Year 3 · Unit 10 · Lesson 1 of 5
Mark-Losing Errors 1–10 (Grammar): Stop Losing Marks
"Me and my brother was at home."
This sentence is only seven words long. How many grammar errors can you find?
Two. Pronoun case: "Me" should be "I", and you put yourself last. Concord: two people need "were". Corrected: "My brother and I were at home." Small slips like these cost accuracy marks in almost every composition.
Master the essentials
1 · Subject–verb agreement
The list of names are long.
The list of names is long.
The subject is "list", not "names".
2 · Tense shift
She opened the door and sees a dog.
She opened the door and saw a dog.
Keep one tense unless the time changes.
3 · Wrong verb form
I seen it. He has went home.
I saw it. He has gone home.
Learn the past and past participle of irregular verbs.
4 · Pronoun case
Me and him went to town.
He and I went to town.
Subjects take I, he, she, we, they; put yourself last.
5 · Sentence fragment
Because it was raining.
We stayed in because it was raining.
Every sentence needs a main clause.
6 · Run-on (comma splice)
It was late, we went home.
It was late, so we went home.
Join two sentences with a full stop, a conjunction or a semicolon, not a comma.
7 · Wrong preposition
We discussed about the plan.
We discussed the plan.
Learn fixed pairs: discuss (no preposition), married to, good at.
8 · Double negative
I didn't do nothing.
I didn't do anything.
Two negatives cancel out in standard English.
9 · Double comparative
This one is more better.
This one is better.
Use "more" or "-er", never both.
10 · Dangling modifier
Walking to school, the rain started.
As I was walking to school, the rain started.
An opening -ing phrase must describe the subject that follows it.
See it done
1. Correct: "Each of the girls have a bag."
"Each" is singular, so: "Each of the girls has a bag." (Error 1)
2. Correct: "Running for the bus, my bag fell open."
The bag was not running. "As I was running for the bus, my bag fell open." (Error 10)
Common mistake: Proofreading only for spelling. Read once more just for verbs: do they agree, and do they stay in the same tense?
10 questions with instant feedback
Choose the best answer.
1.Which sentence is correct?
Not quite. The subject is "list", which is singular. Answer: B. The list of names is long..
Correct. The subject is "list", which is singular.
Not quite. The subject is "list", which is singular. Answer: B. The list of names is long..
Not quite. The subject is "list", which is singular. Answer: B. The list of names is long..
2."She opened the door and ___ a dog."
Not quite. The sentence is in the past tense, so keep it there. Answer: C. saw.
Not quite. The sentence is in the past tense, so keep it there. Answer: C. saw.
Correct. The sentence is in the past tense, so keep it there.
Not quite. The sentence is in the past tense, so keep it there. Answer: C. saw.
3.Which sentence is correct?
Not quite. "Saw" is the past tense; "seen" needs "have". Answer: D. I saw him yesterday..
Not quite. "Saw" is the past tense; "seen" needs "have". Answer: D. I saw him yesterday..
Not quite. "Saw" is the past tense; "seen" needs "have". Answer: D. I saw him yesterday..
Correct. "Saw" is the past tense; "seen" needs "have".
4.Which sentence is correct?
Not quite. Subjects take "he" and "I", with yourself last. Answer: C. He and I went to the market..
Not quite. Subjects take "he" and "I", with yourself last. Answer: C. He and I went to the market..
Correct. Subjects take "he" and "I", with yourself last.
Not quite. Subjects take "he" and "I", with yourself last. Answer: C. He and I went to the market..
5.Which is a sentence fragment?
Correct. It has no main clause, so it cannot stand alone.
Not quite. It has no main clause, so it cannot stand alone. Answer: A. Because the bus was late..
Not quite. It has no main clause, so it cannot stand alone. Answer: A. Because the bus was late..
Not quite. It has no main clause, so it cannot stand alone. Answer: A. Because the bus was late..
6."It was late, we went home." How is this best corrected?
Not quite. A conjunction ("so") correctly joins the two clauses. Answer: B. It was late, so we went home..
Correct. A conjunction ("so") correctly joins the two clauses.
Not quite. A conjunction ("so") correctly joins the two clauses. Answer: B. It was late, so we went home..
Not quite. A conjunction ("so") correctly joins the two clauses. Answer: B. It was late, so we went home..
7.Which sentence is correct?
Correct. "Discuss" takes no preposition.
Not quite. "Discuss" takes no preposition. Answer: A. We discussed the plan..
Not quite. "Discuss" takes no preposition. Answer: A. We discussed the plan..
Not quite. "Discuss" takes no preposition. Answer: A. We discussed the plan..
8."I didn't see ___."
Not quite. "Didn't" is already negative, so use "anybody". Answer: D. anybody.
Not quite. "Didn't" is already negative, so use "anybody". Answer: D. anybody.
Not quite. "Didn't" is already negative, so use "anybody". Answer: D. anybody.
Correct. "Didn't" is already negative, so use "anybody".
9.Which sentence is correct?
Correct. "Better" is already a comparative.
Not quite. "Better" is already a comparative. Answer: A. This road is better..
Not quite. "Better" is already a comparative. Answer: A. This road is better..
Not quite. "Better" is already a comparative. Answer: A. This road is better..
10."Walking to school, the rain started." What is wrong?
Not quite. The opening phrase must describe the subject that follows it. Answer: B. it suggests the rain was walking to school.
Correct. The opening phrase must describe the subject that follows it.
Not quite. The opening phrase must describe the subject that follows it. Answer: B. it suggests the rain was walking to school.
Not quite. The opening phrase must describe the subject that follows it. Answer: B. it suggests the rain was walking to school.
Correct the sentences
Rewrite each sentence correctly. Then check below.
(a) Each of the girls have a bag.
(b) Yesterday he goes to the market and buys rice.
(c) Between you and I, the test was easy.
(d) We was tired, we went to bed early.
(e) Running for the bus, my bag fell open.
(a) Each of the girls has a bag.
(b) Yesterday he went to the market and bought rice.
(c) Between you and me, the test was easy.
(d) We were tired, so we went to bed early.
(e) As I was running for the bus, my bag fell open.
Next: the Lesson 1 exit quiz. Five questions, recorded on your dashboard. Aim for 4 out of 5.