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CONFUSING GRAMMAR
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| 1. Don't confuse subject verb agreement with nearby nouns. | X The list of items are long. s/ The list of items is long. |
| 2. Collective nouns take singular verbs unless emphasis is on members. | The team is winning. / The team are arguing among themselves. |
| 3. "Each," "Everyone," "Everybody," "Anyone," "Someone" = singular verbs. | Each of them is ready. |
| 4. Use "a number of" + plural verb; "the number of" + singular verb. | A number of students are absent. / The number of students is low. |
| 5. Avoid double negatives. | X I don't need no help. I don't need any help. |
| 6. Use "fewer" with countable, "less" with uncountable nouns. | Fewer people / Less water |
| 7. "Much" is uncountable; "many" is countable. | Much time / Many books |
| 8. Don't use "more better" or "most best." | ../ Better/ Best |
| 9. Avoid using "double comparatives." | X More happier/ More kinder v/ Happier/ Kinder |
| 10. "Between" is for two; "Among" is for three or more. | Between two friends / Among classmates |
| 11. "Different from" is correct, not "different than." | This book is different from that one. |
| 12. "Prefer" doesn't take "than." Use "to." | I prefer tea to coffee. |
| 13. "Compare with" = similarities; "Compare to" show resemblance. | Compare this car with that one. / He compared her to an angel. |
| 14. Avoid unnecessary prepositions. | X Where are you at? * s/ Where are you? |
| 15. "Despite" is not followed by "of." | X Despite of the rain Despite the rain |
| 16. "Until" and "Unless" are not the same. | Wait until I come. / Unless you try, you won't win. |
| 17. Don't use "though" and "but" together. | X Though he tried, but he failed. * v/ Though he tried, he failed. |
| 18. "Because" and "so" shouldn't appear together. | X Because it rained, so we stayed home. * ../ Because it rained, we stayed home. |
| 19. "If" and "whether" aren't always interchangeable. | I don't know whether he's coming (choice). / If he comes, call me (condition). |
| 20. "Each other" for two; "one another" for more than two. | The couple love each other. / The friends help one another. |
| 21. Don't confuse "since" (point in time) with "for" (duration). | Since 2020 / For two years |
| 22. "Who" = subject; "Whom" = object. | Who called you? / Whom did you call? |
| 23. "Who's" = who is; "Whose" = possession. | Who's there? / Whose book is this? |
| 24. "It's" = it is; "Its" = belonging to it. | It's cold outside. / The dog wagged its tail. |
| 25. Don't confuse "your" (possessive) and "you're" (you are). | Your car / You're amazing |
| 26. "Their" (possession), "They're" (they are), "There" (place). | Their house / They're friends / over there |
| 27. "Lay" (put down something) vs. "Lie" (rest). | Lay the book down. / Lie down and rest. |
| 28. "Raise" (lift something) vs. "Rise" (go up by itself). | Raise your hand. / The sun rises. |
| 29. "Sit" (self) vs. "Set" (object). | Sit on the chair. / Set the glass down. |
| 30. "Bring" (toward speaker) vs. "Take" (away). | Bring your notes here. / Take them to class. |
| 31. Avoid "being" unnecessarily after linking verbs. | X She is being beautiful. * v/ She is beautiful. |
| 32. Don't use "double subjects." | X My brother he is tall. My brother is tall. |
| 33. Avoid "double conjunctions." | X Both Riya and also Tina came. Both Riya and Tina came. |
| 34. "Scarcely," "Hardly," "No sooner" need inversion. | Scarcely had I reached when it rained. |
| 35. "One of the" must be followed by a plural noun. | One of the best students. |
| 36. "Each of," "Either of," "Neither of" take singular verbs. | Each of them has arrived. |
| 37. "None of" can take singular or plural verbs. | None of the information is correct. / None of the students are absent. |
| 38. Don't confuse "less" and "fewer." | Less sugar / Fewer cars |
| 39. Avoid redundant words (wordy pairs). | X Free gift / true fact / end result |
| 40. "Every" and "Each" are followed by singular nouns. | Every student / Each teacher |
| 41. "Either" means one of two; "Neither" means none of two. | Either option works. / Neither answer is right. |
| 42. Avoid "double auxiliaries." | X Do you can help? v/ Can you help? |
| 43. "Used to" vs. "Be used to." | I used to play cricket (past habit). / I am used to playing (accustomed). |
| 44. "Supposed to" (obligation) vs. "Suppose to" (incorrect). | You're supposed to finish by 5. |
| 45. Don't say "more than enough of." | Enough alone is sufficient. |
| 46. "Each" and "Every" are not used with plural nouns. | X Each students ../ Each student |
| 47. "Who" and "That" refer to people; "Which" refers to things. | The man who called / The car which stopped |
| 48. Don't mix tenses unnecessarily in a sentence. | X He was tired and goes home. He was tired and went home. |
| 49. "One of those who" is followed by plural verb. | He is one of those who work hard. |
| 50. Mastering these traps makes your English accurate, confident, and exam-ready. | Smart grammar = no confusion. |