Archive for February, 2012

Correct the mistakes

February 23rd, 2012 in Common Mistakes

Correct the following sentences.

1. The car either dashed against a goat or a donkey.

2. Neither he would eat nor allow us to eat.

3. He enquired that where was the office.

4. He asked that what was my name.

5. Alice is as tall if not taller than Mary.

6. Though he was poor but he was happy.

7. Hardly I had reached the station when the train steamed out.

Answer

1. The car dashed against either a goat or a donkey.

2. He would neither eat nor allow us to eat.

3. He enquired where the office was.

4. He asked what my name was.

5. Alice is as tall as Mary, if not taller.

6. Though he was poor, he was happy. OR He was poor but he was happy.

7. Hardly had I reached the station when the train steamed out.

Notes

The correlatives either…or, neither…nor, both…and, not only…but also should go immediately before the words they relate to.

The relative pronoun that cannot be used before interrogatives like what, where, when, whether and why.

Sentences beginning with negative words like hardly, scarcely and no sooner follow the inverted word order. That means the auxiliary verb comes before the subject.