Overview
This lecture reviewed common sentence errors that appear in entrance and government exams, focusing on grammar, punctuation, subject-verb agreement, pronoun use, and sentence structure.
Sentence Structure and Punctuation
- Use a comma, not a semicolon, to connect an independent clause and a dependent clause.
- An independent clause has a subject, verb, and complete thought; it can stand alone as a sentence.
- A dependent clause leaves confusion or questions; it cannot stand alone.
Subject-Verb Agreement
- The verb must agree in number with the subject (singular subject → singular verb; plural subject → plural verb).
- Phrases like "of books" are additional information and do not affect the number of the core subject (e.g., "The shelf of books is already full").
Correct Verb Forms and Tenses
- Use "doesn't" (not "don't") with third-person singular subjects like "he," "she," and "it."
- Use the past participle (e.g., "have gone," not "have went") after auxiliaries like "has," "have," and "had."
- Use "could have" to express a missed opportunity or possibility in the past.
Pronoun and Comparative Use
- Use "better" (not "good") when making comparisons between two people or things.
- Use "that" (not "who") to refer to things; "who" is for people.
Sentence Connection and Clarity
- Use a semicolon to connect two closely related independent clauses if there is no coordinating conjunction.
- Use "and" (with a comma if needed) to join independent clauses for a clear, coherent sentence.
- Lists should follow a colon after a complete clause, not a semicolon.
Identifying and Avoiding Errors
- Ensure correct verb tense for describing past actions (e.g., "I saw that movie last week," not "I seen").
- Confirm proper punctuation to clarify cause-and-effect or connected ideas.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Independent Clause — a group of words with a subject and verb expressing a complete thought.
- Dependent Clause — a group of words with a subject and verb not expressing a complete thought.
- Subject-Verb Agreement — the requirement that subjects and verbs match in number.
- Past Participle — verb form used after "has/have/had" (e.g., "gone," not "went").
- Comparative Form — the form of an adjective/adverb used to compare two entities (e.g., "better" for "good").
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review sentence error examples and correct forms.
- Practice identifying sentence errors in sample questions.
- Study definitions of key grammar terms for upcoming exams.