R&W 11: SENTENCE ERROR IDENTIFICATION PART 1

​We need to use the subjunctive in this example. The subjunctive form in this example is the infinitive without “to” (go, eat, do, run, etc.).

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Common expressions followed by the subjunctive:

recommend that

insist that

demand that

request that

asked that

suggest that

Some verbs can be followed by the indirect object and then the direct object. For example, we can say I gave John the book. John is the indirect object and book is the direct object. However, not all verbs follow this pattern. Recommend, explain, and describe are three common verbs that take the following form:recommend/explain/describe + what + to whom

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​Could you describe the problem to our IT manager?Could you describe our IT manager the problem?

To talk about a hypothetical past, we can use would/might/could + have + participle. We do not use should to talk about a hypothetical past. We use should to criticize past actions or express regret.

We can use the verb stop with both the gerund and the infinitive. When we use stop with the gerund, it means that someone was doing something and then stopped. When we use stop with the infinitive, it means that someone stopped an action in order to start doing something else.

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​Kevin stopped working at 6 p.m. last night.

Kevin stopped to work at 6 p.m. last night.

Regret is normally used with the gerund. However, to communicate bad news (usually in writing) we use regret + infinitive. For more verbs that can be used with both the infinitive and the gerund.

Broadcast is an irregular verbs. It doesn’t change in the simple past and participle form, just like the verbs let, bet, set, put, cut, and shut.

In behalf, they argue, is used when the meaning is in the interest of someone else, but on behalf is used when speaking for someone.

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For example, a medical decision would be made in behalf of the patient, and you would speak on behalf of your family.

The subjunctive form in this example is the infinitive without “to” (go, eat, do, run, etc.).

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​advise, ask, command, demand, desire, insist, order, prefer, propose, recommend, request, suggest

We need to use among here because we are talking about more than two things that are not distinct items.

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​Note that amongst would also be correct, but it is not as commonly used as among.

Although using less before count nouns (cars, people, resources, etc.) is becoming more acceptable, the rule is that we use fewer before count nouns and less before non-count nouns (time, patience, determination, etc.).

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​Examples:We have fewer candidates for this position than we expected.

We have less candidates for this position than we expected.

Carl has less stress now that he has started working out after work.

Carl has fewer stress now that he has started working out after work.

We say been to, not been in to communicate places that we have visited (countries, cities, towns, restaurants, stores, etc.). Note that If we are talking about a specific room, we would use in.

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Example:

Have you been to Italy?

Have you been in Italy?

We use subject-verb inversion when we start a sentence with a negative adverb (never, hardly, seldom, etc.).