4 questions

Common Usage Errors

Which sentence communicates the instruction in correct, patient-friendly English?

  • a.You must to finish the whole course of tablets.
  • b.You must finish the whole course of tablets.
  • c.You must finishing the whole course of tablets.
  • d.You must to finishing the whole course of tablets.

The modal 'must' is followed directly by the base verb with no 'to': 'must finish'. Adding 'to' or an -ing form is incorrect after a modal.

Common Usage Errors

Which sentence corrects the error in 'The patient explained me his concerns clearly'?

  • a.The patient explained me clearly his concerns.
  • b.The patient explained his concerns me clearly.
  • c.The patient explained his concerns to me clearly.
  • d.The patient explained to his concerns me clearly.

'Explain' takes 'to' before the listener: 'explained his concerns to me'. You cannot say 'explain me'; the preposition 'to' is required.

Common Usage Errors

Which sentence uses the workplace phrase correctly?

  • a.I will inform the family about the visiting hours.
  • b.I will inform to the family about the visiting hours.
  • c.I will inform the family about of the visiting hours.
  • d.I will informing the family about the visiting hours.

'Inform' is followed directly by the person, with no 'to': 'inform the family'. The information then follows 'about'.

Common Usage Errors

Which sentence is free of usage errors?

  • a.There is less appointments available this week.
  • b.There is fewer appointments available this week.
  • c.There are less appointments available this week.
  • d.There are fewer appointments available this week.

'Appointments' is countable and plural, so it takes 'fewer' and the plural verb 'are': 'There are fewer appointments available.' 'Less' is for uncountable nouns.

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