Posts Tagged ‘neither’

Correct the following sentences – Exercise 2

January 12th, 2011 in Common Mistakes

Correct the following sentences.

Incorrect: Every people know this.
Correct: Every man knows this.
Correct: Everybody / everyone knows this.

Every should be followed by a singular verb. Note that everyone should be written as one word.

Incorrect: These all mangoes are ripe.
Correct: All these mangoes are ripe. These mangoes are all ripe. All of these mangoes are ripe.

All is a group B determiner while these is a group A determiner. A group B determiner cannot be used after a group A determiner. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. The group B determiners many, most, little, least and few can be used after group A determiners. To learn more, refer to the article on determiners.

Incorrect: He held the bag in the both hands.
Correct: He held the bag in both his hands. OR He held the bag in both hands.

The cannot be used before both.

Incorrect: I have no any friends.
Correct: I have no friends. OR I haven’t got any friends. OR I don’t have any friends.

No is enough to make a sentence negative. We don’t have to use any with no.

Incorrect: Both men have not come.
Correct: Neither man has come.

Incorrect: Both answers are not correct.
Correct: Neither answer is correct.

We do not usually use both in negative sentences. Instead we use neither. Note that neither is followed by a singular noun.