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Some sentences below are not correct. Identify the mistake and write the correct
form of verb in the space provided. Put a “√” if no mistake is found.
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While technological advancement have greatly widened the
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communication channels around the globe, dissipating national, political
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and economic boundaries, it do not necessarily bring people closer. With
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more communication pathways, communication between people do not
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appear to be more effective. For one, face-to-face interactions shrinks –
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youngsters prefers browsing through the Internet and playing online
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games than socializing with others. For the other, the popularity of the
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virtual world make deception and fraud easier. Any ordinary person can
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assume several identities, not to mention those professional fraudsters
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who creates multiple identities, just to reap profits through
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deception. Such is the unintentional fruit of technological advancement.
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English for Academic Studies (Workshop) Session 2: Common ESL Errors I
Semester 1, 2009/10 ©PolyU HKCC
COMPOUND SUBJECT (1). Plural verbs are needed where two subjects are
conjoined by And. For example, meanness and selfishness are qualities that
repel most people.
VERBAL NOUNS AND NOUN CLAUSES. Verbal nouns (i.e., gerunds and gerund
phrases, infinitives and infinitive phrases) and noun clauses used as subjects
always take a singular verb. For example, that Gillian won a scholarship to
study in Japan is an opportunity envied by others.
PLURAL FORM NOUNS. Some nouns are plural only in form; they take a
singular verb. Examples include economics, mathematics, means, measles,
mumps, news, physics, AIDS etc.
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English for Academic Studies (Workshop) Session 2: Common ESL Errors I
Semester 1, 2009/10 ©PolyU HKCC
Exercise C1
Identify and underline the subjects and the main verbs in the following sentences.
Exercise C2
The following paragraphs contain subject-verb agreement errors.
(1) Read through the paragraphs.
(2) Underline only the subjects related to the mistakes found.
(3) Correct the errors found, if any. Some sentences are error-free.
PARAGRAPH 1
(1) Living in this costly and highly competitive society, most Hong Kong people focus
on financial security and social successes. (2) Having a lot of children are not only
financially infeasible but also in many ways psychologically taxing. (3) Phenomena
like mothers of kindergarten kids sharing information about recruiting so-and-so tutors
so as to assist their children to enter some famous primary schools is not unfamiliar to
most. (4) When their kids becomes old enough to learn musical instruments or sports,
some parents start learning music and/or sports as well, just to accompany their beloved
sons and/or daughters to pursue their “hobbies”. (5) When I encounter situations like
these, I cannot but wonder what are the real purpose of bringing forth children. (6)
Are having children a blessing still? (7) Or bearing and rearing children at this society
has become a curse in disguise.
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English for Academic Studies (Workshop) Session 2: Common ESL Errors I
Semester 1, 2009/10 ©PolyU HKCC
PARAGRAPH 2
PARAGRAPH 3
(1) Over the recent years, people have started to notice an awful increase in teenage
violence. (2) There are also a wide concern that the media may have misled teenagers
to resort to violence. (3) It is claimed that movies like Infernal Affairs and video
games like Resident Evil has promoted the idea of violence among teenagers. (4)
However, another group maintain that the teenagers are able to have their own judgment
on the issue. (5) There are probably truths in both arguments but I think the media
influences on teenagers is profound, and the media should not give teenagers a wrong
message of violence.