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reason ..... because
is not correct. Say
reason ..... that |
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Wrong |
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The
reason
I came late was
because
I overslept.. |
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Right |
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The
reason
I came late was
that
I overslept. |
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Wrong |
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The
reason
that he makes poor grades is
because
of his poor study habits. |
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Right |
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The
reason
that
( or
why
) he makes poor grades is his poor study habits. |
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2. |
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says, said.
Said is the past tense. |
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Wrong |
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John
ran into the room and says, " There is a stranger outside." |
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Right |
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John ran into the room and said, " There is a stranger outside." |
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3. |
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seldom ever,
seldom or ever are incorrect. Use
seldom if ever
or hardly ever. |
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Wrong |
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He
seldom
ever
plays tennis. |
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Right |
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He
seldom if ever
( or
hardly ever
) plays tennis. |
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4. |
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sit, set.
Sit
does not take an object;
set
takes an object. The principal parts of the verb
sit
are : sit
( present ), sat
( past ), sat
( past participle), and
sitting ( present participle ).
The principal parts of the verb
set are:
set (
present ), set
( past ), set
( past participle), and
setting ( present participle ). |
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The old man
is sitting
under the tree. ( present participle ) |
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She
set
the chair beside the window. ( past tense ) |
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He
sat
down to rest. ( past tense ) |
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They
set
a date for the meeting. ( past tense ) |
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Sit
here. ( present tense ) |
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The guests
are
sitting
at the table. ( present participle ) |
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5. |
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so that.
So that
refers to " purpose." Do not omit " that." |
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Wrong |
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He
came here
so he
could study English. |
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Right |
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He
came here
so that
he could study English. |
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6. |
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such. Do not
use such
to mean " very." In a result clause;
such
should be followed by that. |
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Wrong |
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New
York is
such a
crowded city. |
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Right |
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New
York is a
very
crowded city. |
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Right |
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New
York is
such
a crowded city
that
I wouldn't like to live there. |
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7. |
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superior is
followed by the preposition to
( not than
). |
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Wrong |
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My
toothpaste is
superior than
the other brands on the market. |
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Right |
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My
toothpaste is
superior to
the other brands on the market. |
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8. |
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sure
and try are not followed by
and. |
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Wrong |
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Be
sure
and
study for the test. |
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Right |
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Be
sure
to
study for the test. |
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Wrong |
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Try
and
get some rest. |
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Right |
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Try
to
get some rest. |
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9. |
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that. Do not
omit that
in noun clause. |
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Wrong |
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My objective to
smoking is it is dangerous to health. |
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Right |
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My
objective to smoking is
that
it is dangerous to health. |
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Wrong |
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He
assured me he understood my problem and he would try to help me. |
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Right |
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He
assured me
that
he understood my problem and
that
he would try to help me. |
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10. |
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their, there,
they're. |
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They're
over there beside the cabinet. |
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I am not
interested in
their
motives. |
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There
was nothing left to do. |
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There
are several reasons for his actions. |
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They're
coming later this afternoon. |
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