📘 Common Errors (Definition)

Definition:
Common Errors are typical mistakes made in English usage, especially in grammar and vocabulary. These errors frequently appear in competitive exams, and candidates are expected to identify and correct them.

📘 Common Errors Related to Noun – Detailed Rules

Rule 1: Uncountable nouns cannot be pluralized

Uncountable nouns (information, advice, furniture, luggage, scenery, poetry, news, etc.) have no plural form. They always take singular verb.

❌ Wrong: He gave me many informations.
✅ Correct: He gave me much information.
✅ Correct: He gave me a piece of information.

Rule 2: Some nouns ending in -s are singular

Nouns like Mathematics, Physics, Economics, Politics, Ethics, News, Athletics look plural but are singular in meaning and take a singular verb.

❌ Wrong: Mathematics are difficult.
✅ Correct: Mathematics is difficult.

⚠️ Exception: If such words denote a practice or qualities, they may take plural.

✅ Politics is a dangerous game. (subject)
✅ His politics are very practical. (opinions)

Rule 3: Collective nouns – singular or plural depending on sense

Collective nouns like jury, committee, family, team, government, audience, staff can be singular or plural.

✅ The jury has given its verdict. (singular, acting as one unit)
✅ The jury were divided in their opinions. (plural, acting individually)

Rule 4: Some nouns are always plural

Words referring to two parts or used in plural form only:

scissors, trousers, spectacles, pants, jeans, tongs, pincers, riches
They always take plural verb.
❌ Wrong: My scissors is sharp.
✅ Correct: My scissors are sharp.

If you need to make them singular, use a pair of:

✅ A pair of scissors is on the table.

Rule 5: Abstract nouns generally do not have plurals

Abstract nouns such as kindness, honesty, bravery, wisdom, beauty, poetry are usually uncountable and not used in plural.

❌ Wrong: She has many kindnesses.
✅ Correct: She has much kindness.

⚠️ Exception: Sometimes they may be plural when used in a special sense.

✅ The beauties of Kashmir attract tourists. (various beautiful aspects)

Rule 6: Possessive case with plural nouns

Plural nouns ending in -s take apostrophe (’) after s, not before.

❌ Wrong: The two brother’s are coming.
✅ Correct: The two brothers are coming.
✅ Correct: The two brothers’ father is a teacher.

Rule 7: Plural of compound nouns

In compound nouns, the main noun is made plural.

❌ Wrong: She has two sister-in-laws.
✅ Correct: She has two sisters-in-law.
❌ Wrong: The passer-bys are here.
✅ Correct: The passers-by are here.

Rule 8: Possessive case vs. of-phrase

Use ’s with living beings, time, personified things.
Use of with non-living things.
❌ Wrong: The table’s legs are broken.
✅ Correct: The legs of the table are broken.
✅ Correct: Yesterday’s meeting was important.
✅ Correct: The sun’s rays are warm.

Rule 9: People vs Persons

People → common, ordinary sense (plural of person).
Persons → used in formal/legal contexts, or when individuals are counted.
❌ Wrong: Five peoples came to the meeting.
✅ Correct: Five people came to the meeting.
✅ Correct: Five persons were arrested by the police.

⚠️ Note: Peoples is correct only when referring to nations/communities.

✅ The ancient peoples of Europe lived in tribes.

Rule 10: Some nouns are always uncountable

Nouns like furniture, luggage, baggage, equipment, advice, information, poetry, scenery are always singular.

❌ Wrong: He bought many furnitures.
✅ Correct: He bought much furniture.
✅ Correct: He bought a piece of furniture.

📘 Common Errors Related to Pronouns – 10 Rules

Rule 1: Pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number, gender, and person

❌ Wrong: Every boy must bring their book.
✅ Correct: Every boy must bring his book.

(“Every boy” = singular, so pronoun must be singular “his”)

Rule 2: Use of “each other” and “one another”

Each other → for two persons/things.
One another → for more than two.
❌ Wrong: The two brothers love one another.
✅ Correct: The two brothers love each other.

Rule 3: Reflexive pronouns must not be misused

Reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, himself, etc.) are used only when subject and object are the same.

❌ Wrong: Myself did the work.
✅ Correct: I did the work myself.

Rule 4: “I” vs. “Me” confusion

I is used as subject, me as object.
❌ Wrong: Me and my friend went to the market.
✅ Correct: My friend and I went to the market.

Rule 5: Double subject with pronoun is wrong

❌ Wrong: Rina she is my best friend.
✅ Correct: Rina is my best friend.

Rule 6: Pronoun with “than”

After than in a comparison, subjective or objective case depends on the verb understood.

✅ He is taller than I (am).
✅ He likes you more than me (he likes).

Rule 7: Use of “who, whom, whose”

Who → subject
Whom → object
Whose → possession
❌ Wrong: Whom is knocking at the door?
✅ Correct: Who is knocking at the door?

Rule 8: Use of “one” and “one’s”

When “one” is used as a pronoun, its possessive form is “one’s,” not “his/her.”

❌ Wrong: One should do his duty.
✅ Correct: One should do one’s duty.

Rule 9: “It, this, that” for non-persons; “he, she, they” for persons

❌ Wrong: This book is very useful, he is interesting.
✅ Correct: This book is very useful, it is interesting.

Rule 10: Relative pronoun must agree with antecedent

❌ Wrong: He is one of the boys who has done their duty.
✅ Correct: He is one of the boys who have done their duty.

(“who” refers to “boys” = plural → verb must be plural)

📘 Common Errors Related to Adjectives – 10 Rules

Rule 1: Use of adjectives with countable vs uncountable nouns

Few, many, several, a number of → used with countable nouns.
Little, much, a great deal of, an amount of → used with uncountable nouns.
❌ Wrong: He has many works to do.
✅ Correct: He has much work to do.

Rule 2: Difference between “few / a few / the few”

Few → almost none (negative).
A few → some (positive).
The few → all that there are.
❌ Wrong: Few friends came to help me (if meaning “some”).
✅ Correct: A few friends came to help me.

Rule 3: Difference between “little / a little / the little”

Little → hardly any (negative).
A little → some (positive).
The little → all that there is.
❌ Wrong: I have little money, so I can buy the book.
✅ Correct: I have a little money, so I can buy the book.

Rule 4: Comparative degree must be followed by “than”

❌ Wrong: She is wiser from her sister.
✅ Correct: She is wiser than her sister.

Rule 5: Double comparatives and superlatives must be avoided

❌ Wrong: He is more wiser than his friend.
✅ Correct: He is wiser than his friend.

Rule 6: “Elder” vs. “Older”

Elder/eldest → used for persons (family members).
Older/oldest → used for both persons and things.
❌ Wrong: He is my older brother.
✅ Correct: He is my elder brother.

Rule 7: “Less” vs. “Fewer”

Fewer → plural countable nouns.
Less → uncountable nouns.
❌ Wrong: There are less students in the class today.
✅ Correct: There are fewer students in the class today.

Rule 8: Double negatives with adjectives must be avoided

❌ Wrong: This is not uncommon problem.
✅ Correct: This is a common problem.

Rule 9: “Very” vs. “Much”

Very → modifies adjectives/adverbs in positive degree.
Much → modifies past participles, comparative/superlative adjectives.
❌ Wrong: He is much intelligent.
✅ Correct: He is very intelligent.
✅ Correct: He is much improved now.

Rule 10: “Each” vs. “Every”

Each → for two or more (individual reference).
Every → for three or more (collective sense).
❌ Wrong: Each student of the three performed well.
✅ Correct: Every student of the three performed well.

📘 Common Errors Related to Verbs (20 Rules)

1. Subject–Verb Agreement with Main Verbs

❌ Error: He go to school every day.
✔ Correct: He goes to school every day.
🔷 Rule: In Present Indefinite, 3rd person singular subject → verb takes -s / -es.

2. Auxiliary Verb Agreement

❌ Error: She do not like coffee.
✔ Correct: She does not like coffee.
🔷 Rule: Do/Does/Did must agree with the subject.

3. Use of Strong & Weak Verb Forms

❌ Error: He has went to the market.
✔ Correct: He has gone to the market.
🔷 Rule: Strong verbs have irregular past participle (go → went → gone).

4. Past Form for Weak Verbs

❌ Error: He casted a stone.
✔ Correct: He cast a stone.
🔷 Rule: Some weak verbs do not take –ed (cast, cut, put, cost, hit, set).

5. Use of Action vs State Verbs

❌ Error: I am knowing the answer.
✔ Correct: I know the answer.
🔷 Rule: Stative verbs (know, believe, love, own, understand) are not used in continuous form.

6. Use of Linking Verbs

❌ Error: He looks happily.
✔ Correct: He looks happy.
🔷 Rule: Linking verbs (be, seem, become, appear, look, taste, smell, sound) are followed by adjective, not adverb.

7. Causative Verb Construction

❌ Error: He made me to laugh.
✔ Correct: He made me laugh.
🔷 Rule: After make/let/have (causative verbs), use bare infinitive (without to).

8. Passive with Causative Verbs

❌ Error: I got my friend to repair my watch.
✔ Correct: I got my watch repaired.
🔷 Rule: Get/Have + object + past participle = causative passive.

9. Transitive Verb Needs an Object

❌ Error: He discussed about the problem.
✔ Correct: He discussed the problem.
🔷 Rule: Discuss, order, resemble, reach, enter, lack → no preposition; direct object needed.

10. Intransitive Verb Takes No Object

❌ Error: He reached to the station late.
✔ Correct: He reached the station late.
🔷 Rule: Reach, enter, resemble are intransitive — no to/into.

11. Confusion Between Say/Tell

❌ Error: He said me the truth.
✔ Correct: He told me the truth. / He said the truth to me.
🔷 Rule: Say takes direct object; Tell takes indirect + direct object.

12. Double Auxiliary Error

❌ Error: He did not went to school.
✔ Correct: He did not go to school.
🔷 Rule: After did/does/do, always use base form of verb.

13. Wrong Past Participle

❌ Error: She has wrote a letter.
✔ Correct: She has written a letter.
🔷 Rule: With has/have/had, use past participle, not past tense.

14. Modal Auxiliary + Base Form

❌ Error: He can sings well.
✔ Correct: He can sing well.
🔷 Rule: After can, may, must, shall, will, should, would, might, could, always use base verb.

15. Redundant Auxiliary

❌ Error: He did not went there.
✔ Correct: He did not go there.
🔷 Rule: Avoid using past form with did.

16. Finite vs Non-Finite Verbs

❌ Error: I suggested him to went there.
✔ Correct: I suggested him to go there.
🔷 Rule: After to, always use base verb (non-finite).

17. Infinitive Without To (Bare Infinitive)

❌ Error: I heard him to sing a song.
✔ Correct: I heard him sing a song.
🔷 Rule: After hear, see, watch, make, let, feel, use bare infinitive.

18. Gerund vs Infinitive Error

❌ Error: She is fond to dance.
✔ Correct: She is fond of dancing.
🔷 Rule: After fond of, interested in, good at, bad at, use gerund (–ing).

19. Split Infinitive Mistake

❌ Error: She wants to quickly finish the work.
✔ Correct: She wants to finish the work quickly.
🔷 Rule: Avoid splitting to + verb with adverbs in formal English.

20. Double Negative with Verbs

❌ Error: I don’t need no help.
✔ Correct: I don’t need any help.
🔷 Rule: Two negatives make the sentence incorrect in standard grammar.

📘 Common Error Rules

🔹 Infinitive Rules (1–6)

Bare Infinitive after make/let/help/see/hear
❌ He made me to go.
✅ He made me go.
Full Infinitive (to + verb) after certain verbs (want, decide, promise, agree, refuse, hope)
❌ He refused go.
✅ He refused to go.
Avoid ‘to’ with ‘had better, would rather, sooner than, rather than’
❌ You had better to go.
✅ You had better go.
Infinitive of Purpose (not gerund)
❌ He came for helping me.
✅ He came to help me.
Infinitive without ‘to’ after modals (can, could, shall, will, must, may, might, should, dare, need)
❌ He can to do it.
✅ He can do it.
Negative Infinitive = ‘not + to + verb’
❌ I warned him to not go.
✅ I warned him not to go.

🔹 Participle Rules (7–10)

Avoid dangling participles (subject must be clear)
❌ Walking down the road, a snake was seen.
✅ Walking down the road, I saw a snake.
Present participle = continuous action, Past participle = completed action
❌ He is a boring man. (wrong meaning)
✅ He is a bored man.
Participles agree with subject in number/tense
❌ Having finish the work, he went home.
✅ Having finished the work, he went home.
Participle phrases act like adjectives; avoid using as main verb
❌ She crying loudly.
✅ She was crying loudly.

🔹 Gerund Rules (11–14)

After prepositions, use gerund (–ing)
❌ He is fond to play cricket.
✅ He is fond of playing cricket.
Certain verbs take gerund (enjoy, avoid, admit, suggest, deny, mind, finish, risk, practice)
❌ He enjoys to swim.
✅ He enjoys swimming.
Gerund can be subject of a verb
❌ To swim is good exercise.
✅ Swimming is good exercise.
Avoid double possessive with gerund
❌ I object to him coming late.
✅ I object to his coming late.

🔹 Nominative Absolute Rules (15–17)

Definition: A nominative absolute = noun/pronoun + participle, independent of main clause.
✅ The weather being fine, we went out.
Error: Using finite verb instead of participle
❌ The weather was fine, we went out. (comma splice)
✅ The weather being fine, we went out.
Subject must be expressed, not implied
❌ It raining, we stayed home.
✅ It being rainy, we stayed home.

🔹 Noun in Apposition Rules (18–20)

Apposition: One noun/noun phrase explains another, case must match
❌ Shakespeare, the great poet, are admired.
✅ Shakespeare, the great poet, is admired.
Appositive must be placed close to the noun it explains
❌ The book was lost, my favorite novel.
✅ My favorite novel, the book, was lost.
Don’t confuse restrictive (no commas) and non-restrictive (commas) appositives
❌ My brother, John is a teacher. (implies only one brother)
✅ My brother John is a teacher. (correct: restrictive)
✅ My brother, John, is a teacher. (correct: non-restrictive if only one brother exists)

📘 Common Error Rules Related to Adverbs

1. Adjective vs Adverb Confusion

❌ She sings very beautiful.
✅ She sings very beautifully.
🔷 Rule: Use adverb to qualify a verb, adjective, or another adverb, not adjective.

2. Wrong Position of Adverb

❌ He only reads in the library.
✅ He reads only in the library.
🔷 Rule: Only, just, even, also should be placed close to the word they modify, otherwise meaning changes.

3. Double Negatives with Adverbs

❌ I don’t know nothing about it.
✅ I don’t know anything about it.
🔷 Rule: Two negatives make error in standard grammar (though used in spoken English).

4. Too vs Very

❌ He is too glad to meet you.
✅ He is very glad to meet you.
🔷 Rule: Too means “excessively” (negative sense), while very is for emphasis.

5. Much vs Many vs Very

❌ He is much intelligent.
✅ He is very intelligent.
🔷 Rule: Use much with uncountable nouns, many with countable nouns, very with adjectives/adverbs.

6. Hard vs Hardly

❌ He worked hardly to pass the exam.
✅ He worked hard to pass the exam.
🔷 Rule: Hard = with effort; Hardly = scarcely.

7. Quite vs Rather

❌ The film was quite bad. (if negative meaning intended)
✅ The film was rather bad.
🔷 Rule: Quite = entirely/positively (often favorable); Rather = to some degree (often unfavorable).

8. Already vs Yet

❌ He has not come already.
✅ He has not come yet.
🔷 Rule: Already is used in affirmative sentences; Yet in negative or interrogative.

9. Enough Position Rule

❌ She is enough rich to buy the car.
✅ She is rich enough to buy the car.
🔷 Rule: Enough comes after adjectives/adverbs but before nouns.

10. Comparatives with Adverbs

❌ She sings more sweeter than her sister.
✅ She sings sweeter than her sister.
🔷 Rule: Never use double comparatives (more + -er).

11. Too vs Very

❌ He is too glad to meet you.
✅ He is very glad to meet you.
🔷 Rule: Too = more than desirable (negative sense). Very = emphasizes degree (positive sense).

12. Too Much vs Much Too

❌ This problem is too much difficult.
✅ This problem is much too difficult.
🔷 Rule:

Too much = modifies nouns (too much sugar).
Much too = modifies adjectives/adverbs (much too expensive).

13. At Present vs Presently

❌ He is presently busy with his project. (if meaning now)
✅ He is at present busy with his project.
✅ He will come presently. (= shortly)
🔷 Rule: At present = now, Presently = soon.

14. Much vs Very

❌ He is much intelligent.
✅ He is very intelligent.
🔷 Rule: Much is used with verbs, adverbs, past participles; Very is used with adjectives/adverbs in positive degree.

15. Early vs Soon

❌ He will return early (if meaning “shortly”).
✅ He will return soon.
🔷 Rule: Early = before expected time; Soon = after a short time.

16. Ago vs Before

❌ He left the school before three years.
✅ He left the school three years ago.
🔷 Rule: Ago = counted from now; Before = counted from another past reference point.

17. Adjective vs Adverb Confusion

❌ She sings very beautiful.
✅ She sings very beautifully.
🔷 Rule: Use adverb with verbs, not adjective.

18. Wrong Position of Only

❌ He only reads in the library.
✅ He reads only in the library.
🔷 Rule: Place only near the word it modifies, otherwise meaning changes.

19. Hard vs Hardly

❌ He worked hardly to pass the exam.
✅ He worked hard to pass the exam.
🔷 Rule: Hard = diligently, Hardly = scarcely.

20. Already vs Yet

❌ He has not come already.
✅ He has not come yet.
🔷 Rule: Already is used in affirmatives, Yet in negatives and questions.

📘 10 Common Errors Related to Articles

1. Indefinite Article (a/an) before singular countable nouns

❌ He is teacher.
✅ He is a teacher.
🔷📘 Rule: A/An must be used before singular countable nouns when referring to something general.

2. ‘A’ vs ‘An’ Usage

❌ He is an university student.
✅ He is a university student.
🔷📘 Rule: Use a before words beginning with a consonant sound, and an before words beginning with a vowel sound. (University starts with /juː/ sound, not vowel sound).

3. Omission of Article with Plural/Common Nouns

❌ The lions are dangerous animals. (if meaning lions as a species)
✅ Lions are dangerous animals.
🔷📘 Rule: No article is used when speaking of a class in general (plural nouns).

4. Omission of Article with Abstract/Material Nouns

❌ The honesty is the best policy.
✅ Honesty is the best policy.
🔷📘 Rule: Abstract and material nouns (honesty, gold, water) usually do not take articles unless particularized.

5. Definite Article ‘The’ with Unique Things

❌ Sun rises in east.
✅ The sun rises in the east.
🔷📘 Rule: Use the before unique things (sun, moon, sky) and directions when specific.

6. Superlative Degree

❌ Mount Everest is highest peak in the world.
✅ Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world.
🔷📘 Rule: Superlatives always take the before them.

7. Comparative Degree with Specific Reference

❌ He is wiser of the two boys.
✅ He is the wiser of the two boys.
🔷📘 Rule: Use the before comparative adjectives when referring to one of two persons/things.

8. Institutions/Meals/Relations (No Article)

❌ She goes to the school regularly. (if she is a student)
✅ She goes to school regularly.
❌ The dinner was delicious. (general meal)
✅ Dinner was delicious.
🔷📘 Rule: Omit the before names of meals (breakfast, lunch), institutions (school, college, church, hospital) when used for their primary purpose.

9. Proper Nouns Not Taking Articles

❌ The Mount Everest is the highest mountain.
✅ Mount Everest is the highest mountain.
🔷📘 Rule: Do not use the before proper nouns (names of people, places, mountains, lakes, continents, etc.), unless they require it (The Ganges, The Himalayas).

10. Use of Article Before Musical Instruments

❌ He can play flute very well.
✅ He can play the flute very well.
🔷📘 Rule: The is used before musical instruments.

✅ 10 Common Error Rules Related to Prepositions

1. Preposition with Verbs (Fixed Prepositions)

Some verbs always take fixed prepositions.
Example: insist on, depend on, look at, listen to, prefer to.
❌ Incorrect: He insisted for going there.
✅ Correct: He insisted on going there.

2. Preposition with Adjectives

Certain adjectives require specific prepositions.
Example: afraid of, angry with/at, fond of, good at, capable of.
❌ Incorrect: She is good in Mathematics.
✅ Correct: She is good at Mathematics.

3. Preposition with Nouns

Some nouns are always followed by particular prepositions.
Example: reason for, demand for, need for, influence on, effect on, cause of.
❌ Incorrect: What is the reason of his failure?
✅ Correct: What is the reason for his failure?

4. Confusion Between ‘in’ and ‘into’

in → denotes position (static)
into → denotes motion (movement from outside to inside).
❌ Incorrect: He went in the room.
✅ Correct: He went into the room.

5. Confusion Between ‘on’ and ‘upon’

Both mean over, but upon is used in formal/literary style or when movement is involved.
❌ Incorrect: The cat jumped on the table. (movement)
✅ Correct: The cat jumped upon the table.

6. Confusion Between ‘between’ and ‘among’

between → for two persons/things (or distinct items).
among → for more than two (not distinct).
❌ Incorrect: Divide the money between all the boys.
✅ Correct: Divide the money among all the boys.

7. Confusion Between ‘since’, ‘for’ and ‘from’

since → point of time (present perfect/continuous).
for → period of time.
from → starting point (used with to/till/until).
❌ Incorrect: He has been living here from 2010.
✅ Correct: He has been living here since 2010.

8. Confusion Between ‘beside’ and ‘besides’

beside = by the side of.
besides = in addition to.
❌ Incorrect: She sat besides me in class.
✅ Correct: She sat beside me in class.

9. Omission of Prepositions (Superfluous Preposition)

Avoid unnecessary prepositions.
❌ Incorrect: Where are you going to?
✅ Correct: Where are you going?

❌ Incorrect: He discussed about the problem.
✅ Correct: He discussed the problem.

10. Preposition in Idiomatic Expressions

Certain expressions are fixed.
Example: by chance, by mistake, in search of, according to, at night, at noon, at present, on duty, on purpose.
❌ Incorrect: He did it in purpose.
✅ Correct: He did it on purpose.

✅ 20 Common Error Rules Related to Case and Mood

A. Errors Related to Case (Nominative, Objective, Possessive, Vocative, Absolute, Apposition)

1. Subjective vs Objective Case

Subject pronouns (I, he, she, we, they) should be used as subjects; object pronouns (me, him, her, us, them) as objects.
❌ Incorrect: Me and him are good friends.
✅ Correct: He and I are good friends.

2. After Prepositions, Use Objective Case

Prepositions take object pronouns.
❌ Incorrect: This is between you and I.
✅ Correct: This is between you and me.

3. After ‘than’ or ‘as’, Case Depends on Function

If pronoun acts as subject → nominative.
If pronoun acts as object → objective.
❌ Incorrect: She is taller than me is.
✅ Correct: She is taller than I am.

4. Possessive Case Must Not Be Confused with Plural

Apostrophe misuse is common.
❌ Incorrect: The teacher’s of our school are strict.
✅ Correct: The teachers of our school are strict.

5. Possessive Case with Inanimate Objects

Normally not used with lifeless things. Use of.
❌ Incorrect: The table’s legs are broken.
✅ Correct: The legs of the table are broken.

6. Double Possessive Error

Avoid two apostrophes in one phrase.
❌ Incorrect: This is Ram’s brother’s book.
✅ Correct: This is the book of Ram’s brother.

7. Case in Apposition

Nouns in apposition must be in the same case.
❌ Incorrect: I invited Mr. Roy, he is my teacher.
✅ Correct: I invited Mr. Roy, my teacher.

8. Vocative Case Error

Vocative case is used for addressing. Must not take articles.
❌ Incorrect: The Mr. Roy, please come here.
✅ Correct: Mr. Roy, please come here.

9. Absolute Construction Error

In nominative absolute, subject must be in nominative case.
❌ Incorrect: Him being absent, the work was postponed.
✅ Correct: He being absent, the work was postponed.

10. Case with Gerunds

Possessive form before a gerund is preferred in formal English.
❌ Incorrect: I don’t like him coming late.
✅ Correct: I don’t like his coming late.

B. Errors Related to Mood (Indicative, Imperative, Subjunctive)

11. Indicative Mood for Facts

Statements of fact must use indicative, not subjunctive.
❌ Incorrect: If he was here, he would help.
✅ Correct: If he were here, he would help.

12. Subjunctive Mood for Wishes

Use were after wishes.
❌ Incorrect: I wish I was rich.
✅ Correct: I wish I were rich.

13. Subjunctive after ‘If’ Clauses (Contrary to Fact)

Hypothetical conditions use were.
❌ Incorrect: If I was a bird, I would fly.
✅ Correct: If I were a bird, I would fly.

14. Subjunctive after ‘lest’

Verb after lest is in bare form (without should in modern English, but should is also accepted).
❌ Incorrect: Work hard lest you will fail.
✅ Correct: Work hard lest you fail.

15. Subjunctive with ‘It is time’

Use past tense verb.
❌ Incorrect: It is time we go home.
✅ Correct: It is time we went home.

16. Subjunctive with ‘Would rather / Had rather’

Use past form after these.
❌ Incorrect: I would rather he goes now.
✅ Correct: I would rather he went now.

17. Imperative Mood for Commands/Requests

Imperatives never use subjects (except for emphasis with you).
❌ Incorrect: You do not make a noise.
✅ Correct: Do not make a noise.

18. Modal + Bare Infinitive after Subjunctive

After verbs expressing demand/suggestion (suggest, recommend, insist, order), use base verb.
❌ Incorrect: The teacher suggested that he goes home.
✅ Correct: The teacher suggested that he go home.

19. Mood Error in Conditional Sentences

Type 1: If + present → will.
Type 2: If + past → would.
Type 3: If + past perfect → would have.
❌ Incorrect: If he worked hard, he will pass.
✅ Correct: If he worked hard, he would pass.

20. Mood after ‘As if’ / ‘As though’

If unreal → past subjunctive.
❌ Incorrect: He speaks as if he is mad.
✅ Correct: He speaks as if he were mad.

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🌹English Grammar for All Competitive Exam::Common Errors::Detailed Discussion🌹