A review of some

common Grammar mistakes

Prepared by Ms. Armelinda Danao

Exclusively for Grade 12 students of TLMII Candelaria
Sourced from various online grammar websites and dictionaries
 1.
That is one of the reason why
I study more.
 1.
That is one of the reason why
I study more.
 1.
That is one of the reasons why
I study more.
 1.
That is one of the reasons why
I study more.

*** If you are using “one of the”, the noun it is pertaining to is always in PLURAL form.
 2.

My father didn’t allowed me to join the

club.
 2.

My father didn’t allowed me to join the

club.
 2.

My father didn’t allow me to join

the club.
 2.

My father didn’t allow me to join

the club.

*** If you use “did or didn’t”, the verb that follows is always in
PRESENT TENSE. Two consecutive past tense verbs are redundant.
 3.

His nice words made me realized that I’m

good.
 3.

His nice words made me realized that I’m

good.
 3.

His nice words made me realize that I’m

good.
 3.

His nice words made me realize

that I’m good.
*** If you use “made”, the verb that follows is always in PRESENT TENSE. The
same goes with “let”, except for “got”. Two consecutive past tense verbs are redundant.

Other examples: I let them follow their leader.

I got attracted to him.
 3.
Better:

His nice words made me realize

I was good.

*** Use “that” sparingly.

 4.

My grandma told me to changed my

attitude.
 4.

My grandma told me to changed my

attitude.
 4.

My grandma told me to change

my attitude.
 4.

My grandma told me to change

my attitude.
*** All verbs following “TO” is in the PRESENT TENSE, ALWAYS, no
matter what the tense of the whole sentence is.
 5.

I am the kind of person that is shy and

likes to be alone.
 5.

I am the kind of person that is shy and

likes to be alone.
 5.

I am the kind of person who is shy and

likes to be alone.
 5.

I am the kind of person who is shy and

likes to be alone.
*** Always use ‘who” when you refer to a person.
 5.
Better:

I am a shy person and a loner.

Best:

I am shy and a loner.

 6.

My mother enrolled me in a school which they

welcome transferees.
 6.

My mother enrolled me in a school which they

welcome transferees.
 6.

My mother enrolled me in a school where they

welcome transferees.
 6.

My mother enrolled me in a school where they

welcome transferees.

*** Use “where” when you refer to a place or an event like concert, exhibit, fair, or a party.
 7.

After my father went abroad, that’s how I

became sad.
 7.

After my father went abroad, that’s how I

became sad.
 7.

After my father went abroad, that’s when I

became sad.
 7.

After my father went abroad, that’s when I

became sad.

*** Use “when” if you refer to a situation, time,

or a point in time.
 7.
Better:

After my father went abroad, I became sad.

Best:

I became sad after my father went abroad.

 8.

My cousins tell me I am a kind.

 8.

My cousins tell me I am a kind.

 8.

My cousins tell me I am a kind guy.

 8.

My cousins tell me I am a kind guy.

*** When you use determiner articles like a / an / the + adjective it

should always be followed by a noun. Articles always come with a noun (a
book, an egg, the building), even if there is an adjective in between.
 8.
Better:

My cousins tell me I’m a kind guy.

Best:

My cousins say I’m kind.

 9.

When I asked my friends how do they

describe me, they felt awkward.
 9.

When I asked my friends how do they

describe me, they felt awkward.
 9.

When I asked my friends how they describe

me, they felt awkward.
 9.
When I asked my friends how they describe
me, they felt awkward.
*** When you use “how questions” in a sentence, don’t write or say it as a
question. Convert that into a simple straight phrase.

Other examples: I would like to know how he is doing.

vs.
I would like to know how is he doing.

She was checking how we are getting along.

***The same rule applies to the other interrogative words - who, what,
where, when, and why.
 9.
Or:

When I asked my friends, “How do you

describe me?”, they felt awkward.
*** Or make the question a quotation with quotation marks.
 9.
Best:

My friends felt awkward when I asked them

to describe me.
 10.

We were not rich, so my parents went to

work abroad, so they left me with my
grandparents, and so they take good care of
me.
 10.

We were not rich, so my parents went to

work abroad, so they left me with my
grandparents, and so they take good care of
me now.
 10.

We were not rich, thus my parents went to

work abroad, entrusting me to my
grandparents who take good care of me.
 10.

We were not rich, thus my parents went to

work abroad, entrusting me to my
grandparents who take good care of me.

*** To avoid redundancy, use “so”, “and”, “also” sparingly, and connect clauses
by using synonyms.
 10.
Best:

We were not rich, thus my parents went to

work abroad and entrusted me in the care of
my grandparents.
 11.

My uncle says their daughter Jan is smart.

But my aunt thinks I’m smarter than her.
 11.

My uncle says their daughter Jan is smart.

But my aunt thinks I’m smarter than her.
 11.

My uncle says their daughter Jan is smart.

But my aunt thinks I’m smarter than she is.
 11.
My uncle says their daughter Jan is smart. But my aunt
thinks I’m smarter than she is.
*** Objective pronouns (her, him, them, us) are objects of preposition “to”.
That’s why you don’t write or say, “My aunt thinks I am smarter than to her”.

C0mpare using the same kind.

proper noun = proper noun + linking verb (am, is, are)

Example: Mr. John is more handsome than Mr. Harry is.

proper noun = proper noun

Example: Mrs. Gilligan is slimmer than Mrs. Lauren.

proper noun = subjective pronoun (I, you, he/she, it, they, we) + linking verb
Example: Ma’am Ellis, we think Prof. Howard is stricter than you are.

possessive pronoun (our, my, their, your, its) = possessive pronoun

Examples: Our team is way better than their team.
Your bag is more colorful than mine.

verbs = do / does
Example: Carlene speaks softer than Chelsea does.
 12.

Our science teacher allows us to use the lab

up until we finish the project.
 12.

Our science teacher allows us to use the lab

up until we finish the project.
 12.

Our science teacher allows us to use the lab

until we finish the project.
 12.

Our science teacher allows us to use the lab until we

finish the project.

*** Use “up until” sparingly. It is just a fad. Use “till or until” instead.

They are more formal.

 13.

When I was a child, I was very shy. Family

gatherings scared me so much.
 13.

When I was a child, I was very shy. Family

gatherings scared me so much.
 13.

When I was a child, I was timid. Family

gatherings terrified me.
 13.

When I was a child, I was timid. Family

gatherings terrified me.

*** Avoid using “very”, “so much”, and “a lot” often. Use synonyms (visit
thesaurus.com often). REWORD, REWORD, REWORD!
 14.

My parents always scold me, but they don’t know

that I love them dearly.
 14.

My parents always scold me, but they don’t know

that I love them dearly.
 14.

My parents always scold me, yet they don’t know

that I love them dearly.
 14.

My parents always scold me, yet they don’t know

that I love them dearly.

*** Use conjunction “but” to introduce a contrasting fact. Use “yet” if the fact to be introduced
is surprising or unexpected. Yet is also more formal than but.
 14.
Best:

My parents always scold me, yet I love them dearly.

 15.

My brother was able to send me to school

despite of our poor situation.
 15.

My brother was able to send me to school

despite of our poor situation.
 15.

My brother was able to send me to school

despite our poor situation.
 15.

My brother was able to send me to school

despite our poor situation.

*** Use despite, not “despite of”. Despite and “in spite of” have the same
meaning, but “in spite of” is more formal.
 15.
Best:

My brother was able to send me to school in

spite of our poor situation.
 16.

Since becoming an adult, I have outgrew my

love for toy cars.
 16.

Since becoming an adult, I have outgrew my

love for toy cars.
 16.

Since becoming an adult, I have outgrown

my love for toy cars.
 16.

Since becoming an adult, I have outgrown

my love for toy cars.

*** Auxiliary verbs such as has, have, had are used for perfect tenses and are
always followed by “past participle” verbs.
 17.

My Lolo is kinda strict,

though loving.
 17.

My Lolo is kinda strict,

though loving.
 17.

My Lolo is quite strict,

though loving.
 17.

My Lolo is quite strict,

though loving.

*** Avoid using “kinda”, it’s too slang. Instead, use “quite”, “a bit”, and
“slightly”.
 18.

My parents’ proudest moment was seeing me

receiving my diploma on stage.
 18.

My parents’ proudest moment was seeing me

receiving my diploma on stage.
 18.

My parents’ proudest moment was seeing me

receive my diploma on stage.
 18.

My parents’ proudest moment was seeing me

receive my diploma on stage.

*** A present progressive verb (verb + ing)

+ noun/objective pronoun is always followed by a present tense verb, no matter what the
tense of the whole sentence is.

Other examples: She was witnessing her baby smile for the first time.
She was making me feel loved.
 19.

I treasure my friends. Their my sources of

inspiration.
 19.

I treasure my friends. Their my sources of

inspiration.
 19.

I treasure my friends. They’re my sources of

inspiration.
 19.

I treasure my friends. They’re my sources of

inspiration.

*** Homonyms are words that sound the same but differ in spelling and meaning. People
often get confused by this and interchange the words.

Other examples: Its time to do my assignment. (It’s)

Their wasn’t any water in the pail. (There)
I could of eaten it whole but I was full. (could have)
Who’s notebook is that? (Whose)
 20.

They said that I am weak but, I always try my best.

 20.

They said that I am weak but, I always try my best.

 20.

They said that I am weak, but I always try my best.

 This is all for now. More grammar, spelling, and
vocabulary re-learnings in the next sessions.

In the meantime, re-read and study this presentation

thoroughly.

Thank you. God bless our Class!

 20.

They said that I am weak, but I always try my best.

*** Conjunctions “but”, “and”, “or”, and “yet” are used to introduce sentences, words, facts,
phrases, and clauses. Commas (,) are used to separate them. So a comma should be put after a
fact, not after the conjunction.

Other examples: His idea is good, and we like it.

We can bake first, or we can watch TV.