Something's not quite right

Read the following two sections from narratives. Highlight any errors you find and discuss them with a partner.

If you agree that something is not quite right with the text for any reason, note how you would ‘repair’ the text so it makes clear sense to a reader.

After you have finished a section, click on the link to see if you identified the problems correctly. You can also click on a link to see an improved version to match against your own.

Something's not quite right

This section looks at some of the other errors that can easily be made in writing when working at speed in an examination.

Select the sentences below that are grammatically correct:

Either the cleaner or the caretaker have the tools for the job.

Either the cleaner or the caretaker has the tools for the job.

Dad did not mention neither the trip nor the time we were leaving.

Dad did not mention the trip nor the time we were leaving.

Neither of the brothers were present in school today.

Neither of the brothers was present in school today.

Is either of the sisters coming today?

Are either of the sisters coming today?

None of the animals were lost in the storm.

None of the animals was lost in the storm.

I used to go and visit my friend every day.

I used to go and visit my friend everyday.

It was an every day event.

It was an everyday event.

After the race I was so tired that I fell over and couldn’t move.

After the race I was that tired that I fell over and couldn’t move.

Maybe I could have chosen a different outfit.

May be I could have chosen a different outfit.

It maybe better to choose a different outfit.

It may be better to choose a different outfit.

Your fooling yourself if you think you’re teacher will allow it.

You’re fooling yourself if you think your teacher will allow it.

The sun shone brightly in my eyes and I had to pull down the shade.

The sun shone bright in my eyes and I had to pull down the shade.

All of my worries had just melted away, except one.

All of my worries had just melted away, accept one.

A box of old vinyl records were found in the attic of the abandoned house.

A box of old vinyl records was found in the attic of the abandoned house.

I can only see you for a while on the way back from town.

I can only see you for awhile on the way back from town.

Its all about knowing when to offer to take the dog for it’s walk.

It’s all about knowing when to offer to take the dog for its walk.