Error detection :(3) Idiomatic Expression - Wrong Preposition , Gerund Versus Infinitive , Unacceptable Expressions

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(3) Idiomatic Expression

Some sentences contain usages that are incorrect because they are not idiomatic. An expression that is not idiomatic is one that is not acceptable English for any of several reasons.

Wrong Preposition

In English, as in othe r languages, only certain prepositions can be used with certain verbs. For example,

( a ) In contrast of the prevailing 1)/ opinion, the editorial places the blame 2)/ for the strike on 3)/ the workers and their representatives. 4)/ No error 5)

Explanation :

The answe r to the above que stion is (1). The expression ‘ in constrast of ’ is not idiomatic. The expression should be ‘ in contrast to ’.

( b ) Although ballet and modern dance are 1)/ both concerned i n 2)/ the m ovement i n space to musical accompaniment, 3)/ the training for ballet is more rigorous than that for modern dance. 4)/ No error 5)

Explanation :

The answe r to the above que stion is (2). The expression ‘ concerned in ’ is not idiomatic. It should read ‘ concerned with ’.

Right Idea, Wrong Word

Some sentences are incorrect because they use a word that does not mean what is intended. The confusion is understandable because of the similarity between the correct and the chosen word. For example,

( a ) By midnight the guests 1)/ still had not been 2)/ ser v ed anyt hi ng t o eat 3) / and t hey wer e ravishing. 4)/ No error 5)

Explanation :

The answer to this question is (4). The sentence intends to state that the guests were very hungry, but that is not the meaning of the word ‘ ravishing ’. The sentence can be corrected by changing ‘ ravishing ’ to ‘ ravenous ’.

( b ) The raise in the 1) / num ber of accidents attributable 2)/ to drunk driver has prompted a call 3)/ for stiffer penalties for driving while intoxicated. 4)/ No error 5)

Explanation :

The answer to the above example is (1). The sentence is corrected by changing ‘ raise ’ to ‘ rise ’.

Gerund Versus Infinitive

The infinitive is the ‘ to form ’ of a verb, and the gerund is one of the ‘-ing forms ’ of a verb. Both are used as nouns. In some circumstances we can use either “ Adding an extra room to the house is the next project” or “To add an extra room to the house is the next project”. In some circumstances, however, gerund and infinitive are not interchangeable. For example,

( a ) The idea of trying completing 1)/ the term paper by Friday caused 2)/ Kedar to cancel his plans 3)/ for the weekend. 4)/ No error 5)

Explanation :

The answer to the above question is (1). Although, ‘ completing ’ can be a noun, here we need the infinitive. The sentence should read “.....trying to complete ...... ” .

( b ) Psychologists think 1)/ that many people eat satisfying 2)/ a need for affection 3)/ that is not otherwise fulfilled. 4)/ No error 5)

Explanation :

The answer to the above example is (2). Again you need the infinitive, not the gerund. The sentence should read “ ....eat to satisfy.... ”.

Unacceptable Expressions

There are a few expressions that are heard frequently in conversation that are regarded as low-level usages and unacceptable in standard written English. For example,

( a ) Being that the hour was late, 1)/ we agreed to adjurn 2)/ the meeting and reconvene at 3)/ nine o’clock the following morning. 4)/ No error 5)

Explanation :

The answer to the above question is (1). ‘ Being that ’ is not acceptable in standard written English. The sentence is corrected by changing the phrase ‘ Being that ’ to ‘ Since ’.

( b ) Why some whales beach themselves 1)/ in what seems to be 2)/ a kind of suicide remains 3)/ a mystery to marine biologists. 4)/ No error 5)

Explanation :

The answer to the above question is (1). ‘ Why ’ cannot be the subject of a sentence. The sentence is corrected by changing ‘ Why ’ to ‘ That ’.

( c ) The reason Himesh fired her 1)/ secretary is because 2)/ he was frequently late and spent 3)/ too much time on personal phone calls. 4)/ No error 5)

Explanation :

The answer to the above question is (2). ‘ Because ’ cannot introduce a noun clause. The sentence is corrected by changing ‘ because ’ to ‘ that ’.

( d ) I read in a magazine 1)/ where scientists believe that 2)/ they have discovered 3)/ a new subatomic particle. 4)/ No error 5)

Explanation :

The answer to the above example is (2). ‘ Where ’ cannot introduce a noun clause. The sentence is corrected by changing ‘ where ’ to ‘ that ’.

Checklist (Tips)

If a sentence seems to be incorrect, but you don’t find a single obvious error, run through that list of possible errors covered in this chapter. A checklist of those errors is provided below. The following is a checklist of common errors tested by sentence correction items:

1 .  Subject-Verb agreement

2 .  Pronoun usage (antecedent, ambiguity, case)

3 .  Adjective and adverb (correct modification)

4 .  Double negative (incorrect)

5 .  Parallelism (similar elements in similar form)

6 .  Split construction properly completed

7 .  Logical choice of verb tenses

8 .  Logical expression

9 .  Sentence fragments

10 . Preposition (idiomatic usage)

11 . Correct choice of words

12 . Gerund versus infinitive

13 . Low-level usage ( being that , why as a subject, because in a noun phrase, where in a noun phrase, etc).