‘Could I have a look at your papers?’

December 12, 2022 / 12:11 AM IST

VOCABULARY PRACTICEWith ERRORS

Common errors in the use of articlesl

Incorrect: We live in village.
Correct: We live in a village. OR We live in the village.
Incorrect: She works in pub.
Correct: She works in a pub. OR She works in the pub.
A singular common noun (e.g. boy, girl, tree, country, teacher, village etc.) must have an article. A plural common noun can be used with or without an article.
Incorrect: He is best player in the team.
Correct: He is the best player in the team.
Incorrect: She is fastest runner.
Correct: She is the fastest runner.
The definite article the must be used with superlative adjectives.
Incorrect: The Paris is big city.
Correct: Paris is a big city.
Incorrect: I live in the Mumbai.
Correct: I live in Mumbai.
If the noun is proper it will take no article. Note that a proper noun is the name of a particular person, place or thing. Examples are: Sam, Mary, India, Paris, London etc.
Incorrect: The iron is a useful metal.
Correct: Iron is a useful metal.
Incorrect: The gold is yellow.
Correct: Gold is yellow.
Articles are not used with material nouns. Examples are: gold, silver, iron, wheat, rice etc.
Incorrect: We should not make noise.
Correct: We should not make a noise.
Incorrect: I have an urgent business.
Correct: I have urgent business. OR I have some urgent business.

Note these fixed expressions.

Incorrect: Do you sell eggs by kilo or by dozen?
Correct: Do you sell eggs by the kilo or by the dozen?
The is used in measuring expressions beginning with by.
Correct the following sentences.
Incorrect: Every people know this.
Correct: Every man knows this.
Correct: Everybody / everyone knows this.
Every should be followed by a singular verb. Note that everyone should be written as one word.
Incorrect: These all mangoes are ripe.
Correct: All these mangoes are ripe. These mangoes are all ripe. All of these mangoes are ripe.
All is a group B determiner while these is a group A deter miner. A group B determiner cannot be used after a group A determiner. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. The group B determiners many, most, little, least and few can be used after group A determiners. To learn more, refer to the article on determiners.
Incorrect: He held the bag in the both hands.
Correct: He held the bag in both his hands. OR He held the bag in both hands.
The cannot be used before both.
Incorrect: I have no any friends.
Correct: I have no friends. OR I haven’t got any friends. OR I don’t have any friends.
No is enough to make a sentence negative. We don’t have to use any with no.
Incorrect: Both men have not come.
Correct: Neither man has come.
Incorrect: Both answers are not correct.
Correct: Neither answer is correct.
We do not usually use both in negative sentences. Instead we use neither. Note that neither is followed by a singular noun.

Do and Make Differences

The general purpose do has several uses. It is sometimes confused with the verb make. These words have similar meanings, but there are also a few differences.

Uses of do

Do is commonly used with the words thing, something, nothing, anything, everything etc.
He did something strange.
I like doing nothing.
He did nothing.
We use do when we talk about work and jobs.
Would you like to do this job?
I don’t like to do any work.

Uses of make

Make is used in the following fixed expressions:

Can and Could: Differences

Make war
Make a bed
Both can and could are modal auxiliary verbs. Can is used to talk about present or general ability. Could is used to talk about ability that existed in the past.

Compare:

She can knit.
He can speak ten languages.
She could write when she was three.
Note that we use will be able to and not can to talk about future ability.
You will be able to speak good English in a few months.
One day scientists will be able to find a cure for cancer.
In reported speech
Could is the past tense form of can in reported speech.
‘Can you help me,’ she said to him. (Direct speech)
She asked him if he could help her. (Indirect speech) Possibility
Can is used to talk about theoretical possibility.
Glass can be blown.
Accidents can happen any time.
We use may, might or could to talk about the chances that something will actually happen.
It could rain this evening.
We may/might go camping this summer.
Can is used in questions and negatives to talk about the logical possibility that something is true.
‘There is the doorbell.’ ‘Who can it be?’ ‘Well, it can’t be the postman.’
Note that can is not normally used in affirmative sentences with this meaning. Instead we use may, might or could.
‘Where is John?’ ‘He could/may /might be at the library.’ (NOT He can be at the library.)

Permission

Can is used to ask for and give permission. Can’t is used to refuse permission.
‘Can I have a look at your papers?’ ‘Yes, of course, you can.’
‘Can I have another cup of coffee?’ ‘No, I am afraid, you can’t.’
Common Errors in the Use of Prepositions
Could is also used to ask for permission. Note that could is more polite than can.
‘Could I have a look at your papers?’
Incorrect: He loves with me.
Correct: He loves me.
Incorrect: We discussed about the matter.
Correct: We discussed the matter.
Incorrect: We reached at the airport at 9 pm.
Correct: We reached the airport at 9 pm.
Incorrect: I have ordered for his dismissal.
Correct: I have ordered his dismissal.
Incorrect: He married with his friend’s sister.
Correct: He married his friend’s sister.
Incorrect: She entered into the room.
Correct: She entered the room.
Incorrect: The child resembles to its mother.
Correct: The child resembles its mother.
Incorrect: He is intelligence, but he lacks of experience.
Correct: He is intelligence but he lacks experience

Explanation

Verbs such as enter, resemble, lack, discuss, marry, reach, order and approach are normally followed by direct objects without prepositions.
Incorrect: What is the time in your watch?
Correct: What is the time by your watch?
Incorrect: We traveled in train.
Correct: We traveled by train.

Explanation

We write by train/ car/bike/ boat/plane/land/sea/air etc. But note that by is not used if there is an article. For example, we write in the car, on a bus, and not by the car or by a bus.
Incorrect: He is angry upon me.
Correct: He is angry with me.
Incorrect: I am pleased at you.
Correct: I am pleased with you.
Incorrect: He was trembling in rage.
Correct: He was trembling with rage.

Explanation

We use with in a number of expressions which say how people express their feelings and sensations. Common examples are: white with fear/rage, red with anger/embarrassment, green with envy, blue with cold etc.
Incorrect: Who is in the phone? It is John.
Correct: Who is on the phone? It is John.
Incorrect: There was an interesting show at TV.
Correct: There was an interesting show on TV.

Explanation