Let’s correct the sentences below (with answers under the image). These are 10 grammatically incorrect sentences. Can you find the grammar mistakes? Ask yourself “what is wrong with this sentence?” and then scroll down to see if you corrected it successfully.
Find and correct the grammar mistakes:
- We cleaned all the kitchen while our parents were out to dinner.
- If I’m stressed out about something, I tend to have problem to fall asleep.
- One of the most important issue is the lack of parking spaces at the local mall.
- If you don’t mind, I’d prefer leave early tomorrow.
- Do you have a few minutes to discuss about this project?
- The survey we performed recently showed that most of customers are satisfied.
- Although I’ve known him for a while, I still can’t believe how much stubborn he is.
- This is a very simple procedure; it will take less of ten minutes.
- I’ve loved classical music ever since I was child.
- Would you like to take part of this activity?
Here are the English grammar mistakes:
Incorrect: We cleaned all the kitchen while our parents were out to dinner.
Correct: We cleaned the whole/entire kitchen while our parents were out to dinner.
We use all for plural nouns (all the students) and for uncountable nouns (all the furniture), but not for singular nouns. When you want to talk about 100% of one thing, use the whole or the entire.
Incorrect: If I’m stressed out about something, I tend to have problem to fall asleep.
Correct: If I’m stressed out about something, I tend to have trouble / a hard time falling asleep.
This is just a more natural way to express this sentence. We don’t usually use the TO form of a verb after “problem.” If you want to talk about the difficult action, use “trouble” or “a hard time” and then the -ING form of the verb.
Incorrect: One of the most important issue is the lack of parking spaces at the local mall.
Correct: One of the most important issues is the lack of parking spaces at the local mall.
Whenever you use the expression “One of…”, the noun must be plural but the verb must be singular. For example, “One of my friends is sick.” “One of these eggs was rotten.”
Incorrect: If you don’t mind, I’d prefer leave early tomorrow.
Correct: If you don’t mind, I’d prefer to leave / leaving early tomorrow.
Correct: If you don’t mind, I’d rather leave early tomorrow.
After prefer, use TO + VERB or the -ING form. After rather, you can use the base form.
Incorrect: Do you have a few minutes to discuss about this project?
Correct: Do you have a few minutes to discuss this project?
Correct: Do you have a few minutes to talk about this project?
Discuss is the same as talk about. Therefore, it is not necessary to use “about” after “discuss.”
Incorrect: The survey we performed recently showed that most of customers are satisfied.
Correct: The survey we performed recently showed that most of the customers are satisfied.
Correct: The survey we performed recently showed that most of our customers are satisfied.
Correct: The survey we performed recently showed that most customers are satisfied.
After most of, you need to have an article like “the” or a possessive like “my/his/our/their/etc.” However, if you use only most, then you don’t need anything and you can go straight to the noun: most people, most houses, etc.
Incorrect: Although I’ve known him for a while, I still can’t believe how much stubborn he is.
Correct: Although I’ve known him for a while, I still can’t believe how stubborn he is.
Before adjectives like “stubborn,” use only how – for example, how friendly, how cold, how expensive. We use how much / how many with nouns – how much money, how many friends, how much snow.
Incorrect: This is a very simple procedure; it will take less of ten minutes.
Correct: This is a very simple procedure; it will take less than ten minutes.
When comparing two things, we use the word than. For example, the city is bigger than the town. A bike is less expensive than a car.
Incorrect: I’ve loved classical music ever since I was child.
Correct: I’ve loved classical music ever since I was a child.
Correct: I’ve loved classical music ever since I was young.
When using an adjective like “young,” you don’t need an article: I was hungry, I’m tired, etc. When using a noun, you need an article: I was a manager, I’m a sports fan, etc.
Incorrect: Would you like to take part of this activity?
Correct: Would you like to take part in this activity?
If you “take part of” something it means you literally remove a piece of it. For example, “He took part of the bread and dipped it in the soup.” “Take part in” means to participate. For example, “I took part in the chess tournament.”
Were you able to find the grammar mistakes? I hope you enjoyed this English sentence correction exercise!
A lot of English learners worry about incorrect grammar when speaking and writing. You can get English sentence correction using a tool like Grammarly – but if you want a real English teacher to correct your sentences, join our Advanced English Grammar Course and choose the option with teacher feedback!
