_______________________________________________IELTS Preparation Course: Upper-Intermediate

10 COMMON ERRORS IN WRITING SIMPLE SENTENCES

1. Run-on Sentences (Type 1)

WRONG: There are many people drive to work every day.

RIGHT: …………………………………………………………………………….

2. Fragments

WRONG: In the movie many famous actors and actresses.

RIGHT: …………………………………………. many famous actors and actresses.

3. Run-on Sentences (Type 2)

WRONG: The movie was very long, I nearly fell asleep.

RIGHT: The movie was very long …………………………………………………….

4. Subject – Verb Agreement

WRONG: I have checked the answer and report to my teacher.

RIGHT: I have checked the answer and ……………………………………..

5. Pronoun Agreement

WRONG: We sent you some documents yesterday. Have you read it?

RIGHT: We sent you some documents yesterday. Have you ………………………..?

6. Ambiguity

AMBIGUOUS: He has to pick up a friend this afternoon.Then he will have dinner with us.

BETTER: He has to pick up a friend this afternoon……………………..………………………...

7. Parallelism

WRONG: We would like to thank you for visiting as well as your encouragement

and support.

________________________________________________________________________Vu Hai Ha, 2017

_______________________________________________IELTS Preparation Course: Upper-Intermediate

RIGHT: …………………………………………………………………………….

8. Double Negation

WRONG: Nobody doesn’t want their life to be happy.

RIGHT: ………………………..their life to be happy.

9. Faulty Comparison

WRONG: Of two restaurantsMcDonald and KFC, McDonald has the biggest number

of customers.

RIGHT: Of two restaurantsMcDonald and KFC, McDonald

has.……………………..………………………...

10. Dangling Modifier

WRONG: Not passing any exam, his parents will give him a punishment.

RIGHT: Not passing any exam, ……………………………………………………now.

encouragement.

________________________________________________________________________Vu Hai Ha, 2017

_______________________________________________IELTS Preparation Course: Upper-Intermediate

PRACTICE 1: Common sentence errors

What is the error with these simple sentences? How can you fix them?

Example: Siblings often argue. Because they live together.

 The error is fragment. The correct sentence should be:

Siblings often argue, because they live together.
1. There are many adolescents fly the nest when they are 18.
 The error is ………………………………... The correct sentence should be:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
2. Children should be nurtured by a loving family, a troubled family can lead to
rebellious behaviors.
 The error is ………………………………... The correct sentence should be:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
3. He and his friend has established and maintain a stable relationship for years.
 The error is ………………………………... The correct sentence should be:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
4. Lasting for over 10 years, everyone admires their long-lasting friendship.
 The error is ………………………………... The correct sentence should be:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
5. We don't have nothing in common.
The error is ………………………………... The correct sentence should be:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
6. Mothers often have instincts for problems or when danger happens to their
children.
 The error is ………………………………... The correct sentence should be:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
7. Compared with a father, a mother often accommodates a child's needs best.
That's why divorced moms are often responsible for taking care and the
upbringing of the children until they are adults.
 The error is ………………………………... The correct sentence should be:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
8. A friend and a relative are the most important people in her life. He encourages
her in hardship while he gives her good advice.
 The error is ………………………………... The correct sentence should be:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
9. Adulthood is an important stage of life for many people. In many countries,
they often start when adolescents reach 18 years old.
 The error is ………………………………... The correct sentence should be:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
10. My brother and I are busy, but we get together several times a year. Because
family ties are important for both of us.

________________________________________________________________________Vu Hai Ha, 2017

_______________________________________________IELTS Preparation Course: Upper-Intermediate

 The error is ………………………………... The correct sentence should be:

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

PRACTICE 2: Correct these sentences

Incorrect Correct
11. We are close friends come into
conflicts several times, we make
up to each other quickly after
that. .
12. Although many adults try. They
can't relate to children, they
can't understand their
rebellious behaviours.
13. The relationship between the
two families have broken down,
but they can't stop the couples
from falling in love.
14. In many countries when the
children are 16 and living with
their parents, they are
responsible for the problems
they cause.
15. I agree that maternal leave is
important. Because mothers,
not fathers, are best with
nurturing children. But I don't
think that fathers should not
take paternal leave to help
mothers to take care of his
babies as well.
PRACTICE 3: Correct these sentences

Incorrect Correct
16. Growing up in an extended
family, many family bonds can
be enjoyed by a child .
17. Raised as the only child, it
explains for her bad
temperament and being selfish.
18. A happy childhood and a stable
upbringing is important for
children. Scientists have
established a connection
between bad temperaments of

________________________________________________________________________Vu Hai Ha, 2017

_______________________________________________IELTS Preparation Course: Upper-Intermediate

adults and when his family

relationships break down.
19. Inherited a sense of humour
from her father, many friends
find her humorous by nature.
20. Of the two sisters, she has the
most striking resemblance to
her mother. Sometimes nobody
can't tell her and her mother
apart.

PRACTICE 4: Correct these sentences

Incorrect Correct
21. Parenting are important to
solve sibling rivalry.
22. Motherhood teaches a child to
be kind and caring, fatherhood
shows them how to be strong
and determination.
23. In modern times nowadays,
parents are busy, they have
little time to interact with
children. It's truly rewarding to
spend time keeping a balance
between life and
work. Because it influences
their character development a
lot.
24. The baby was adopted and
bring up by a loving family. She
has established and develop a
close-knit relationships with
her siblings.
25. After breaking up with his wife,
there are crises happen to him.
26. A woman often experiences and
suffer from aging at an earliest
age than a man.

________________________________________________________________________Vu Hai Ha, 2017

_______________________________________________IELTS Preparation Course: Upper-Intermediate

PRACTICE 5: Common sentence errors

Many people want to play dangerous sports. Why do they want to do so?

(1) Có rất nhiều người chọn những môn thể thao nguy hiểm vì nhiều lý do khác nhau. (2)

Thứ nhất vì tính giải trí. (3) Những môn thể thao mạo hiểm mang lại những cảm giác mạnh

(extreme), người chơi sẽ được giải tỏa (release) stress đáng kể (considerably). (4) Thứ hai

những môn thể thao này khiến họ được hoàn thiện bản thân mình (fulfill oneself) và giúp

họ tự tin hơn trong cuộc sống. (5) Một khi vượt qua thử thách, những môn thể thao này

khiến người chơi muốn vươn tới (reach) tầm cao (heights) mới. (6) Thứ ba, sự mới mẻ

(novelty) của thể thao mạo hiểm và khi chúng ta đã chán với những môn thể thao thông

thường là những lý do cũng rất quan trọng. (7) Ví dụ như giữa môn cử tạ và leo núi, môn leo

núi sẽ là môn hấp dẫn nhất với nhiều người. (8) Tất nhiên, đó là môn mạo hiểm, nhưng

không ai lại không muốn thử một lần trong đời.

________________________________________________________________________Vu Hai Ha, 2017