Common Errors in English Usage for Competitive Exams - with Explanations

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As people have been asking for explanations, from today onwards I've decided to post Error Corrections with explanations. Lets start with the most confusing one, "Articles". Hope it will help you. Happy Reading :)

1.  
   • There is a aeroplane and a orange.  (wrong)
   • There is an aeroplane and an orange.  (correct)
   • • Explanation : If a countable noun begins with a vowel sound, it takes an as its indefinite article.
2.  
   • Send it in a envelope. (wrong)
   • Send it in an envelope.  (correct)
   • • Explanation : same as in (1)
3.  
   • Man you wanted to meet was sitting there.  (wrong)
   • The man you wanted to meet was sitting there.  (correct)
   • • Explanation : The relative clause attached to man makes it definite and must have a definite article. 
       
4.  
   • Rose is a symbol of love. (wrong)
   • The rose is a symbol of love.  (correct)
   • • Explanation : 'The ' makes the generic word rose definite. 
     • Note :  Generic word is a word which represents a whole group of similar things, rather than to any particular thing. I mean, if I say "Elephant", that represents any elephant in the word. Not a specified one.
5.  
   • Prime Minister inaugurated the fair.  (wrong)
   • The Prime Minister inaugurated the fair. (correct)
   • • Explanation : The sentence refers to a context hardly determined and needs 'the'
6.  
   • Father was not well, so I sent for doctor.  (wrong)
   • Father was not well, so I sent for the doctor.  (correct)
   • • Explanation : The reference is to a contextually determined doctor, not any doctor. 
7.  
   • Earth revolves around sun. (wrong)
   • The earth revolves around the sun.  (correct)
   • • Explanation : We use 'the' before all planets as each of them is unique. 
8.  
   • I have lot of homework to do.  (wrong)
   • I have a lot of homework to do.  (correct)
   • • Explanation : The expression is 'a lot of' (a great quantity), and not 'lot of'.
9.  
   • I saw tiger. (wrong)
   • I saw a tiger. (correct)
   • • Explanation : We are referring to a single tiger, hence 'a tiger'.
10.  
    • Elephant is a huge animal. (wrong)
    • The elephant is a huge animal. (correct)
    • • Explanation : As a representative, the generic words are preceded by 'the'

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