TOP 10

GRAMMAR
MISTAKES
WRITERS COMMONLY MAKE

1. Subject Verb Agreement

Generally
-you can put an -s on a noun to make it
plural,
- but you put an -s on a verb to make it
singular.
Formula:
S.N + S.V or

P.N + P.V

Agreement with Special

Subjects
a. Collective Nouns can be plural or
singular depending on how it was used
in the sentence.
Ex.
My entire family has gone to Tagaytay for
vacation.
The family are still in disagreement about
which car to buy

b. Nouns ending in s
Some takes singular verbs
- Physics - Mumps - Mathematics Economics
Some takes plural verbs
- Eyeglasses - Pants - Pliers - Shorts

c. Indefinite nouns
- Those ending in one and body are
singular
- Several, few, both and many are always
singular
- Some, all, any, most and none can be
either singular or plural

2. Conjunctions
Take note that we have two classes of
conjunctions
Coordinating - indicate units of equal status
(yet, and, but, or, for, so, nor)
Subordinating- indicate that one unit is more
important than the other (after, although, as,
because, before, if, since, that, unless, until,
when, where, while).

3. Misplaced Modifiers
- Modifiersinclude words such as almost,
hardly, even, just, merely, not, only, and
simply.
- modifiersshould always go before the
word or words they modify in a work.
Ex.

She was Edwards only love.

4. Negatives

Avoid using two negatives in one

sentence, or you will end up saying the
opposite of what you mean.
Pam didnt hardly ever try.
He doesnt have no time.
Dan never goes nowhere.

5. Either and Or
Neither and Nor
The old rule states that nor typically
follows neither, and or follows either.
However, if neither either nor neither
is used in a sentence, you should use
nor to express a second negative, as
long as the second negative is a verb. If
the second negative is a noun, adjective,
or adverb, you would use or, because
the initial negative transfers to all
conditions.

6. Who and Whom

Who is a subjective pronoun, along with "he,"
"she," "it," "we," and "they." Its used when the
pronoun acts as the subject of a clause.
Whom is an objective pronoun, along with
"him," "her," "it", "us," and "them." Its used
when the pronoun acts as the object of a clause.
When in doubt, substitute who with the
subjective pronouns he or she, e.g.,Who
loves you?cf.,He loves me.Similarly, you can
also substitute whom with the objective
pronouns him or her. e.g.,I consulted an
attorney whom I met in New York.cf.,I consulted
him.

7. Your and Youre

Your is a possessive adjective that
describes something belonging to you.
Youre is a contraction short for you are,
and is often followed by a word ending in
-ing

8. Its versus Its

Its is a contraction short of it is or it has.
Its is a possessive pronoun.
The best way to make sure you are using
the word right is if you can replace its
with it is or it has in a sentence then you
are using it properly.
There is no such word as its.

9. Confusing the word

There with Their

10. Whether and If

Whether expresses a condition where
there are two or more alternatives.
If expresses a condition where there are
no alternatives.
I will come whether you like it or not.
I will come if I have money.