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Verb Errors - Part
4/4 |
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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. |
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9.
Errors in verbs requiring HOW in the complement |
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The verbs know, teach,
learn, and show require the word
HOW before an infinitive in the complement. |
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INCORRECT |
She knows to drive. |
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CORRECT |
She knows
how to drive. |
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INCORRECT |
I will teach you to sew. |
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CORRECT |
I will teach you
how to sew. |
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10.
Errors in tag endings or question tags |
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Check for four things in
tag endings:
a. Does the ending use the same person as the
sentence verb?
b. Does the ending use the same tense as the
sentence verb?
c. If the sentence verb is positive, is the ending
negative?
d. If the sentence verb is negative, is the ending
positive?
It's
nice here,
isn't it?
It isn't
nice here,
is it?
She speaks
French,
doesn't she?
She doesn't
speak French,
does she?
They'll be
here tomorrow,
won't they?
They won't
be here tomorrow,
will they?
EXCEPTIONS:
I'm
right,
aren't I?
We ought
to go,
shouldn't we?
Let's
see, shall
we?
NOTE: If there is a contraction in the sentence
verb, make sure you know what the contraction stands
for: |
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INCORRECT |
She's been there before, isn't she? |
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CORRECT |
She's been
there before, hasn't she? |
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INCORRECT |
You'd rather go yourself, hadn't you? |
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CORRECT |
You'd
rather go yourself, wouldn't you? |
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11.
Errors in idiomatic verb expressions |
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Following are a few commonly used
idiomatic verb expressions. Notice whether they are
followed by a verb word, a participle, an infinitive,
or a gerund. Memorize a sample of each to check
yourself when choosing an answer: |
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a) must have (done) >>
meaning "it is a logical conclusion" |
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They're late. They
must have missed the bus. |
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There's no answer. They
must have gone out. |
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b) had better (do) >>
meaning "it is advisable" |
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It's getting cold. You
had better take your coat. |
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He still has fever. He
had better not go out yet. |
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c) used to (do) >> meaning
"was in the habit of doing in the past" |
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I used to
smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, but I stopped. |
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When I worked on a farm, I
used to get up at 4:30 in
the morning. |
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d) to be used to >>
meaning "to be accustomed to".
to get used to / to become used to >>
meaning "to become accustomed to". |
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The noise doesn't bother me; I'm
used to studying with the
radio on. |
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In America you'll
get used to hearing only
English all day long. |
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e) make someone do >>
meaning "force someone to do"
have someone do >>meaning "cause someone to
do"
let someone do >> meaning "allow someone to
do" |
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My mother
made me take my little sister with me to the movies. |
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The teacher
had us write an essay
instead of taking an exam. |
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The usher didn't
let us come in until the
intermission. |
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f) would rather >> meaning
"would prefer" |
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I would
rather speak to her myself |
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I
would rather not speak to
her myself. |
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But if the preference is for
someone other than the subject to do the
action, you have to use the PAST: |
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I would
rather you spoke
to her. |
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I would
rather you didn't speak
to her. |
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This revision will be continued
in Lesson 18. |
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Pulsa este
ícono
para abrir y
consultar
las
respuestas correctas.
