AS A PHILOSOPHER, A SOCIAL SCIENTIST, AND AN ENGLISH PROFESSOR, I FIND SOME OF THE ERRORS IN ENGLISH THAT NATIVE SPEAKERS MAKE APPALLING. Americans are destroying the English language, and with the influence of other languages, we will most certainly end up not understanding one another. I, for example, do not understand young people at all and find their slang, speech speed, abbreviations, contractions, and expressions completely bewildering.
Reason and Because
The error that bothers me most is: “The reason is because…”The speaker does not realize that “reason” and “because” are the same; essentially, he repeats himself. What bothers me most is the speaker’s argument that “the reason is because” is correct. True Story: I once wrote to a television host who constantly says, “The reason is because. ” I explained that “reason” and “because” are the same word, and he should say, “The reason is that.” The host replied, “No, it is the reason is because.” I smiled and said to myself that I could not argue with ignorance. I even had trouble writing this piece because the computer continued to correct my writing. If I missed any of the computer corrections, please let me know.
Reported Speech
Another bothersome error is the use of reported speech. For example, a native speaker might say, “He said his name is Sabri.” I’m afraid that’s not right. Once we say, “he said,” the verb must change from present to past and from past to past perfect. It should be: “He said his name WAS Sabri”
Double Negative
One error used unwittingly is using a double negative. One might say, “I do not know nothing.” The speaker does not realize that “nothing is negative, and “do not” is negative. This should be “I do not know anything.”
The Past Participle
An irritating error made by many native speakers in the United States is using the past participle of the verb. Many speakers do not know that we must use the past participle, not the past tense, after the verb “to have.” One might say: “I have ate” instead of “I have eaten.” Another might say: “I have drove” instead of “I have driven.” This particular error shows a lack of education.
Oxymorons
The use of “oxymoron” is another standard error. An “oxymoron” combines contradictory or incongruous words (such as cruel kindness). Richard Nordquist wrote a great. article on that at https://www.thoughtco.com/awfully-good-examples-of-oxymorons-1691814 He wrote: “The word oxymoron is itself oxymoronic, which is to say, contradictory.” Examples: “awful good,” “definite maybe,” “exact estimate,” “found missing,” “good grief,” “ill health,” “living dead,” “loyal opposition,” “old news,”pretty ugly,” “seriously funny,” “unbiased opinion,” “virtual reality,” and “working vacation. Politicians use oxymorons excessively.
Verbs Wish and Conditional If
Many others do not know the rule of “wish” and say: I wish I was…” Sadly, they do not understand that “wish” is a conditional word and an unreal dream. One has to say: “I wish I were….” The same problem occurs with conditional if. When we use “if” in an unreal situation, we must use the unreal verb forms, typically in the subjunctive mood. For instance, “If I were rich, I would travel the world.” “If I had money, I would buy a car.
”The Verbs Lie And Lay
Another rather comical error is many native speaker’s misunderstanding of the verbs “lay” and “lie.” The verbs “lay” and “lie” often confuse people because they sound similar, and their meanings overlap somewhat. Here’s a straightforward way to explain the difference:
Lay:
Meaning: To put something down or place it somewhere.
Requires a Direct Object: You lay something (object) down.
Conjugation:
Present: lay (I lay the book on the table.)
Past: laid (I laid the book on the table yesterday.)
Past participle: laid (I have laid the book on the table.)
Present participle: laying (I am laying the book on the table.)
Lie:
Meaning: To recline or be in a horizontal position.
No Direct Object: You lie (yourself) down; there’s no object being placed.
Conjugation:
Present: lie (I lie down on the bed.)
Past: lay (Yesterday, I lay on the bed.)
Past participle: lain (I have lain down on the bed.)
Present participle: lying (I am lying on the bed.)
Examples:
Lay: “Please lay the keys on the counter.” (You are placing the keys down.)
Lie: “I need to lie down for a while.” (You are reclining or resting.)
A common trick to remember:
Lay requires an object (you lay something down).
Lie involves no object (you lie down yourself).
This writer will never forget how funny it was when Rosanne Bar was interviewed and asked,
“What do you do in your free time?” She replied, “I just lay (instead of lie) around.” This
has a sexual connotation.
Understanding “Look forward to
Many native speakers do not know that the “to” in “look forward” is a preposition that must be followed by a gerund (the -ing form of the verb.) They might say, “I look forward to meet you.” while it should be “meeting. Prepositions like ‘to’ are tricky since the verb form must change appropriately.
The Use of Adverbs to Modify Verbs
Modifying verbs seems to be a problem for native speakers. Verbs must be modified by “Adverbs,” not “Adjectives.” For example, A native speaker might say, “I feel good.” “Good” is an adjective; to modify the verb to feel, we must use an adverb: “I feel well.” Remember, adverbs modify verbs.
strong><YOU, ME AND I
It is rather distressing to hear educated people confuse the use of “you” and “I.” Some individuals misuse these pronouns in an attempt to sound sophisticated, while others simply display a lack of understanding. The word “you” is straightforward; it serves as the subject in most sentences. However, the misuse of “I” is more problematic, especially in phrases like between you and I.”To clarify, “I” is also a subject pronoun, meaning it should only be used when referring to the person performing the action. After prepositions, such as “between,” we must use an object pronoun. The correct object pronoun in this context is “ME,” making the phrase “between you and me.” This fundamental rule is often overlooked, even by native speakers.
Another common error arises when people don’t understand the distinction between subject and object pronouns. “ME” is the receiver of the action, while “I” is the doer. Therefore, a sentence like “You and me go to the movies” is incorrect. The proper phrasing is “You and I should go to the movies, because in this case, “I” is the doer of the action. Remember, whenever you are the one performing the action, use “I.” When you are the one receiving the action, use “me.” Understanding this basic rule will help you avoid common grammatical mistakes and communicate more clearly.
Can you decide whether these sentences are correct or problematic?
1- Most of our furniture were damaged in the fire.
2- Neither of the potential buyers had really made up their mind.
3- Araceli’s mother wondered if she was tall enough to be a model.
4- In this course, a person can be in class for weeks before the professor calls on you.
5- My sister and me are Opera fanatics.
6- My mother’s suitcase is always more heavier than my father’s.
7- The teacher’s hair is so funny; he needs a haircut bad.
8- The student couldn’t drive to work in his small sports car with a broken leg.
9- The toaster was sold to us by a charming salesman with a money back guarantee.
10- Dancing on their hind legs, the audience cheered wildly as the elephants paraded by.
11- The game show contestant was told to be cheerful, charming, and with enthusiasm.
12- My father’s favorite expression is, “it can’t be as bad as all that.”
13- Alicia seems quite and demure, but she has quite a temper at times.
14- When we told the neighbors to can the noise, they freaked out.
15- My good friends have stuck with me through thick and thin.
I would love to hear from you. Write to sabribebawi@mac.com
and share your thoughts or simply say hello.
****************************************************************************************
MODIFIERS
Modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that describe or limit the meaning of another word or phrase. They add detail or change the scope of the meaning.
Adjective Modifiers: Modify nouns.
Example: The redcar (The adjective “red” modifies “car”.)
Adverb Modifiers: Modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
Example: She ran (The adverb “quickly” modifies “ran”.)
Phrases as Modifiers:
The car in the drivewayis mine. (Prepositional phrase modifying “car.”)
Have you ever wondered why native speakers often misuse modifiers or how different modifiers can impact the meaning of a sentence?
examples of misplaced modifiers
examples of Misplaced Modifiers
Ambiguous Sentence:
She served sandwiches to the children on paper plates.
Problem: It sounds like the children are sitting on paper plates.
Fix: She served sandwiches on paper plates to the children.
Unintended Meaning:
Driving down the street, the trees looked beautiful.
Problem: It sounds like the trees are driving.
Fix: Driving down the street, I saw the trees looked beautiful.
Humorous Misplacement:
I almost ate the whole cake.
Problem: It sounds like you came close to eating the cake but didn’t.
Fix: I ate almost the whole cake
Or they might use a modifier that is dangling and, hence, vey confusing. Ensure that modifiers are placed next to the words they intend to modify for clarity.
Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers: Understanding Common Errors in Writing
Modifiers are essential tools in the English language, used to describe, clarify, or limit the meaning of
words phrases in a sentence. They enrich the writing by providing additional details, making the sentence more
specific and vivid. However, when modifiers are not placed correctly, they can create confusion, alter the
meaning of a sentence, or result in unintended humor or absurdity. Two common types of errors involving
modifiers are dangling modifiers and misplaced modifiers. In this essay, we will explore these two issues,
providing definitions, examples, and explanations of how to avoid them in writing.
What is a Dangling Modifier?
A dangling modifier is a descriptive word or phrase that is not clearly or logically attached to the noun
it is supposed to modify. This creates ambiguity or confusion because the reader is left unsure about
which word the modifier is describing. In many cases, dangling modifiers can lead to humorous
or illogical interpretations.
Example of a Dangling Modifier:
Running to catch the bus, the rain began to fall heavily.
In this sentence, “Running to catch the bus” is a participial phrase intended to describe the person
performing the action. However, the modifier “the rain” is the subject of the sentence, and it
creates an illogical meaning: it implies that the rain is running to catch the bus. The modifier is dangling
because it is not clearly attached to the noun it is meant to describe.
Corrected Version:
Running to catch the bus, I noticed the rain began to fall heavily.
Now, the modifier “Running to catch the bus” clearly refers to the person
(I), making the sentence logical and coherent.
What is a Misplaced Modifier?
A misplaced modifier occurs when the modifier is placed too far from the word it is intended
to modify, leading to ambiguity or a distorted meaning. While the modifier is not technically
“dangling” (i.e., it is connected to a noun), its placement can confuse the reader or cause them
to misinterpret the sentence.
Example of a Misplaced Modifier:
She almost drove her kids to school every day.
This sentence creates confusion because it suggests that the woman “almost drove”
her kids to school, meaning she did not actually drive them. However, the intended meaning
is likely that she drove them to school every day.
Corrected Version:
She drove her kids to school almost every day.
Now, the modifier “almost” is placed next to “every day,” where it correctly indicates that she
drove her kids to school nearly every day, but not necessarily every single day.
Why Do These Errors Matter?
Dangling and misplaced modifiers can cause confusion and hinder effective communication.
Clear, precise writing is essential for conveying the intended meaning to the reader. In academic,
professional, and everyday writing, the failure to place modifiers correctly can lead to misunderstandings,
misinterpretations, or unintended humor, especially in contexts where precision is important.
For example, in technical or scientific writing, a misplaced or dangling modifier could lead to a
misinterpretation of a process or data, potentially undermining the credibility of the writer. Similarly, in
formal writing, misplaced modifiers can disrupt the flow and clarity of an argument, making it harder
for readers to grasp the writer’s point.
How to Avoid Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers
The key to avoiding dangling and misplaced modifiers is paying close attention to the structure
of your sentences. Here are a few tips:
For Dangling Modifiers:
Ensure that the modifier clearly and logically modifies the subject of the sentence.
If the modifier is a participial phrase or an introductory phrase, make sure it is placed
next to the noun that it is intended to describe.
Reread your sentence to confirm that the subject performing the action is clearly identified.
For Misplaced Modifiers:
Place the modifier as close as possible to the word it is supposed to modify.
Be careful with adverbs like “only,” “almost,” and “even,” which are frequently misplaced.
Ensure they are positioned directly next to the word they modify.
Read your sentence carefully to determine whether the modifier could be misinterpreted if placed elsewhere.
Modifiers, when used correctly, are powerful tools in writing, adding clarity and depth to our descriptions.
However, improper placement of modifiers can lead to confusion or unintended meanings. Dangling modifiers,
which lack a clear connection to the noun they are meant to modify, and misplaced modifiers, which are
positioned too far from the word they describe, are two common mistakes that writers should be aware of.
By carefully structuring sentences and paying attention to modifier placement, writers can avoid these errors,
ensuring that their writing is clear, precise, and easily understood. As with all aspects of writing, the more
attention you pay to detail, the more effective and compelling your work will be.
******************************************************************************************************************
Examples of Dangling Modifiers and How to Fix Them
Problem:
Walking to the park, the flowers were blooming brightly.
Issue: Who is walking to the park? The sentence makes it seem like the flowers are walking.
Fix:
Walking to the park, I noticed the flowers blooming brightly.
Problem:
After studying all night, the exam felt impossible.
Issue: The exam didn’t study all night.
Fix:
After studying all night, I felt the exam was impossible.
Problem:
To improve her grades, extra homework was assigned by the teacher.
Issue: It seems like the homework is improving its grades.
Fix:
To improve her grades, the teacher assigned extra homework.
How to Fix Dangling Modifiers
Add the missing subject to the main clause.
Hiking through the woods, a bear was seen.
Fix:Hiking through the woods, we saw a bear.
Rearrange the sentence for clarity.
Without knowing his name, it was difficult to introduce him.
Fix:It was difficult to introduce him without knowing his name.
Rewrite the sentence to clarify the action.
While baking in the oven, I smelled the cookies.
Fix:I smelled the cookies while they were baking in the oven.
More to come
Sabri Bebawi-–sabri@sabri.org