This document discusses common types of faulty sentences in English and provides examples and exercises for each. The main faulty sentences covered are: 1. Sentence fragments - sentences that are incomplete and lack subjects, verbs, or objects. These can be corrected by adding the missing words. 2. Subject-verb disagreement - when the subject and verb do not agree in number. The subject and verb must both be singular or plural. 3. Faulty parallelism - when items in a list or series are not in the same grammatical form. The forms should be made consistent. Exercises are provided throughout for the reader to identify and correct examples of each type of faulty sentence.

1. Faulty Sentences
© Endalew Molla (Assistant Professor)
1

2. FAULTY SENTENCES
Faulty sentences are sentences
that have some grammatical or
conjunction fault/error.
The number and kind of faults
committed by any writer are many
and on this presentation, we will
focus on the most commonly and
frequently made errors.
2

3. 1. SENTENCE FRAGMENT
Sentence fragment is an incomplete
sentence which lacks either subject, verb
or object.
The correction mechanism is simply
adding the missed word or phrase.
3

4. EXAMPLES
Even if we wanted to watch football
match.
Correction
Even if we wanted to watch football
match, there is no electric power.
A nervous, pressured feeling and a
headache.
Correction
Ahmed feels a nervous, pressured
feeling and a headache.
4

5. EXERCISE
1. To catch a Taxi and hurry
downtown.
2. Although she wanted to visit a
restaurant.
5

6. ANSWERS
To catch a Taxi and hurry downtown.
Correction
We decided to catch a Taxi and hurry
downtown.
Although she wanted to visit a restaurant.
Correction
Although she wanted to visit a restaurant,
she has an appointment with her
husband.
6

7. 2. SUBJECT-VERB DISAGREEMENT
In English, the subject and the
verb should agree in number. If
there is a number mismatch
between the subject and the verb
the correction mechanism will be
as follows.
If the subject is singular, the verb
should also be singular and vice-
versa.
7

8. EXAMPLES
She fetch water everyday.
Correction
She fetches water everyday.
We wants to eat breakfast.
Correction
We want to eat breakfast.
8

9. The commander with his
secretaries admit the fault.
Correction
The commander with his
secretaries admits the fault.
9

10. EXERCISES
1.Global warming have become a
serious problem.
2.Some one want to see you in the
afternoon.
3.Neither my friend nor his
classmate know the answer.
4.In front of him, there was six
soldiers. 10

11. Answers
Global warming have become a serious
problem.
Correction
Global warming has become a serious
problem.
Some one want to see you in the
afternoon.
Correction
Some one wants to see you in the
afternoon. 11

12. Neither my friend nor his classmate
know the answer.
Correction
Neither my friend nor his classmate
knows the answer.
In front of him, there was six soldiers.
Correction
In front of him, there were six soldiers.
12

13. 3. FAULTY PARALLELISM
In English sentence, words, phrases
or clauses in a series should be in the
same grammatical structure.
If a series of words, phrases or
clauses are not in the same
grammatical form the correction
mechanism is changing the form of
the different word, based on the tense
of the sentence. 13

14. EXAMPLE 1
All night long the music from the
next apartment was banging,
thumping and pounded so loud.
Correction
All night long the music from the
next apartment was banging,
thumping and pounding so loud.
14

15. EXAMPLE 2
My sister likes wearing coloured
hats, dressing in tight clothes and to
go to classic movies.
Correction
My sister likes wearing coloured
hats, dressing in tight clothes and
going to classic movies.
15

16. EXERCISES
1. While Yodit studied mathematics and
worked on psychology, her husband
was watching the baby.
2. Sky jumping and motor race are
sports that require to consider and
manipulation of velocity and wind
resistance.
3. Walking and to swim are good
exercises for health. 16

17. Answers
While Yodit studied mathematics and
worked on psychology, her husband was
watching the baby.
Correction
While Yodit was studying mathematics
and working on psychology, her husband
was watching the baby.
17

18.  Sky jumping and motor race are sports that
require to consider and manipulation of
velocity and wind resistance.
Correction
 Sky jumping and motor racing are sports
that require consideration and manipulation
of velocity and wind resistance.
 Walking and to swim are good exercises for
health.
Correction
 Walking and swimming are good exercises
for health.
18

19. 4. RUN-ON SENTENCES
A run-on sentence consists of two or
more complete thoughts which are
placed within the same sentence
without any conjunction or punctuation
to join or separate them.
19

20. How can we correct run-on sentences?
1.Creating two separate sentences.
2.Connecting the two or more thoughts
by using semi colon.
3.Joining them by using a comma and a
coordinating conjunction (and, but, so,
yet…) or subordinate conjunction
(although, because, since…)
20

21. EXAMPLES
My young sister will visit us this weekend I
probably will not have much time to study.
Correction
My young sister will visit us this weekend. I
probably will not have much time to study.
Or
My young sister will visit us this weekend; I
probably will not have much time to study.
Or
My young sister will visit us this weekend,
therefore I probably will not have much time to
study.
21

22. EXERCISES
1. Anatomy is a field of study in
medical science physiology is
another field of study.
2. The civil war ended in 1983 the
period of reconstruction followed.
3. Nell Armstrong was the first human
to walk on the moon this event
occurred in 1969.
22

23. ANSWERS
Anatomy is a field of study in medical
science physiology is another field of
study.
Correction
Anatomy is a field of study in medical
science; physiology is another field of
study.
23

24.  The civil war ended in 1983 the period of
reconstruction followed.
Correction
 The civil war ended in 1983, then the period
of reconstruction followed.
 Nell Armstrong was the first human to walk
on the moon this event occurred in 1969.
Correction
 Nell Armstrong was the first human to walk
on the moon, and this event occurred in
1969.
24

25. 5. DANGLING MODIFIER
It is obvious that a modifier and the thing
to be modified are inseparable parts of a
sentence.
Dangling modifier problem occurs when
the sentence contains the modifier
without the thing to be modified.
25

26. To check whether a sentence has
dangling modifier problem or not, we
can ask a question “Who?”. If we can’t
get answer, surely the sentence has
dangling modifier problem.
The correction is adding appropriate
word to be modified.
26

27. EXAMPLE 1
After getting off the bus, the driver
pulled.
Who get off the bus? It is not clear.
Correction
After I get off the bus, the driver
pulled.
Now, who get off the bus? I!
27

28. EXAMPLE 2
While sitting under the apple tree, ants
started to attack.
Who sits under the apple tree? We don’t
know.
Correction
While Abebe sits under the apple tree,
ants started to attack.
Now, who sits under the apple tree? It is
clear, Abebe!
28

29. EXERCISES
1.Watching the Olympic games
eagerly, the power went off.
2.After deciding to travel on foot, it
begins to rain.
3.Being nervous, the test seemed
more difficult than it was.
29

30. ANSWERS
Watching the Olympic games eagerly, the
power went off.
Correction
While we watch the Olympic games
eagerly, the power went off
30

31. After deciding to travel on foot, it
begins to rain.
Correction
After they decided to travel on foot, it
begins to rain.
Being nervous, the test seemed more
difficult than it was.
Correction
When she becomes nervous, the test
seemed more difficult than it was.
31

32. 6. MISPLACED MODIFIER
In the English language, a modifier
should come immediately before or
after the word that it modifies.
If the modifier and the word to be
modified are written far apart, the
problem of misplaced modifier will
occur.
32

33. EXAMPLE
Smashed and fired, my mother served
the meat to our table.
The modifier is “smashed and fired” and
the word to be modified is “the meat”. But
the modifier is not written immediately
before or after the word it modifies.
Correction
My mother served smashed and fired
meat to our table
33

34. EXAMPLE 2
I saw a dress in a magazine that costs
1,000 birr.
Correction
In a magazine, I saw a dress that
costs 1,000 birr.
Or
I saw a dress that costs 1,000 birr in a
magazine.
34

35. EXERCISES
1. A national problem, the governors of all
the states meet to discuss
homelessness.
2. The book was checked out by the
librarian that a student had returned
late.
3. Angry with the delay, the bus driver
finally arrived and the passengers
murmured.
35

36. ANSWERS
A national problem, the governors of
all the states meet to discuss
homelessness.
Correction
The governors of all the states meet to
discuss a national problem:
homelessness.
36

37.  The book was checked out by the librarian
that a student had returned late.
Correction
 The book that a student had returned late was
checked out by the librarian.
 Angry with the delay, the bus driver finally
arrived and the passengers murmured
Correction
 Angry with the delay, the passengers
murmured and finally the bus driver arrived
37

38. 7. CHOPPY SENTENCE
Choppy sentence occurs when two or
more ideas that can be expressed within
a single sentence are written in separate
sentences.
To amend this problem, we can use the
following mechanisms.
 Join them with a comma and
coordinating/subordinate conjunctions.
38

39.  Join the sentences by using a semi
colon and a conjunctive adverb
(however, therefore, thus…)
 Join them with a semi-colon if they
don’t need any conjunction.
39

40. EXAMPLE 1
Chala invited us dinner. The invitation
is at the new restaurant down the
street. The restaurant is excellent with
fair price.
Correction
Chala invited us dinner at the new
restaurant down the street; and that
restaurant is excellent with fair price.
40

41. EXAMPLE 2
The lecturer did not discuss the chapter on
centrifugal force. The exam included
several questions on centrifugal force.
Every student scored less than half.
Correction
The lecturer did not discuss the chapter on
centrifugal force; however the exam
included several questions from the topic
as a result, every student scored less than
half. 41

42. EXERCISES
1. Lalibela is an incredible sight. It was
built in the twelfth century. It serves as
major source of income for the country.
2. A field study observes subjects in their
natural setting. Only a small number of
subjects can be studied at one time.
3. The teacher returned our test papers.
He did not comment on them. We have
done them carelessly.
42

43. ANSWERS
Lalibela is an incredible sight. It was built in
the twelfth century. It serves as major source
of income for the country.
Correction
Lalibela, which was built in the twelfth
century is an incredible sight; and it is the
major source of income for the country.
43

44.  A field study observes subjects in their natural settings;
but only a small number of subjects can be studied at
one time.
Correction
 A field study observes subjects in their natural setting.
Only a small number of subjects can be studied at one
time.
 The teacher returned our test papers and he did not
comment on them; because we have done them
carelessly.
Correction
 The teacher returned our test papers. He did not
comment on them. We have done them carelessly.
44

45. 8. PRONOUN REFERENCE
A pronoun refers a specific noun and it
is used to replace that noun.
However, it must be clear to which
noun the pronoun refers.
To make sentences free from pronoun
reference problem, we need to focus on
the following rule.
45

46. A pronoun must refer to a specific word or
words. Avoid vague or unclear references.
Example
They said on the evening news that the
president would visit France.
Who are “they”? – not clear or vague
Correction
Ministers said on the evening news that the
president would visit France.
46

47. If more than one noun is present, it must
be clear to which noun the pronoun
refers.
Example
Almaz told Kedja that she has passed the
exam.
Who has passed the exam? Almaz or
Kedja?
47

48. CORRECTION
Almaz told Kedja: “I have passed the
exam”.
Or
Almaz told Kedja: “You have passed
the exam”.
48

49. EXERCISE
The teacher punish the student as a
result his father becomes angry.
He ordered citizens to pay tax.
Lecturers told their students that they
will have meeting tonight.
49

50. ANSWERS
The teacher punish the student as a
result his father becomes angry.
Correction
The teacher punish the student as a
result the student’s father becomes
angry.
50

51. He ordered citizens to pay tax.
Correction
The president ordered citizens to pay tax.
Lecturers told their students that they will
have meeting tonight.
Correction
Lecturers told their students: “We have
meeting tonight”.
Or
Lecturers told their students : “You have
meeting tonight”.
51

52. 9. PRONOUN ANTECEDENT DISAGREEMENT
A pronoun (he, she, it) substitutes for a
noun and must agree in person,
number and gender(male/female)
with its antecedent.
To write sentences that are free from
pronoun antecedent disagreement, we
need to focus on the following points.
52

53. If the pronoun is singular, the
antecedent should be singular and
vise versa.
Some indefinite pronouns are plural:
others are singular.
If a noun refers something that can’t
be counted, use a singular pronoun to
refer it.
Use plural pronoun to refer two or
more nouns linked by “and”. 53

54. If a pronoun substitutes for two or
more nouns joined by “or” or “nor”, the
pronoun agrees with the noun it is
nearer to.
Examples
Fatuma wanted to lend me her class
notes.
Farmers produce cash crops; many of
them made a lot of money.
54

55. One of the team members couldn’t find
his keys.
Both of the teachers said they planned
to leave for vacation in July.
Too much sugar is dangerous for
health, so it has to be minimized from
our table.
Alemu and Sara lost their keys.
55

56. Either Mr. Gemeda or his sons will
drive their car.
Neither the committee members nor
the manager bought cloth for his/her
children.
56

57. EXERCISES
Hellen and I are going to pool
(her/mine/our) money to buy a car.
Abel and Beza brought (his/her/their)
worksheets.
Each student received (his/her/their)
transcript by mail.
Either the sweater or the shirt will be
returned to the store because (it/they)
came from the wrong stockroom. 57

58. Everyone opened (his/her/their) books
on page 50.
When the play was over, the audience
rose from (its/their) seat to give a
standing ovation.
No one handed in (his/her/their) exam
before the time was up.
58

59. 10. COMMA SPLICE
This is miss use of Comma ( , ) in a
sentence.
The comma should be placed on its
appropriate place in a sentence.
Study the following sentences, they all
have comma splice problem.
If, I study hard I will pass the exam.
I would visit Gondar, if I were you.
59

60. 60