Shirlie writes:
I've been having problems with English grammar. For instance I find these questions (picked from "error detection" tests) are beyond me. Please help.
1. Scientists search for the places where prehistoric people might live.
The answer sheet says live is wrong, I don't know why.
2. For instance, some fish lay thousands of eggs at a time, most of them are eaten.
The answer sheet says them is wrong, and I don't know why.
3. According to one theory, the more offspring an animal species produces, the great will be the chance that the species can survive.
I think great is wrong and it should be changed into greater to make up a balanced structure with "the more"; but the answer sheet tells me that the wrong answer is that. I am really confused.
4. Edmund King said the study showed that "not only the loud music is a nuisance to others, it could also be the cause of accidents."
The answer sheet says "is" is wrong, and I don't know why.
My comments:
The first sentence, Shirlie, should read: Scientists search for the places where prehistoric people might have lived.
"Have lived" instead of "live" in the present tense because it is a subjunctive. It's a conditional sentence. It describes a situation that does not or could not exist, i.e. in the present case, the existence of the said historic people is possible but doubtful. Whenever something is talked about as a possibility rather than a fact, the subjunctive mood is used.
The Chinese language doesn't make grammatical fusses like that, but this is the very lesson I want to share with you today. English grammar doesn't always make perfect sense to a Chinese learner. That's the way it is. Don't question it. Just accept it.
The second sentence should read: For instance, some fish lay thousands of eggs at a time, most of which are eaten.
The answer sheet says them is wrong, and you don't know why. It's ok. Don't ask why. Just accept it – Meet sentences like this often and soon you will know why. For the time being, accept it. Don't try to reconcile it with your clear Chinese grammatical conscience. That's wasted energy. Use the energy instead on further acquainting yourself with curious and questionable sentences like that.
The fourth sentence should read: Edmund King said the study showed that "not only is the loud music a nuisance to others, it could also be the cause of accidents."
"Is" is placed before "loud music" instead of after. Whenever "not only" is used to begin a sentence, the verb follows immediately. That's just the way it is. Again, don't wrestle with it. Accept it.
As for the third sentence, the only thing I can say is that I'm confused too, like you are. However, unlike you, I won't lose any sleep over it. I accept that sometimes tests are stupid, teachers make mistakes and answer sheets give wrong answers.
And I move on.
Let's move on.
英语语法:双重所有格
英语语法:代词比较辩异 one,that 和it
英语语法:人称代词的用法
英语语法:物主代词
英语语法:副词及其基本用法
助动词should,would的用法
英语语法:every , no, all, both, neither, nor的区别
接动名词作宾语的动词速记口诀
兼有两种形式的副词
助动词语法知识点
英语语法:many,much的区别
英语语法:one/another/the other的区别
用形容词表示类别和整体
英语语法:冠词与形容词+名词结构
many,old 和 far的区别
英语语法:并列人称代词的排列顺序
多个形容词修饰名词的顺序
过去进行时语法知识要点
英语语法:代词的指代问题
few, little, a few, a little的区别
英语中可修饰比较级的词有哪些
英语语法:人称代词之主、宾格的替换
英语语法:both, either, neither, all, any, none的区别
形容词和副词速记口诀
助动词have的用法
以-ly结尾的形容词
助动词do 的用法
英语语法:the + 最高级 + 比较范围
和more有关的词组语法讲解
英语语法:不定冠词的用法
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