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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Rules to help answer English Usage and Syntax
Hello! I am in a bit of a pickle. I am trying to get a position to teach English abroad in S. Korea but I need to pass an interview first before getting accepted into a school. As part of the interview I am presented 12 questions concerning usage and syntax. Being a native English speaker I can sound out in my head what sounds correct and what does not. However, I am finding a hard time explaining WHY I chose that answer. I want to see if any masters of the English language can help me out...
Here are the questions (I will underline the mistake in the sentence):
1. Seldom does the flight depart on time, despite constant complains by the passengers.
2. As it turned out, the police did not have enough evidences to build a solid case against the man, but he confessed anyway.
3. Carrie ought to have beaten Jasmine in that race; she's been practiced harder and been more conscious of her diet.
4. Audrey is the person whose going to be taking care of all catering arrangements for this Thursday's get-together.
5. Joy is an avid reader and can conversate for hours on a wide variety of topics.
6. If I had known you wanted to go to the mall, you could have went with Tina and Bobbi.
7. The lecturer was covering some key information at to fast a pace for me to take adequate notes.
8. Just follow the simplistic instructions on page one of the manual and your new computer will be ready to go!
9. Throughout today's seminar, I'll be talking about ways you can maximize your efficiency in your business and work less hours -No error
10. Once you are done using the equipment, please return it to it's proper place -No error
11. Try as he might, the safecracker, who had had so many successes in the past, oculd not get in this particular safe.
12. Although she works patiently and creatively, Joyce never gets frustrated by minor setbacks.
If you can help me define the rule for each correction it would be greatly appreciative!
Here are the questions (I will underline the mistake in the sentence):
1. Seldom does the flight depart on time, despite constant complains by the passengers.
2. As it turned out, the police did not have enough evidences to build a solid case against the man, but he confessed anyway.
3. Carrie ought to have beaten Jasmine in that race; she's been practiced harder and been more conscious of her diet.
4. Audrey is the person whose going to be taking care of all catering arrangements for this Thursday's get-together.
5. Joy is an avid reader and can conversate for hours on a wide variety of topics.
6. If I had known you wanted to go to the mall, you could have went with Tina and Bobbi.
7. The lecturer was covering some key information at to fast a pace for me to take adequate notes.
8. Just follow the simplistic instructions on page one of the manual and your new computer will be ready to go!
9. Throughout today's seminar, I'll be talking about ways you can maximize your efficiency in your business and work less hours -No error
10. Once you are done using the equipment, please return it to it's proper place -No error
11. Try as he might, the safecracker, who had had so many successes in the past, oculd not get in this particular safe.
12. Although she works patiently and creatively, Joyce never gets frustrated by minor setbacks.
If you can help me define the rule for each correction it would be greatly appreciative!
Top answer
1. Seldom does the flight depart on time, despite constant complains by the passengers. Complain is a verb.
- 1.
- Seldom does the flight depart on time, despite constant complains by the passengers.
- Complain is a verb.
- The noun is complaint.
- " 2.
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4 Answers
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1. Seldom does the flight depart on time, despite constant complains by the passengers. Complain is a verb. The noun is complaint. A noun needs to be the object of the preposition "despite."
2. As it turned out, the police did not have enough evidences to build a solid case against the man, bu
2. As it turned out, the police did not have enough evidences to build a solid case against the man, bu
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Hello and thank you for your response!
Indeed I do plan to get myself reacquainted with my grammar.
For the last two questions I wish to clarify them to you and then tell you why I chose the answers that I did.
11. Try as he might, the safecracker, who had had so many successes in the past, could not get in this particular safe.
12.
Indeed I do plan to get myself reacquainted with my grammar.
For the last two questions I wish to clarify them to you and then tell you why I chose the answers that I did.
11. Try as he might, the safecracker, who had had so many successes in the past, could not get in this particular safe.
12.
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Hi;
Had had is the past perfect of "have." It is not required for the sentence, and simple past will do fine.
Here is the present perfect: (It is commonly used)
Have you had a good time today?
Yes I've had a great time!
Have you had any success in fixing the computer?
I've not had any succe
Had had is the past perfect of "have." It is not required for the sentence, and simple past will do fine.
Here is the present perfect: (It is commonly used)
Have you had a good time today?
Yes I've had a great time!
Have you had any success in fixing the computer?
I've not had any succe
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