Verb Errors - Part 3/4

This section of our course will review those errors most commonly presented in the CPE and teach you what to look for. We will not review here the basic rules of grammar, such as the formation and use of the different tenses and the passive voice, the subjective and objective cases of pronouns, the position of adjectives and adverbs, and the like. We assume that a candidate for the CPE is familiar with basic grammar, and we will concentrate on error recognition based on that knowledge.

6. Errors in negative imperatives

Note the two forms for negative imperatives:

a. Please don't do that.
b. Would you please not do that.

INCORRECT

Would you please don't smoke here.

CORRECT

Please don't smoke here.

or

CORRECT

Would you please not smoke here.

7. Errors in affirmative and negative agreement of verbs

Note the two correct forms for affirmative agreement:

a. I am an American and so is she.
b. I am an American and she is too.

a. Mary likes Bach and so does John.
b. Mary likes Bach and John does too.

a. My father will be there and so will my mother.
b. My father will be there and my mother will too.

INCORRECT

I have seen the film and she also has.

CORRECT

I have seen the film and so has she.

or

CORRECT

I have seen the film and she has too.

Note the two correct forms for negative agreement:

a. I'm not American and he isn't either.
b. I'm not American and neither is he.

a. Mary doesn't like Bach and John doesn't either.
b. Mary doesn't like Bach and neither does John.

a. My father won't be there and my mother won't either.
b. My father won't be there and neither will my mother.

INCORRECT

I haven't seen the film and she hasn't neither.

CORRECT

I haven't seen the film and she hasn't either.

or

CORRECT

I haven't seen the film and neither has she.

8. Errors of infinitives/gerunds in the complement of verbs

Some verbs may be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund:

I love swimming at night.
I love to swim at night.

Other verbs, however, may require either one or the other for idiomatic reasons. Following is a list of the more commonly used verbs in this category:

Verbs requiring an INFINITIVE:

Verbs requiring a GERUND:

Phrases requiring a GERUND:

INCORRECT

I intend learning French next semester.

CORRECT

I intend to learn French next semester.

INCORRECT

I have stopped to smoke.

CORRECT

I have stopped smoking.

INCORRECT

We are looking forward to see you.

CORRECT

We are looking forward to seeing you.