Grammar Mistakes to Avoid in Exams: Comprehensive Study Module
Understanding and avoiding common grammar mistakes is crucial for performing well in exams. This module outlines key grammar errors, rules to address them, and examples for clarity.
Introduction
- The importance of grammar accuracy in exams.
- How common errors can affect scores.
- Benefits of mastering grammar for exams.
1. Subject-Verb Agreement Errors
Rules
- Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs.
- Words like “everyone,” “each,” and “nobody” require singular verbs.
Examples
- Incorrect: The list of items are on the table.
- Correct: The list of items is on the table.
Common Applications
- Pay attention to collective nouns (e.g., team, family).
2. Incorrect Use of Tenses
Rules
- Ensure consistency in tenses throughout a sentence.
- Use present perfect for actions that have relevance to the present.
Examples
- Incorrect: She has finished her homework before she went to the party.
- Correct: She had finished her homework before she went to the party.
Applications
- Avoid mixing past and present inappropriately.
3. Misplaced Modifiers
Rules
- Place modifiers close to the word they modify.
- Avoid dangling modifiers (modifiers without a clear subject).
Examples
- Incorrect: Running down the street, the bag fell from her hand.
- Correct: Running down the street, she dropped the bag.
4. Confusion Between “Who” and “Whom”
Rules
- Use “who” as the subject of a clause.
- Use “whom” as the object of a verb or preposition.
Examples
- Incorrect: Whom is coming to the party?
- Correct: Who is coming to the party?
5. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Rules
- Pronouns must agree in number and gender with their antecedents.
- Avoid using ambiguous pronouns.
Examples
- Incorrect: Every student must bring their notebook.
- Correct: Every student must bring his or her notebook.
6. Errors in Parallel Structure
Rules
- Use the same grammatical structure for items in a list or series.
Examples
- Incorrect: She likes dancing, to sing, and painting.
- Correct: She likes dancing, singing, and painting.
7. Overuse of Passive Voice
Rules
- Use active voice for clarity and brevity.
Examples
- Passive: The homework was completed by the student.
- Active: The student completed the homework.
8. Incorrect Use of Articles
Rules
- Use “a” before consonant sounds and “an” before vowel sounds.
- Use “the” for specific nouns.
Examples
- Incorrect: She bought an unique gift.
- Correct: She bought a unique gift.
9. Sentence Fragments
Rules
- Ensure every sentence has a subject and a predicate.
Examples
- Incorrect: Because I was tired.
- Correct: I went to bed early because I was tired.
10. Redundancy and Wordiness
Rules
- Avoid repeating ideas unnecessarily.
Examples
- Incorrect: She returned back to the office.
- Correct: She returned to the office.
11. Confusion Between Similar Words
Rules
- Differentiate between commonly confused words (e.g., affect/effect, farther/further).
Examples
- Incorrect: The weather will effect our plans.
- Correct: The weather will affect our plans.
12. Improper Use of Prepositions
Rules
- Use the correct preposition for idiomatic expressions.
Examples
- Incorrect: She is good in mathematics.
- Correct: She is good at mathematics.
13. Run-on Sentences
Rules
- Use punctuation or conjunctions to separate independent clauses.
Examples
- Incorrect: I love reading I can spend hours with a book.
- Correct: I love reading, and I can spend hours with a book.
14. Neglecting Punctuation Rules
Rules
- Use commas, periods, and semicolons appropriately.
Examples
- Incorrect: Let’s eat grandma.
- Correct: Let’s eat, grandma.
15. Overlooking Conditional Sentence Rules
Rules
- Match the correct tense in “if” and main clauses.
Examples
- Incorrect: If he will come, I will be happy.
- Correct: If he comes, I will be happy.
Practice and Application
- Identify and correct errors in sample sentences.
- Rewrite sentences to fix grammar issues.
- Create error-free essays using the above rules.
Conclusion
Avoiding common grammar mistakes can improve your exam performance significantly. Use this guide as a tool to refine your grammar skills.
20 English Grammar MCQs on “Grammar Mistakes to Avoid in Exams”
1. Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.
A. The team are playing well this season.
B. The team is playing well this season.
C. The team were playing well this season.
D. The team has played well this season.
Answer: B. The team is playing well this season.
Explanation: “Team” is a collective noun, so it takes a singular verb when referring to the group as a unit.
2. Which sentence uses the correct pronoun-antecedent agreement?
A. Every student must submit their homework on time.
B. Each student must submit his or her homework on time.
C. Every student must submit its homework on time.
D. Every student must submit their homeworks on time.
Answer: B. Each student must submit his or her homework on time.
Explanation: Singular pronouns like “his or her” must be used with singular antecedents like “each student.”
3. Choose the correct use of articles.
A. She bought a umbrella yesterday.
B. She bought an umbrella yesterday.
C. She bought the umbrella yesterday.
D. She bought some umbrella yesterday.
Answer: B. She bought an umbrella yesterday.
Explanation: “An” is used before words beginning with a vowel sound, such as “umbrella.”
4. Which sentence avoids redundancy?
A. She returned back to her hometown.
B. She returned to her hometown.
C. She went back to return to her hometown.
D. She returned and went back to her hometown.
Answer: B. She returned to her hometown.
Explanation: “Returned” already implies going back, so adding “back” is redundant.
5. Identify the correctly punctuated sentence.
A. Let’s eat Grandma.
B. Lets eat, Grandma.
C. Let’s eat, Grandma.
D. Lets eat Grandma.
Answer: C. Let’s eat, Grandma.
Explanation: The comma clarifies that you are addressing Grandma, not eating her.
6. Which sentence uses the correct tense sequence?
A. If I will go to the party, I will meet her.
B. If I go to the party, I will meet her.
C. If I went to the party, I will meet her.
D. If I go to the party, I would meet her.
Answer: B. If I go to the party, I will meet her.
Explanation: For a real condition, the present tense is used in the “if” clause and the future tense in the main clause.
7. Which word is correct in the sentence?
“The storm had a significant _______ on the town.”
A. Affect
B. Effect
C. Effects
D. Affects
Answer: B. Effect
Explanation: “Effect” is a noun, which fits here, while “affect” is a verb.
8. Select the sentence with correct parallel structure.
A. She likes dancing, to sing, and painting.
B. She likes dancing, singing, and painting.
C. She likes to dance, singing, and to paint.
D. She likes dancing, singing, and to paint.
Answer: B. She likes dancing, singing, and painting.
Explanation: All items in the list follow the same grammatical structure.
9. Choose the sentence without a misplaced modifier.
A. Running down the street, the bag fell from her hand.
B. Running down the street, she dropped the bag.
C. The bag fell from her hand running down the street.
D. She dropped the bag running down the street.
Answer: B. Running down the street, she dropped the bag.
Explanation: The modifier “running down the street” clearly describes “she.”
10. Identify the grammatically correct sentence.
A. Everyone are invited to the party.
B. Everyone is invited to the party.
C. Everyone has invited to the party.
D. Everyone have invited to the party.
Answer: B. Everyone is invited to the party.
Explanation: “Everyone” is singular and takes a singular verb.
11. Which sentence uses correct prepositions?
A. She is good in math.
B. She is good at math.
C. She is good on math.
D. She is good of math.
Answer: B. She is good at math.
Explanation: “Good at” is the correct idiomatic expression.
12. Choose the correct usage of “who” and “whom.”
A. Who did you meet at the party?
B. Whom did you meet at the party?
C. Who did meet you at the party?
D. Whom did meet you at the party?
Answer: B. Whom did you meet at the party?
Explanation: “Whom” is used as the object of the verb “meet.”
13. Identify the correct use of a conditional sentence.
A. If he had studied, he would pass the exam.
B. If he studies, he would pass the exam.
C. If he had studied, he would have passed the exam.
D. If he studies, he will passed the exam.
Answer: C. If he had studied, he would have passed the exam.
Explanation: This is a third conditional sentence expressing a past hypothetical situation.
14. Which sentence avoids wordiness?
A. In my personal opinion, I think you are right.
B. I think you are right.
C. In my opinion, I think you are right.
D. Personally, I think you are right.
Answer: B. I think you are right.
Explanation: The other options repeat ideas unnecessarily.
15. Select the grammatically correct sentence.
A. She don’t like coffee.
B. She doesn’t likes coffee.
C. She doesn’t like coffee.
D. She don’t likes coffee.
Answer: C. She doesn’t like coffee.
Explanation: “Doesn’t” is used with the base form “like.”
16. Choose the correct sentence.
A. The books on the shelf is mine.
B. The books on the shelf are mine.
C. The books on the shelf has mine.
D. The books on the shelf have mine.
Answer: B. The books on the shelf are mine.
Explanation: “Books” is plural and takes the plural verb “are.”
17. Identify the sentence without a run-on.
A. She loves reading she buys books every week.
B. She loves reading; she buys books every week.
C. She loves reading, she buys books every week.
D. She loves reading and she buys books every week.
Answer: B. She loves reading; she buys books every week.
Explanation: A semicolon separates two independent clauses.
18. Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.
A. He said “I am tired.”
B. He said, “I am tired.”
C. He said, “I am tired”.
D. He said, “I am tired
Answer: B. He said, “I am tired.”
Explanation: Commas and periods are placed inside quotation marks.
19. Which sentence uses the correct form of “its/it’s”?
A. Its going to rain tomorrow.
B. It’s going to rain tomorrow.
C. Its’ going to rain tomorrow.
D. Its’ raining tomorrow.
Answer: B. It’s going to rain tomorrow.
Explanation: “It’s” is a contraction of “it is.”
20. Choose the correct use of “fewer” or “less.”
A. There are less apples on the tree this year.
B. There are fewer apples on the tree this year.
C. There are lesser apples on the tree this year.
D. There are few apples on the tree this year.
Answer: B. There are fewer apples on the tree this year.
Explanation: “Fewer” is used with countable nouns like “apples.”
