Three common grammar mistakes

1. Fragment
How fragments should be used?
There are three types of sentences, simple sentences, compound sentences and complex sentences.
A simple sentence contains only one main independent clause, for example, “Travelling to outer space is possible now”, whereas compound sentences and complex sentences consist of more than one clause.
For compound sentences, generally speaking they have the form of “independent clause 1 + coordinator + independent clause 2 (at least 2 independent clauses), e.g. “Travelling to outer space is possible now but not many can afford it”. “Travelling to outer space is possible now.” is the 1st independent clause, “but” is the coordinator, and “not many can afford it” is the 2nd independent clause.
For complex sentences, the general structure is “1 independent clause + 1 or > subordinated clause (in any order), e.g. “Many people used to dream if travelling to outer space in the past when it was technologically impossible.” or alternatively we can say it in the following way “When it was technologically impossible, many people used to dream if travelling to outer space in the past.
Examples:
a. Wrong:
Meteorologists currently find difficulty in predicting the weather because has been affected by global warming.
Correct:
Meteorologists currently find difficulty in predicting the weather because it has been affected by global warming.
b. Wrong:
First of all, as everyone knows, the catalyst used will not be consumed during the chemical experiment. So we can use it repeatedly without the need to buy too much of it.
Correct:
First of all, as everyone knows, the catalyst used will not be consumed during the chemical experiment, so we can use it repeatedly without the need to buy too much of it.
2. Subject-Verb Agreement
Use –s/-es on a present simple tense verb with a third person singular (it, he, she), and use general form of a verb when the subject is first or second person singular.
Furthermore, the modal auxiliaries do not have an –s or –d form.
Use the singular verb for collective nouns when they refer to a group of people e.g. government, family, team, and committee. This is also applicable to uncountable nouns e.g. rain, water, furniture, equipment, research and information.
Examples:
a. Wrong:
Other learners prefer some coaching and a more structured approach; he is typically self-motivated when the subject matter appeals to their interests.
Correct:
Other learners prefer some coaching and a more structured approach; they are typically self-motivated when the subject matter appeals to their interests.
b. Wrong:
Meanwhile, companies such as Siemens is on cutting-edge technology to trap CO2, and pump it into empty gas fields and deep underground caverns.
Correct:
Meanwhile, companies such as Siemens are on cutting-edge technology to trap CO2, and pump it into empty gas fields and deep underground caverns.
3. Transitions/Connectors
Transitions and connectors somehow show the logic link between the clauses that they link. Therefore, choosing the right transitions or connectors is quite significant when we want ourselves to be completely understood.
Examples:
a. Wrong:
Recommender systems are widely encountered on the Web – search engines that fail to find a particular term often recommend alternatives, for instance, and pages which sell books or music will suggest additional purchases based on what someone has already bought.
Correct:
Recommender systems are widely encountered on the Web – search engines that fail to find a particular term often recommend alternatives, for instance, and pages that sell books or music will suggest additional purchases based on what someone has already bought.
b. Wrong:
Among the many projects attempting to meet the personalized education challenge are “intelligent” Web-based education systems, development of “recommender” systems who guide individual learning using Web-based resources, and creation of algorithms that adjust recommendations to the abilities of the students.
Correct:
Among the many projects attempting to meet the personalized education challenge are “intelligent” Web-based education systems, development of “recommender” systems which/that guide individual learning using Web-based resources, and creation of algorithms that adjust recommendations to the abilities of the students.