11 Grammar Goofs That Make You Look Dumb

It really and truly seems very difficult to learn English grammar step by step, especially in the absence of an experienced mentor, but do you know what the best way to English is? If you are at a beginner or an intermediate level, you are probably making a lot of loopholes. I will share a list of the most common mistakes that almost everybody is making while speaking and writing. There are 11 grammar goofs that make you look dumb in front of people you use English.

        1.    You are better than me

        2.    Beside or besides

        3.    Should have or should had

        4.    Than and then

        5.    Me and my friend

        6.    More good or better

        7.    Each other or one another

        8.    Their or there

        9.    Don’t or Didn’t

        10. To study or for studying

        11. Used to doing or used to do

Hello English learners, it’s great to have you here. It shows that you are an amazing English learner and really wish to reform the most common above-mentioned mistakes. Let’s get started without any further delay.

        1.    You are better than me:- People mostly use this term in order to show someone else superior to you, but you may be surprised to know that it is totally incorrect. This is a common mistake to use personal pronouns incorrectly. There are many types of pronouns and one of them is the personal pronoun.

        a)    You are better than me. (Incorrect)

        b)    You are better than I. (Correct)

This is a comparison between subjects therefore the subjective case must be used as shown in the second sentence.

        2.    Beside or besides:- These words seem alike in spelling, but are totally different in meaning. Let’s learn how to use them individually and with examples.

Beside:- it is a preposition in the grammatical term. A preposition always demonstrates the relationship between a noun and a pronoun. It usually means to be inside.

Examples:

He sits beside me.

They have been living beside my home.

Besides: it is an adverb used positively in the sentences for ‘in addition to’.

Examples

a)    He knows English besides German. (he knows both languages English and German)

b)    Rahul works in a company besides managing his own restaurant. (Rahul does two different jobs)

        3.    Should had or have:- should is a model auxiliary verb. There are some basic rules to use ‘Should’ that you must go through at once.

        a)    All the model auxiliaries (helping verbs) are universally used with all the subjects.

        b)    They all always prefer V1 (present form)

Therefore Should have (Correct)  and Should had (Incorrect) because ‘had’ is the past form of ‘Have’ but we can’t use a past form with any modal auxiliaries according to rules (b) as above mentioned.

        4.    Than or then

Than is a conjunction of comparison used to compare two objects.

        a)    The Indians are better than those of any county.

        b)    She is more beautiful than her classmates.

        c)     He is taller than his father.

Then is an adverb used for an antecedent consequence of any precedent actions.

        a)    He will reach Mumbai then leave for his next destination.

        b)    We made a plan for our future then executed it.

        5.    Each other and one another: these are reciprocal pronouns used for togetherness.

Each other:- we use for any two persons.

        a)    He and she truly love each other.

        b)    Birth and death complete the circle with each other.

One another

        a)    All the species are dependent on one another.

        b)    True friends always help one another.

6.    Their and there:- these words may seem similar, but are different in actual ways.

Their:- it is a possessive adjective and always contains a noun after it compulsorily.

  a)    They will perform their duty well.

  b)    Their parents are very kind.

There:- it is an adverb of place used to show a far destination and a sentence wherein the subject is absent.

        a)    A lion used to live there in the dense forest.

        b)    There are numerous opportunities available in one’s life ahead.

        7.    Used to do or used to doing:- these words are of different grammar categories.

Used to do:- In this case ‘Used to’ is a modal auxiliary verb therefore it always takes V1 for showing any part activity.

Example a) Every teacher used to go to school to study.

 

Used to doing:- here ‘Used to’ is an adjective which is followed by a fixed preposition ‘To’. It always takes an ING verb form. There are some more examples given.

Used to, addicted to, accustomed to, habitual to (all of these show an addiction to something).

        a)    My father is used to waking up early in the morning.

        b)    Sonu is addicted to playing online games excessively.

        c)     Since she has come from London, she is accustomed to speaking in English.

  Some more examples are also given on the same pattern, but these are not adjectives therefore use them differently.

(In addition to & look forward to)

In addition to:- to show any result.

        a)    In addition to learning English, she goes to the English Phobia academy.

      b)    The government keeps launching new schemes in addition to facilitating the poor people.

Look forward to:- it means to anticipate something.

        a)    We look forward to receiving a positive response.

        b)    He looks forward to meeting the prime minister.

        8.    Don’t or Didn’t:- both of these are helping verbs with a negative expression thus we use them for a refusal or disagreement.

Don’t :- we use it for present indefinite tense with plural subjects for negation.

        a)    People usually don’t accept their mistakes.

        b)    We don’t leap in the dark for anything.

 

Didn’t :- we use ‘Didn’t’ for the past indefinite tense with all the subjects for showing any past incident, habit or a long-ago occurred action.

        a)    We went to school regularly but didn’t study.

        b)    I didn’t feel like working in my previous company.

        9.    Me and my friend: it is an incorrect phrase that is most commonly used by people, especially on social media. If you want to know the reason behind it learn the types of pronouns for it.

My friend and I (Correct)

Me and my friend (Incorrect)

        10. More good or better:- although good and better are an adjective in various forms.

Good        better            best

We generally don’t use ‘more good’ because ‘better’. It is a comparative degree.

Better

        a)    Education is better than any superstition.

        b)    Friendship is better than hostility.

 

More good

In a totally different case wherein we demonstrate two different qualities of the same thing.

        a)    He is more good than intelligent.

        b)    The students are more good than studious.

        11. To study or for studying

These are two distinct verbs ‘To study’ is an infinitive and ‘For studying’ is an example of the present participle.

To study

We use it differently as a subject and as an infinitive in the sentences.

As a subject

        a)    To study in life is very important these days because education is the foundation of a great life

        b)    To learn English grammar, you must gather interest.

As an infinitive

        a)    Students go to school to study.

For studying

It is used for subjects that directly relate to the verbs.

Examples

        a)    This keyboard is for typing.

        b)    The books are for reading.

        c)     The school is built for studying.

These are some silly mistakes people unknowingly make while writing and speaking English. I hope you will not repeat them now again.