q6

One of my most common grammar errors is the usage of article. Articles can be categorized into definite article and indefinite articles. ‘The’ is a definite article and is used when we want to refer to something or someone specific. For example: The girl was very happy. (We are referring to a very specific girl).‘The’ is also used before certain proper nouns. Words like “Pan-Island Expressway” and “Dark Ages” all requires “the” in front. One of the errors common errors I encounter is that is that am not sure when I should omit an article. Article should not be used when we are referring to general statement or when a plural countable noun is non specific.
Wrong: Embryos should not be considered a human.
Correct: Embryos should not be considered human.
Generally, a/an is used when we are referring to a non specific, single and countable noun.

Another common error is subject verb agreement. My mistake usually involves the head word not agreeing with of a noun phrase.
Wrong: Animal testing in stem cell research have proven to be successful.
Correct: Animal testing in stem cell research has proven to be successful. (Animal testing is singular)
In addition, singular verb should be used for uncountable nouns. We also use singular verb when we are referring to a collective group (Example: Government and Sport Team are both singular noun).

The third mistake that I commonly made is incorrect use of quantifiers for uncountable nouns. I often used the wrong quantifiers to describe uncountable noun. For example, words like resistance and criticism are uncountable. Quantifiers like ‘much’, ‘a little’ ‘a bit’ is used to describe uncountable nouns.
Wrong: numerous resistances
Correct: much resistance
Wrong: many criticisms
Correct: much criticism