Correct the following sentences – Exercise 2
January 12th, 2011 in Common Mistakes
Correct the following sentences.
Incorrect: Every people know this.
Correct: Every man knows this.
Correct: Everybody / everyone knows this.
Every should be followed by a singular verb. Note that everyone should be written as one word.
Incorrect: These all mangoes are ripe.
Correct: All these mangoes are ripe. These mangoes are all ripe. All of these mangoes are ripe.
All is a group B determiner while these is a group A determiner. A group B determiner cannot be used after a group A determiner. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. The group B determiners many, most, little, least and few can be used after group A determiners. To learn more, refer to the article on determiners.
Incorrect: He held the bag in the both hands.
Correct: He held the bag in both his hands. OR He held the bag in both hands.
The cannot be used before both.
Incorrect: I have no any friends.
Correct: I have no friends. OR I haven’t got any friends. OR I don’t have any friends.
No is enough to make a sentence negative. We don’t have to use any with no.
Incorrect: Both men have not come.
Correct: Neither man has come.
Incorrect: Both answers are not correct.
Correct: Neither answer is correct.
We do not usually use both in negative sentences. Instead we use neither. Note that neither is followed by a singular noun.