Common pitfalls in English grammar

         Common pitfalls in contraction
 Do not use contractions with nouns. Use only subject pronouns, not nouns with contractions.

 

Incorrect	Correct
Ali’s going now.	Ali is going now.
The student’s listening.	The student is listening.
What’ll he write?	What will he write?

Incorrect	Correct
To smoke is bad for you.	Smoking is bad for you.
I enjoy I smoke.	I enjoy smoking.
I prefer that I work to that I play.	I prefer working to playing.
I want that I go out.	I want to go out.
It is necessary that I go out.	I need (have) to go out. Or I must go out.
He was stabbed by a knife.	He was stabbed with a knife. Or Someone stabbed him with a knife.
The letter was written by a hand.	The letter was handwritten.
He hit by a stone.	He was hit by a stone.
The bill, the government paid it.	The government paid the bill.
It exists a horse in that field.	There is a horse in that field.
The children are walking slow.	The children are walking slowly.
We have only little resourced.	We have only a few resources.
Here is the piece who is new.	Here is the piece which (that) is new.
This is the book which I bought it yesterday.	This is the book which I bought yesterday.

           common pitfalls in English grammar

Different from	Different from is the correct idiom, Not different than.
Differ with	Differ from applies to difference between one person or thing and another or others: “My car differs from his because it is a newer model.”
Differ with	Differ with means to have a difference in opinion: “I differ with him in his views about government.”
Dual	Dual means double: “S since he was born in England of American parents, he could lay claim to dual citizenship.”
Duel	A duel is a combat between two men: “He challenged his enemy to a duel with pistols.”
Farther	Farther means more distant: “One town is farther from here than the other one.”
Further	Further means to a great degree: “Let me consider your advice further.”
Its	Its without apostrophe is the possessive case of it: “The pig suckled its young.” Note: Its has the same function as his, therefore no apostrophe is used.
It’s	It’s is the contraction of it is: “It’s too late to go to school.”