LanguageTeach

San Jose City College

Page: 1 2 [ 3 ] 4 5 6

Word choice errors include use of wrong words | wrong verb, auxiliary verb, verb particle, preposition, or relative pronoun | nonspecific or imprecise words | empty phrases, unnecessary repetition, and wordiness | cliches, slang, and informal word use.

	Part II: These sentences were written by ESL writers and demonstrate errors in using the wrong verb, auxiliary verb, verb particle, preposition, or relative pronoun. Note the incorrect words and phrases in red and then click the teacher icon for instruction.
1.	Her struggle for being a thin woman put her life in risk.	There are two errors in this sentence: 1. After a noun, an infinitive complement is often used. The preposition for is incorrect here. 2. The idiom is to put one's life at risk. Click for revision. Her struggle to be a thin woman put her life at risk.
2.	I think that no husband would approved that to send almost all my money to my family	(Type your answers in the blanks and hit enter. If incorrect, type a question mark and hit enter. In this context, approve is a phrasal verb. It is followed by the particle . The verb approve of must be followed by... a gerund an infinitive The revision would be: I think that no husband would approve almost all my money to my family.
3.	My coworkers are very concerned in their functions of their job.	What is the particle that goes with this verb? to be concerned Click the highlighted text for a for a revision: My co-workers are very concerned about their functions of their jobtheir job duties
4.	I found out that my brother was causing serious problems to my mother.	The idiom is to cause problems for someone. Her brother was causing problems their mother.
5.	Your outlook depends with the color of the crystal that you see.	One thing depends another.
6.	When I was a physician in my origin native country, someday one day I had to choose between taking care of my patients or giving a formal case presentation in front to my colleagues in a scientific meeting. *(Click highlighted text for better words.)*	Click the incorrect words highlighted in blue. It would be even better for the writer to name his country. We present in front a group. He presented a case to a group of colleagues a scientific meeting.
7.	My cousin insisted to go to Australia to study because after graduating from a university in China it's hard to find a job.	The verb particle is to insist . It is followed by a rather than an infinitive. Click for revision. My cousin insisted on going to Australia to study because it is difficult for many graduates of Chinese universities to find a job.
8.	I had time to spend with my friends, and I really took care about them.	The three-word-verb phrase is to take care someone or something. Type a question mark in the frame and hit enter if you don't know!
9.	A person which obsession is competing with others ends alone and without friends.	Write the possessive relative pronoun? What verb particle is needed for the two-word verb? Such a person ends alone. Remember to type a ? and hit enter if your answers are incorrect (red).
10.	Many people told me that I gave up my best opportunity of making money.	What kind of a complement modifies a noun? infinitive gerund The writer gave up an opportunity money.
11.	My brother went into jail and went through horrible experiences. I have learned that we obtain of life what we deserve.	The idiom is to go jail. The common expression is that we get life what we deserve. or we get life what we deserve.
12.	My parents didn't have medical insurance and my father, that had diabetes, needed special care. I insured them through my work and became the one that was responsible at the household.	Can the relative pronoun that ever be used in a nonrestrictive clause? yes no The correct relative pronoun would be in the nonrestrictive clause. The writer became responsible the family.
13.	Most parents admired that it was very uncomfortable when they had to drive their children to that center, but they had no choice because they were not enough skills or knowledge to help their children do homework at home.	Click the highlighted text to see corrections: Most parents ~~admired that it was very uncomfortable~~ felt uncomfortable when they had to drive their children to that center, but they had no choice because they ~~were not~~did not have enough skills or knowledge to help their children do homework at home. Is the predicate were not enough skills correct? yes no Fill in the negative past form. Use a contraction. They either had or enough skills.
14.	My dad was in a traffic accident when I was ten years old. He dropped down from his motorcycle, and his head hit on the ground.	A person a motorcycle. (Type a question mark and hit enter to see the correct verb phrase.) The idiomatic word order is to hit one's head on something. Click the book for revision. He fell off his motorcycle and hit his head on the ground.
15.	My boyfriend and my sisters help me to feel that I have more energy that I am.	Careless errors can jar a reader. What word goes with the comparative form MORE? THAT THAN What auxiliary verb goes with the verb have (...have more energy that I actually....)? do am Fill in the correct words. My boyfriend and my sisters help me feel that I have more energy I actually .

	*Type a correct preposition, verb particle, or relative pronoun. Hit enter. If incorrect (red), type a question mark in the frame and hit enter. Need a dictionary? [Open][Close]*
1.	For the last few years, the North Korean government has been suspected trying to develop a nuclear weapon.
2.	October 2006, North Korea set its first nuclear bomb.
3.	This act was violation a 20005 six-party agreement which North Korea promised to give its nuclear arms program return aid.
4.	November 2005, talks the two Koreas, Japan, the United States, China, and Russia were held again to try to implement that deal.
5.	the North Korean test, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a resolution imposes trade and weapons sanctions North Korea.
6.	The nations involved the negotiations cannot agree how to carry the sanctions.
7.	Japan, has had a pacifist constitution World War II, is considering how they can take part such sanctions and stay the scope of its constitution.
8.	The U.S. is confident that Japan will figure a meaningful way to participate such inspections.
8.	The sanctions North Korea bar trade materials to make nuclear weapons, heavy conventional weapons, and luxury goods.
9.	The U.N. resolution also asks nations to freeze funds connected North Korea's nonconventional arms programs.
10.	The Chinese, share a 870-mile border North Korea, have no intention stopping and inspecting cross-border shipments called for the resolution.
11.	North Korea is very familiar poverty. It will need some support countries China in order to survive.
12.	The U.S. has pledged that it will not interdict North Korean ships sea or engage military action.
13.	If countries cooperate and freeze North Korea's financial assets, its leaders, who are often accused human rights abuses, will be unable to continue their extravagant lifestyle while poor citizens starve death.
14.	With the imposition sanctions, North Koreans, 10 percent of population died a famine the 1990s, will suffer even worse hardship.
15.	North Korea has accused the Security Council gangsterism and warned the U.S. that any pressure the North Korean government would be regarded an act war.

Next