Misused Words
What is the difference between their, there, and they’re?
Their shows possession, there refers to a place, and they’re is a contraction of "they are."
Choose the correct verb:
"The team (is/are) excited for the game."
The team is excited for the game." (Collective noun = singular verb.)
Identify the error:
"Him and I went to the mall."
"He and I went to the mall."
Which word correctly completes the sentence?
"The dog wagged ____ tail excitedly."
its (not "it's")
Identify the error:
"Neither the teacher nor the students was late."
"Neither the teacher nor the students were late." (Verb agrees with the closer subject.)
Fix the unclear pronoun reference:
"When Sam met Alex, he was excited."
"When Sam met Alex, Sam was excited."
Choose the correct word:
"She was deeply (affected/effected) by the sad news."
Affected (because it means influenced, while "effected" means caused)
Fix the error:
"Each of the players are practicing hard."
Each of the players is practicing hard.
Choose the correct pronoun:
"Everyone should do (his or her/their) best."
"Everyone should do his or her best."
Fix the error:
"I could care less about his opinion."
It should be "I couldn’t care less" because the phrase means "I do not care at all."
What is wrong with this sentence?
"One of the boys play soccer."
"One of the boys plays soccer." (Singular subject = singular verb.)
Identify the error:
"The book belongs to she."
"The book belongs to her."
Identify the error:
"Between you and I, the test was difficult."
"Between you and me" (because "me" is the correct object pronoun).
Choose the correct verb:
"The number of students (has/have) increased this year."
"The number of students has increased this year." ("The number" is singular.)
Fix the agreement error:
"If a student wants to pass, they must study hard."
"If a student wants to pass, he or she must study hard."