tom has not attended most of his History
classes, nor he has taken any of the exams.
21.
Everything I saw at the apartments of Tom,
John, and Kellie were dirty.
22.
The students learned that previewing a book
first is important before you actually begin reading it.
23.
Most of the students were able to finish his
research papers on time, so they didn’t submit the
assignment late.
24.
The dog was limping because its’ hind
leg was broken.
25.
Not one single phone call the whole night were
for me, which is why I was so annoyed with my friend.
26.
At the concert, the musical played a solo
on his trumpet for more than five minutes.
27. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
The building was real tall that I thought it looked
like a concrete mountain.
28.
Making it seem a little cooler than it really
is, the wind is blowing in a west direction.
29. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
I eat often out when I go on vacation so that
I don’t have to hassle over cooking my own food.
30. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
I remember when I was a kid there was
something that changed my life forever. It is when my father
caught me smoking with some friends in our backyard.
31. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
It is without a doubt that he went to
the dance last week Laura.
32. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
By this time next year, I will finished working
with theaccounting firm.
33. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
Since she was a young girl, she interested
in swimming, rowing, and biking.
34. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
In 1917, my father has decided to leave Russia so
thathe and his family could have more freedom.
35. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
The Thompsons, not Steven, is goingto
Disneyland next week.
36.
When I got back from the store, I noticed that
half of the pie were eaten by my children.
37. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
Speaker A: I don’t like going to the beachwhen it is cold outside.
Speaker B: Me neither.
38.
Every one of the workercalled in sick
today, thus making it impossible for the factory to operate.
39. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
One lesson I have learned as an ESL student
is you should not make assumptions about the new culture until I
have all the facts.
40.
Has all of the book been read by the class yet? I
hope so because when final exams come, they won’t have time
enough to read it.
41.
India is a heavily populated country his
citizens have a democratic form of government.
43.
The man who is at the park with his friends are
a fire fighter from New York City.
44.
Sue, having an interest in painting, poetry,
and music, is acreatively individual.
45. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
Before you can make your time managed
schedule, you need to get yourquarterly schedule of
classes.
46.
Due to the extremely heat and arid
climate, plant life is almost nonexistent in Death Valley,
California.
47. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
To keep from waking uphis roommates, he
walked quiet into the room.
48. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
Because I had been on vacation when the
accident occurred, I didn’t know what happen to John.
49. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
Because of the fail grade Jane received, are
you sure she knew how to write that research paper?
50. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
By 1994, Microsoft became the largest
producer of computer software in the world.
51. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
Lately, Tom was ill with the flu, so he should
drink plenty of fluids and should get a lot of rest.
52. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
My teacher, who born in 1965, has
interesting lectures about English Grammar.
53. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
When each factory worker completes their task , the
supervisor gives everyone a fifteen minute break.
54.
Most of equipmentbrought into the
companies was imported from Taiwan.
55.
Had she had sufficient time, she would go
to the mall with her friends.
56.
Are there anybody who may be able to help David
complete his math homework this evening?
57.
Finally, as he walked up the steps to his house, he
paused, listening for any would be intruders who may have broken
in. He opened the door so you could not hear a sound.
As soon as the door was opened, he peered in, using his flashlight to
penetrate the eerie darkness.
58.
After repairing the brakes and after putting
in a new transmission, the owner still had trouble with his car.
Consequently, he decided to sell them and buy a new one.
59.
The decision about whether to extend a new
contract to the faculty will be decided between the chairperson
and she.
60.
The baseball player, together with the coach and
his parents, are going to visit the university to which he has
been offered a scholarship.
61.
The life statue was placednext to
the library.
62. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
The homework assignment was completed by the
entire class, which demonstrates the highly motivation of the
students to learn.
63.
I enjoyed the alive concert, especially when
the singers encouraged the audience to sing along.
64. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
Little did the administrators know that the
computers would not arrive for two more week.
65. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
After shopping at the mall, Maria decided to
bring the family to a restaurant, so they can eat pizza.
66. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
That twenty students were absentfrom
last week’s classes are unfortunate.
67. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
By the time Susan came to the party, most of
the other guests leave.
68. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
For the last five years, the government have
offered educational scholarships and grants to the underprivileged.
69. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed in
order for the sentence to be correct.
In class last week, we had a writing
workshop, in which each student had a tutor critique their
essay.
70. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
None of the police officers are going
to the fire fighters’ banquet.
71.
Part of the research for the writing assignments need
to come from scholarly journals and books, and part of it can
come from electronic sources.
72.
The books have been place on the bookshelf,
and so have the magazines.
73.
If there is anything which bother you about
this meal, please let me know, and I will be more than happy to
fix the problem.
74.
Since becoming a member of the swim team, I
have
participated in so many swim meets that you can’t even count them.
75.
The award for the high grade point average was
given to Ralph Kent, who had perfect grades during his four years
of college.
76. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
We will all bring beach towels, so
you should not forget to bring your.
77.
Neither Sue or the other students have been
able to correctly calculate the lab experiments.
78.
Attending meetings on Thursdays are difficult
because I have to take the kids to school.
79. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
At the store yesterday, I met a man intelligent
who is studying to become a brain surgeon.
80.
The sprinter ran so fastly that he set a world
record in the 100 meter dash.
81. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
A positive characteristic about Professor Hyon is that
she acts kind to all her students.
82. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
The trip the geologists went onwas exciting,
and they make some important discoveries regarding a formerly
active volcano which is now extinct.
83. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
Given the fact that the Vikings visiting the
continent hundred of years beforehand, it is common knowledge that
Columbus was not the first person to discover the Americas.
84. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
By next summer, Larry will have been finished
his graduate studies in Business , at which point
he plans to look for a job.
85. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
Julie has always wantto become doctor since
she was a little child.
86. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
In 1991, our city constructed it’s first
library, the financing of which came from local businesses
87. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
I suggested that Susan rewrite her essay by
create a more explicit introductory thesis statement outlining
the overall plan of the essay.
88.
Some of the pie cooked by the students were
already eaten, a sure sign that its taste was a smashing
success.
89.
Under no circumstances has Tom completedrequirement
for the Biology lab report.
90.
Do you know anyone who know the directions to
Bangkok? I can’t figure out which road is the best one to take.
91.
Mostly, my class has lectures inside the
classroom. On special occasions, however, we go out into the desert,
so you can observe desert plant and wildlife.
92.
The air in my city is polluted due to the many
manmade contaminants in them, which is why many people have respiratory
problems.
93.
John will discuss who will be going on the
trip with she and her friend Jack.
94.
Three of the pots left on the stove contains
what will soon be tonight’s dinner.
95.
Disrupting the class by talking out of turn,
Kellie was being child.
96. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
On school days, I get early up at approximately
6:00 a.m. so that I can get ready for my 8:00 a.m. class.
97.
Due to the injury to his right leg, he has an awkwardly
limp when he walks.
98. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
Paul walks rarely ever to school since he bought
his Jeep three weeks ago.
99. Identify the word or phrase that must be changed
in order for the sentence to be correct.
Prepare for the exam, Sheila and her study group read
over their lecture notes in order to anticipate possible test
questions.
100. Identify the word or phrase that must be
changed in order for the sentence to be correct.
The decision to extend the academic year for two
more weeks is sound because student need all the instruction
they can get.
101. Identify the word or phrase that must be
changed in order for the sentence to be correct.
By the time the professor shows up for class, most
of the studentswill already leave.
102. Identify the word or phrase that must be
changed in order for the sentence to be correct.
I have been student at this
university for three years.
103. Identify the word or phrase that must be
changed in order for the sentence to be correct.
California State University, San Bernardino, a school
next to the scenic San Bernardino mountains, established in
1965 with an initial enrollment of fewer than 1,000
students.
