Page 81 - DENG201_ENGLISH_II

Unit 4: Functional Grammar: Common Errors

22. The accident took place as the train was 22. The accident took place when the train was Notes
crossing a bridge. crossing a bridge.
Explanation: As means because. On the
other hand, when shows a time.The accident
took place when (means, at a certain time)
the train was crossing a bridge and not
because it was crossing the bridge.
23. May you pass or not, I don’t care. 23. Should you pass or not, I don’t care.
24. Any fast he may run, he cannot catch the 24. How fast he may run, he cannot catch the
train. train.
25. Work hard lest you may not fail. 25. Work hard lest you should fail.
Note: Mark the following two things about
the use of lest.
(a) Lest is always followed by should. It is
never followed by may.
(b) Lest carries a negative sense. Therefore,
not cannot be used with lest.
26. Scarcely he had entered the room, I 26. Scarcely had he entered the room when
recognised him. I recognised him.
27. He is more intelligent but not so hard 27. He is more intelligent than but not so hard
working as his elder brother. working as his elder brother.
28. Unless you do not pay attention to what I 28. Unless you pay attention to what I say, you
say, you will not succeed. will not succeed.
Explanation: Unless carries a negative
sense. So, do not cannot be used with it.
29. The teacher asked John why he was late. 29. The teacher asked John why he was late.
Note: In a reported speech, that cannot be
used before who, whose, whom, when, where,
what, why and how.
30. It is not certain if he will come. 30. It is not certain that he will come.
31. No other country but India has spoken 31. No other country than India has spoken
against the racist regime of South Africa. against the racist regime of South Africa.
32. He behaves as if he is mad. 32. He behaves as if he were mad.
33. I have neither seem him nor his brother. 33. I have seen neither him nor his brother.
34. Lions are both found in Asia and Africa. 34. Lions are found both in Asia and Africa.
35. Do you know that where he lives? 35. Do you know where he lives?
36. He did not speak loudly and clearly. 36. He did not speak loudly or clearly.
Note: If a negative word is used in sentence,
the conjuction or must be used instead of
and. But if clauses having different subjects
are joined, the conjunction and is used.
Mark the following examples:
She did not come, and I did not feel at rest.
37. He either is a fool or a scoundrel. 37. He is either a fool or a scoundrel.
38. My pen is superior and more expensive 38. My pen is superior to and more expensive
than yours. than yours.

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