Are you confused with English grammar rules? The English language can be a frustrating and confusing subject for English learners even for native speakers. The constant evolution of the English language has become more complex than ever before, especially after the rise of technology and social media. There are plenty of difficult grammar structures and types of sentences which can lead you to make misplaced modifiers and incorrect sentence formation while writing. The English language has made up of several different languages. There are many parts of English have been included in French, Greek, and Latin.
The English language is known for its tricky grammar rules from its inception. Social media and technology are led to much confusion and misunderstanding which include their short form of words and incorrect uses of subject-verb agreement. However, we should not forget language is a living thing that changes over time. These can be beneficial for growth and learning. We will explore some of the most difficulties with contemporary English grammar rules and words. We will try to find out how we can avoid these mistakes and improve our language skills.
Understanding the Difficulties of Contemporary English Grammar
The English language has been evolving since its beginning. There are so many words and rules that have been included in English every day. So, these changes confuse us when it comes to the use of these rules. Many different tenses, forms, sentence structures, and use of slang words in the modern era create many complexities to understand the various rule of the English Language. To be a writer, it is very important to have a command of English grammar to communicate clearly and effectively.
5 Grammatical Errors You Should Avoid
One of the best ways to avoid grammatical errors is to enhance grammar skills. Online grammar classes, reading books, and English grammar online learning applications. There will be proofreading another way of avoiding grammar errors. Here, we will see 5 common grammatical errors you should avoid while writing or speaking.
1) Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-Verb agreement is a very crucial part of English grammar. The subject of the sentence should agree with the agreement in terms of number. In simple words, if the subject is singular so verb should also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb should be plural.
For example,
1) The group of boys were studying the whole night. (Incorrect)
The group of boys was studying while night. (Correct)
2) The university, along with its students, is celebrating their anniversary. (Incorrect)
The university, along with its students, is celebrating its anniversary. (Correct)
Here in the first example, the subject “group” is singular but the verb was plural. That’s why the sentence was incorrect.
The subject should have followed a singular verb that’s why was should have come.
In the second example, the word “university” is a singular subject but the word “along with” adds a plural element in a sentence. So, the verb should be plural in terms of subject-verb agreement.
2) Pronoun Usage
Pronouns are a very important part of English grammar which take the place of nouns in sentences. Commonly, they use it to avoid repetitions of nouns. But sometimes pronouns can be confusing and different in many places. It is very important to use pronouns correctly in a sentence to maintain clarity in your writing.
One of the common mistakes in the usage of pronouns is mismatched genders or numbers.
For example, using the “He” pronoun which includes a group of people or both men and women should be incorrect in a sentence.
In this type of sentence where the subject refers to a group of people or plural nouns so, “they” should come in the place of the noun.
- Every student must complete his meal before sleeping. (Incorrect)
- Every student must complete their meal before sleeping. (Correct)
3) Confusing Adjectives and Adverbs
Adjectives and adverbs can be a very confusing part of basic English grammar not only for beginners but also for native speakers. Adjectives are words that describe nouns, while adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Using these elements can lead you to grammatical errors.
One of the common errors is using “good” and “Well” in sentences.
For example,
- They are singing good in the classroom. (Incorrect)
- As the adjective “good” is used instead of Adverb “Well”.
- They are singing well in the classroom. (correct)
ALSO Read: 5 Daily Routines to Improve Your English
4) Incorrect Usage of Words
Incorrect use of words in a sentence can change the meaning of the whole sentence or lead to grammatical errors. This mistake commonly happens when words are used interchangeably, but their meaning is different. For example, the use of “effect” and “affect”. Here, “effect” is a noun that refers to the result of something. But “affect’ means to influence.
1) I excepted her invitation to the wedding. (Incorrect)
2) I accepted her invitation to the wedding. (Correct)
3) Its important to pay attention to you’re writing. (Incorrect)
4) It’s important to pay attention you’re writing. (Correct)
5) Use of Passive Voice
The use of passive voice in sentences sometimes is confusing. The passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject receives the actions, rather than performing them. Passive writing is often used in academic writing but can be appropriate in some contexts. In active voice, the sentence emphasizes the subject doing the action. But, in passive voice focus on the subject receiving the action.
1) The author wrote the story. (Active voice)
2) The story was written by the author. (Passive voice)
3) The students gave the presentation. (Active voice)
4) The presentation was given by the students. (Passive voice)
Avoiding Grammatical errors can improve and clarity and effectiveness of the writing. By paying attention to passive voice, subject-verb agreement, and usage of pronouns. You can ensure your writing skills will be clear, concise, and easy to understand. If you follow these tips and avoid common grammar errors in writing so, you can enhance your quality of writing and communicate more effectively with your ideas.
Bhawna Anand is a talented content writer and editor with over 5 years of experience crafting engaging content for Abmantra, a popular blogging website. Her areas of expertise include Fashion, Festival, Gifting, Ecommerce, Spiritual and Travel content. Bhawna’s informative and engaging writing style has helped Abmantra attract a loyal readership and build a strong online community.
When not at work, Bhawna enjoys traveling the world, which often inspires her to write captivating travel pieces that transport readers to new destinations. She also loves to sing, cook, and read good novels.
