MỘT số PHƯƠNG PHÁP GIÚP học SINH làm DẠNG bài tập PHÁT HIỆN lỗi SAI TRONG câu TIẾNG ANH

CHUYÊN ĐỀ BỒI DƯỠNG ÔN THI THPT QUỐC GIA
MÔN: TIẾNG ANH

CHUYÊN ĐỀ: MỘT SỐ PHƯƠNG PHÁP GIÚP HỌC SINH LÀM DẠNG
BÀI TẬP PHÁT HIỆN LỖI SAI TRONG CÂU TIẾNG ANH

A. PHẦN MỞ ĐẦU\
I. LÝ DO CHỌN CHUYÊN ĐỀ BỒI DƯỠNG:
Ngoại ngữ nói chung và Tiếng Anh nói riêng đã, đang và sẽ trở thành một môn
văn hóa cơ bản trong chương trình giáo dục phổ thông. Đồng thời việc giảng dạy ngoại
ngữ - Tiếng Anh cũng đang được các nhà trường, các nhà giáo dục, nhiều dự án giáo
dục và đông đảo giáo viên quan tâm và đưa ra nhiều phương pháp dạy học thích hợp.
Trong chương trình Tiếng Anh THPT, dạng bài tập xác định lỗi sai trong câu cho sẵn
luôn xuất hiện trong các kì thi THPTQG và thi học sinh giỏi.
Hơn nữa, trường chúng tôi là một trường không thuộc địa phận thành phố, cùng
với sự thiếu thốn về các trang thiết bị trong giảng dạy nên học sinh của trường ít nhiều
cũng không có đủ điều kiện học tập như các trường ngoài thị xã. Do đó, khả năng tiếp
thu kiến thức cũng có phần hạn chế. Với môn tiếng Anh các em lại gặp nhiều khó khăn
hơn và không ít học sinh cũng gặp khó khăn khi giải quyết dạng bài tập tìm lỗi sai này.
Nhằm giúp các em nắm vững kiến thức, kỹ năng làm bài tập tốt với dạng phát hiện lỗi
sai trong câu tiếng anh, chúng tôi đã mạnh dạn nghiên cứu một số giải pháp giúp đỡ
các em, do đó chúng tôi đã chọn đề tài cho chuyên đề bổi dưỡng của mình là “Một số
phương pháp giúp học sinh làm dạng bài tập phát hiện lỗi sai trong câu Tiếng
Anh”.
II. PHẠM VI NGHIÊN CỨU:
1. Đối tượng học sinh bồi dưỡng:
Các em học sinh lớp 11A1, 11A6, 11A8 trường THPT …………..
2. Thời lượng giảng dạy:
2 buổi học chuyên đề – tương đương 6 tiết học
3. Vấn đề nghiên cứu:
Các vấn đề có liên quan đến phương pháp phát hiện lỗi sai trong câu tiếng anh như là “

errors with word forms, errors in word choice, errors with verbs, errors with parallel
structures, …..”.

1


B. PHẦN NỘI DUNG
I. CƠ SỞ LÝ LUẬN:
Chuyên đề mà chúng tôi nghiên cứu liên quan đến một vấn đề mà hầu hết các em
học sinh khi học tiếng Anh cũng đều than phiền là hay nhầm lẫn đôi khi là không thể
xác định được lỗi sai trong câu đã đưa ra. Nhiều học sinh không làm được bài tập
nguyên nhân xuất phát từ việc các em không nhận biết được các dạng lỗi sai thương
gặp trong câu cho sẵn.
Nếu thực hiện tốt các vấn đề được nêu ra trong chuyên đề các em học sinh sẽ học
tốt hơn bộ môn, các em dễ dàng tiếp thu các kiến thức tiếng Anh cơ bản và đồng thời
giúp các em làm bài kiểm tra 1 tiết và học kì cũng như các bài thi khác hiệu quả hơn.
II. THỰC TRẠNG CỦA VẤN ĐỀ :
Nhiều em học sinh chưa nắm bắt được một số phương pháp để phát hiện lỗi sai
trong câu cho sẵn.
Nhiều em học sinh chưa nắm bắt được một số dạng bài thường xuất hiện trong
dạng bài tập phát hiện lỗi sai trong câu cho sẵn.
Nhiều em học sinh yếu, khả năng tiếp thu chưa cao, nên mất kiến thức cơ bản và
cảm thấy chán học, tự ti, nhút nhát trong quá trình học tập bộ môn.
Ý thức và động cơ tự học của học sinh chưa cao, nhiều em chỉ học để đối phó với
giáo viên bộ môn.

2


PRE-TEST

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the underlined part
that needs correction in each of the following questions.
1. Overpopulation and negative effect of it has been major concerns in cities all around
A
B
C
D
the globe.
2. It is argued that high costs of living and rising transport difficulties being two of the
A
B
C
most serious problems brought about by overpopulation in cities.
D
3. Because of severe asthma attacks, the doctor suggested his patient to stop smoking.
A
B
C
D
4. Food prices have raised so rapidly in the past few months that some families have
A
B
C
been forced to alter their eating habits.
D
5. What problems could it cause and how citizens should prevent these challenges will
A
B
C
be covered in my essay.

D
6. Strong city planning will be essential in managing those and others difficulties as
A
B
C
D
the world's urban areas well.
7. At the end, everybody cleaned up the whole room, that I hadn't expected before.
A
B
C
D
8. My beautiful and intelligent sister turned off TV, sit down and started to cry.
A
B
C
D
9. I came to class very early so the teacher was late due to heavy traffic.
A
B
C
D
10. Neither Lan or her friends care about the coming exam.
A
B
C
D
11. One of the sad moments of the cruise was saying goodbye to Mel, who had sailed
A
B

with us since we had set sail but whose health problems forced him to leave us at
C
D
Lagos.
3


12. The crime rate in this city has increased from ten per cent last year to thirty per
A
B
cent by the end of 2009 due to the influx of the gang element.
C
D
13. Besides visiting ancient monuments and tombs, coming to Hue, you can also have
A
B
a chance to bathe and lying under the sun on the most wildly beautiful beaches in Viet
C
D
Nam.
14.Many signed languages, including American Sign Language, have born within
A
B
C
the last few centuries.
D
15.Thanks to the first lawn mower which was invented in 1830, we don't have to pay
A
B
for someone to have our grass to be cut any more.

C
D
16. According to the futurist Ray Kurzweil, humans could have tiny computerized
A
B
machines or nanobots invent thanks to future medical advances.
C
D
17. In his Aston Martin DB5 car, Bond can have the photos being printed out along
A
B
with the information about the people in them from a panel in a dashboard.
C
D
18. There's a network in computing called 'beta testing', which means you test
A
B
something seeing if it works properly before it comes official.
C
D
19. No longer do housewives have to clean the house every day because they get it
A
B
C
done for robotic vacuum cleaners.
D
20. The owners of modern manufacturing plants had workers doing heavy and
A
B
repetitive tasks replacing, by robots.

C
D

Tổng hợp kết quả bài kiểm tra
Ðiểm
11A1
11A6
11A8

Sĩ số
39
38
38

1-3
3
7
1

4-5
13
15
10
4

6-7
18
12
17

8-10
5
4
10


III. GIẢI QUYẾT VẤN ĐỀ:
1. ERRORS WITH WORD FORMS
a. Adjective/adverb errors
The most common type of word form problem involves the use of an adverb in place
of an adjective or an adjective in place of an adverb. A few points to keep in mind:
+Adjectives modify nouns, noun phrases, pronouns. They often come before nouns,
follow “to be” and other linking verbs.
+Adverbs modify verbs, participles, adjectives, prepositions, and other adverbs.
They are often formed by adding the suffix “ly” to an adjective.
E.g: The Black Hills of South Dakota are covered with densely pine forest.
A
B
C
D
→ The answer is D.
An Adjective “dense” need to use replaced for Adverb “densely “
b. Incorrect forms of words connected with certain fields.
This error involves a confusion between the names of fields and the names of a person
who practices in that field or between one of those terms and the adjective that
describes the field.
E.g: First specializing in industrial photography, Margaret Bourke- White later
A
B
became a famous news photographer and editorial.

C
D
→ The answer is D
A noun referring to a person is needed here.
EXERCISE: Choose the underlined part A, B, C or D that needs correction in each
of the following questions.
1. Liberal arts colleges cultivate general intellectually abilities rather than technical or
A
B
C
professional skills.
D
2. Goats are extremely destruction to natural vegetation and are often responsible for
A
B
C
D
soil erosion.
3.Wild plants were of considerable important to early settlers, and many are still used
A
B
C
medicinally and as foods.
D
4. One important branch of linguistics is semantics, which analysis the meaning of
A
B
C
D
5

words.
5. Unlike folk dancers, which are the product of a single culture, ballet is an
A
B
C
international art form.
D
6.The strong of a rope is directly proportional to its cross-sectional area.
A
B
C
D
7.Black bears can move rapidly when necessary and are skillful tree- climbers for their
A
B
C
size and weigh.
D
8. In an arboretum, trees are cultivated for scientific and educational purpose.
A
B
C
D
9. In most Western state, the first major industry was mining, which was gradually
A
B
supplemented by ranches.
C

D
10.Peach trees grow good in a variety of soil types, but do best in sandy loam.
A B
C
D
KEY
1.B →intellectual
6.A →strength
2.A → destructive
7.D →weight
3.C → importance
8.D →purposes
4.B → linguistic
9.D →ranching
5.A → dances
10.B →well
2. ERRORS IN WORD CHOICE
a. Wrong choice of MAKE or DO
The verb to do is often used in place of to make, and to make in place of to do.
*Common Expressions with MAKE
Make advance in
Make a point
Make an attempt
Make an investment
Make a comparison
Make a prediction
Make a contribute
Make a profit
Make a decision
Make a promise

Make a distinction
Make an offer
Make a for cast
Make a suggestion
Make a law
Make a sound/ noise
* Common Expressions with DO.
Do an assignment
Do research
Do business with
Do one’s work
Do one’s duty
Do someone a favor
Do someone a favor
Do a job
b. Wrong choice of LIKE or ALIKE and LIKE or AS
Like A, B ……………………
E.g: Like birds, mammals are warm-blooded.
A, like B,…………………………………..
E.g: Birds like mammals are warm- blooded.
6


A is like B……………………………………
E.g: Birds are like mammals in that they are both warm- blooded.
A and B are alike……………………..
E.g: Birds and mammals are alike in that they are both worm- blooded.
c. Wrong choice of SO, SUCH, TOO, AS
+ So + Adjective that + clause
So many/ much + N + that + clause

E.g: These boxes are so heavy that we can’t lift them.
There are so many people in the auditorium that we could barely get in the front
door.
+ Such +Adjective + N + that + clause
E.g: It was such a pretty view that he took a photograph.
+ Too + adjective + infinitive
E.g: It’s too cold to go swimming today.
d. Wrong choice of ANOTHER or OTHER
- Used as an adjective :Another + singular noun while other + plural nouns
-Used as a pronoun: Other is preceded by determiner such as the/ some/ any/ one/ no
E.g:
1. There are other matters I’d like to discuss with you.
2. One of the books was a novel; the other was a collection of essays.
e. Wrong choice of BECAUSE or BECAUSE OF; INSPITE OF/ DESPITE/
ALTHOUGH; DURING or WHEN /WHILE
+ Because + clause – because of + Noun/ Noun phrase/ Gerund
E.g: Because it rained heavily, he didn’t go to class.
Because of the heavy rain, he didn’t go to class.
+Although + clause – In spite of/ despite + Noun/ Noun phrase/ Gerund
E.g: Although he was ill, he still went to school.
In spite of being ill, he still went to school.
+During + Nouns/ Noun phrase – when/ while + clause
E.g: All the class kept quite during the lesson
When we were doing the house work, she came.
f. Wrong choice of MUCH or MANY and SIMILLAR EXPRESSIONS
+Many/few/a few/ fewer/ the fewest/ number + plural nouns.
E.g: Many students didn’t finish the homework yesterday.
+Much/ little/ a little/ less/ amount + uncountable nouns.
E.g: I don’t have much money but I am happy.
g. Other wrong choice pairs

+ NO and NOT
No used as adjective before nouns, and expression “no longer”
E.g: There is no student in the class at this moment.
Not used to make all other words negatives.
E.g: I am a teacher, not him.
+ MOST and ALMOST
Most used in superlative adjective; or meaning “majority”
Almost means “nearly” – almost all of…
E.g: This is the most interesting book I’ve ever read.
I’ve solved almost of all problems in the book.
+ TWICE and DOUBLE
Twice means “ 2 times”; double means “make twice as large”
+ EARLIEST and SOONEST
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Earliest used as adjective – soonest used as adverb
+ PERCENT and PERCENTAGE
Percent used after a number but percentage not used after a number.
+ ALIVE and LIVE
Alive used after a verb- live used before a noun
+ AROUND and ROUND
Around used a preposition- round used an adjective
+ AGE and OLD
Age used a noun- old used as an adjective
+ NEAR and NEARLY
Near used as an adjective- nearly used as an adverb.
EXERCISE
Exercise 1: Do or Make
1. Yeast is added to dough to (do/ make) bread light and porous.

2. The helicopter can (do/ make) jobs that no other aircraft can.
3. The distinction between wildflowers and weeds is one that is often difficult to (do/
make) .
4. Many universities receive grants to (do/ make) research for the federal government.
5. A cottage industry is a form of manufacturing (done/ made) at home.
6. Futurologists study current trends to (do/ make) predictions about the future.
Exercise 2: Like and Alike; like and as
1. (Like / alike) starts, galaxies tend to congregate in clusters.
2. Fashion design, (as/ like) all types of design, has been greatly aides by computers.
3. A peanut is not actually a nut but a legume (alike/ like) pea and beans
4. The Stately government House in Annapolis serves (as/ like) the residential of the
governor of Mary-land.
5. The cetosaur was a dinosaur that looked much (as/like) the Whale of today.
6. Fats are made up of carbon, hydrogen, and carbon atoms just (like/ as) carbon
hydrates are.
Exercise 3: Choose the underlined part A, B, C or D that needs correction in each of
the following questions.
1. When a spacecraft is operating beyond the atmosphere, its fins and wigs not longer
A
B
C
serve to stabilize it.
D
2. One should never throw water on an alike electrical fire.
A
B
C
D
3. The soonest parachutes were made of canvas, but later , silk and then nylon
A

B
C
was used.
D
4. A person must be at least 30 years age in order to serve as a US senator.
A
B
C
D
5. No other state receives as few rainfall as the state of Nevada.
A B
C
D
6. Because of refection, the water in the tank ever looks as deep as it actually is.
A
B
C
D
7. Molds grow on bread, fruit, paper, and much other substances.
8


A
B C
D
8. The lei, which is made of flowers, shells, and other materials, is presented to visitors
A
B
as a symbolize of Hawaiian hospitality.
C D

9. Today oysters are grown and harvested much like another crop.
A
B C D
10. Once should never throw water on an alive electrical fire.
A
B
C
D

KEY
1C→ no longer
2. C → as much
3. D → nearly
4. C → old
5. C → little

6. B→ never
7. B→ many
8. D→ symbol
9. D→ other
10. C→ alive

3. ERRORS WITH VERB
a. Errors in subject/verb agreement
Students should remember some rules:
-A subject is singular, verb must be singular; A subject is plural , verb must be plural.
-A sentence with 2 subjects jointed by “and” takes a plural verb.
E.g Mary and Tom are close friends.
-Some words end in “s” but are singular form : physics; economics; news and so on.
-Some irregular plurals : children; feet; mice; people; men…………..

-Clause begins with “there” verb may be singular or plural.
E.g: There is a boy standing over there.
There are some books on the table.
-Subjects with “each; every” takes singular verbs.
-The verb in relative clause depends on the noun that relative pronoun refers to
E.g: The boy who is talking is my son.
The men who are talking are my friends.
-Phrase “the number of + plural noun” takes a singular verb; “a number of + plural
noun” takes a plural verb.
-Quantities of time, money, distance, and so on take a singular verb.
-Singular subject used with “along with; with; accompanied by; together with; in
addition to” takes singular verbs.
b. Errors involving tenses
Students should remember the forms and uses of basic tenses.
c. Incorrect verb forms.
Students should remember that
- An “ing” form may be used in place of a past participle.
-A past participle in place of a past tense form
-A simple form in place of an “ing” form
-An “infinitive” in place of an simple form.
-Some involve irregular verbs that have different forms for the past tense and the past
participle.
9


EXERCISE: Choose the underlined part A, B, C or D that needs correction in each
of the following questions.
1. Medical students must to study both the theory and practice of medicine.
A
B

C
D
2. The seal, like the sea lion and walrus , is a descendant of ancestors that once live on
A
B
C
D
the land.
3. The top layer of the ocean stores as much heat as does gases in the atmosphere
A
B
C
D
4. Every one of the body’s billions of cells require a constant supply of food and
A
B
C
D
oxygen
5. In science, the results of an experiment are not generally accepted until they had
A
B
C
been duplicated in other laboratories.
D
6. In Colonial times, flax and wool required months of preparation before they could
A
B
C
be dyed and spin into cloth.

D
7. Although some people find bats terrifying, they are actually beneficial because they
A
B
C
are harmful insects .
D
8. Each of the four types of human tooth are suited for a specific purpose .
A
B
C
D
9. Mathematicians taken centuries to develop the methods that now are used in
A
B
C
Arithmetic.
D
10. Electric milking machines have made dairy farming a much easier job than it once
A
B
C
did
D
11.Playwright Frank Shin has often describes the lives of Chinese Americans in his
A
B
C
dramas.
D

12. Cans of paint muse be shaking to mix the pigments with the medium in which they
A
B
C
are suspended .
D
13. Beavers continuously repair the dams they have build .
A
B
C
D
14. The emphasize on team sports has become even stronger in this century than it was
A
B
C
D
in the last .
15. Sheep are often dip in liquid chemicals to eliminate tick and other external
A
B
C
D
10


parasites.
KEY
1. A→ to study
2. D→ lived
3. D→ do

4. B→ requires
5. C→ have

6. D→ required
7. D→ span
8. C→ ate
9. A→ is suited
10. D→ was

11. B→ described
12. A→ shaken
13. D→ built
14. A→ emphasis
15. B→ dipped

4. ERRORS WITH PARALLEL STRUCTURES
Students should remember that
“These sentences most often contain a series of 3 expressions: X, Y, Z. One of these
expression is not grammatically parallel to the other 2 items in the series.
Structures that are often involved in parallelism are nouns, adjectives, verbs,
prepositional phrases ,gerunds, and infinitives.”
-To recognize this type of mistake Ss should remember that this mistake often go with
“AND; SO; BUT; OR”
EXERCISE: Choose the underlined part A, B, C or D that needs correction in each
of the following questions.
1. The bellflower is a wildflower that grows in shady fields, in marshes, and mountain
A

B

C

D

Slopes.
2. Computers are often used to control, adjustment, and correct complex industrial
A
B
C
D
operations.
3. Eggs maybe boiled in the shell, scrambled, fried, and cooked in countless another
A
B
C
D
ways.
4. Many places of history, scientific, cultural, or scenic importance have been
A
B
C
designated national monuments .
D
5. R. Buckminster Fuller was a design, an architect, an inventor, and an engineer.
A
B
C
D
6. Modern motorcycles are lighter, faster, and specialized than motorcycles of twentyA
B

C
D
five years ago.
7. Many people who live near the ocean depend on it as a source of food, recreation,
A
B
C
and to have economic opportunities.
D
8. Large commercial fishing vessels are equipped to clean, packaging, and freeze the
A
B
C
fish that they catch at sea .
D
9. As a breed, golden retrievers are intelligent, loyally, and friendly dogs.
A
B
C
D
10. Mathematics can be considered a language, an art, a science, a tool, or playing a
11


A

B

C

D

game.
11. Paper may contain vegetable, minerals, or man-made fibers.
A
B
C
D
12. According to Susan Sontag, our concepts of art, beauty, and nature has been
A
B
C D
changed by photography.
13. The economist Kenneth Building proposed a single social science that would unify
A
B
economics, sociology, and political science.
C
D
14. The teeth front are used to bite food, the canines to tear it, and the molars to grind
A
B C
D
it .
15. An ant’s antennae provide it with the senses of hear, smell, touch and taste.
A
B
C
D
KEY

1. D→ mountainous
6. C→ more
11. C→ mineral
2. B→ adjust
7. D→ economical
12. D→ have
3. D→ other
8. B→ package
13. C→ economics
4. A→ historical
9. C→ loyal
14. A→ front teeth
5. A→ a designer
10. D→ a playing game
15. C→ hearing
5. ERRORS WITH PRONOUNS
Pronoun errors in expression involve several types of pronouns:
+Personal pronouns (he/ she/ it/ they/I/ you/ we )
+Reflexive pronouns (himself/herself/itself/ themselves…)
+Relative pronouns (who/whose/which/ that…..)
+Demonstrative pronouns (this/ that/ these/ those)
There are 4 kinds of typical mistakes related to pronouns:
+ Errors in pronoun/noun agreement
A pronoun must agree with the noun to which it refers
E.g : Jackrabbits have powerful rear legs that enable it to leap long distances.
A
B
C
D
The answer is C. It must be replaced by they.

+ Errors in pronoun form.
These errors involve personal pronouns.
E.g: Herman Melville gathered material form him novels, including Moby Dick,
A
B
during his years at sea.
C
D
The answer is B. The possessive form his, not the object form him, is required.
+ Incorrect type of pronoun.
In some sentences, the wrong type of pronoun is used.
E.g: A barometer is a device it is used to measure atmospheric pressure.
A
B
C
D
The answer is B. Which or that must be used instead of it.
+ Incorrect inclusion of pronouns.
12


This type of error occurs when a personal pronoun is used as a subject in a sentence
that already has a noun subject.
E.g: Certain types of turtles that may live as long as 100 years.
A
B
C
D
The answer is B .The relative pronoun that is unnecessary in this sentence.
EXERCISE: Choose the underlined part A, B, C or D that needs correction in each

of the following questions.
1. A beavers uses its strong front teeth to cut down trees peel off its bark …….
A
B
C D
2. A caricature in which the subject’s distinctive features they are deliberately
A
B
C
exaggerated
D
3. Ants are blind to red light, so it is possible to observe themselves in an artificial nest
A
B
without disturbing their activities …….….
C
D
4. An auger is a tool which a carpenter uses it to bore holes in wood ………
A
B
C
D
5. The glaciers in Olympia National Park are unusually because they are found at
A
B
altitudes lower than those at which glaciers are usually found .
C
D
6. In his novels, Sinclair Lewis drew critical portraits of Americans who thought of
A

B
C
them as model citizens .
D
7. Jaguars which resemble leopards but they are larger and are marked with rosettes
A
B
C
rather than spots.
D
8. Most bacteria have strong cell walls much like that of plants.
A
B
C D
9. Bees collect pollen, which furnishes protein for its diet.
A
B
C
D
10. A small business often limits their operations to a single neighborhood or a group
A
B
C
of neighboring communities.
D
11. Louisa May Alcott, she is a best known for her books for children, served as a
A
B
C
nurse during the Civil War.

D
12. The principles used in air-conditioning are basically the same as those used by the
A
B
C
human body to cool himself .
D
KEY
1. D→ their
5. A→ unusual
9. D→ their
2. C→ are
6. D→ themselves
10. D→ its
13


3. B→ them
4. B→ uses

7. A→ resemble
8. D→ those

11. A→ who
12. D→ itself

6. ERRORS WITH SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS
Students should remember that:
* Determiners used with singular nouns:
(a/an; one; a single; each; every; this; that)

* Determiners used with plural nouns:
(Two/ three/ four; dozen of; hundreds of; thousands of; a few of; many of; a number
of; a couple of; every one of; each one of; each of; one of; these; those)
*Some common irregular plural nouns: children; men; women; feet; teeth; mice;
fish…
*Errors with plural forms of non-count nouns.
*Errors with plural compound nouns.
*Errors involving plural forms of numbers and measurement.
EXERCISE: Choose the underlined part A, B, C or D that needs correction in each
of the following questions.
1. The male mandril baboon is one of the most colorful of all mammal.
A
B
C
D
2. Zoonoses are diseases that can be transmitted to humans beings by animal.
A
B
C
D
3. Many championship automobiles and motorcycle races take place in
A
B
C
D
Daytona Beach, Florida.
4. The new berry Award is granted every years to the authors of outstanding
A
B
books for children.

C
D
5. The major source of air pollution vary from city to city.
A
B
C
D
6. Around 75 percents of the earth’s surface is covered by water.
A
B
C
D
7. All college and universities get their funds from a variety of sources.
A
B
C
D
8. Russell Cave in northeastern Alabama was the home of cliff-dwelling
A
B
Indians thousand of years ago.
C
D
9. In 1792 a corporation constructed a 60-miles toll road from Philadelphia
A
B
C
D
to Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
10. The mathematician and astronomer David Rittenhouse was one of the

A
B
first man of science in the American colonies.
C
D
11. Publishers of modern encyclopedias employ hundreds of specialists and
A
B
C
large editorials staffs.
D
14


12. The electric toaster was one of the earliest appliance to be developed for
A
B
C
the kitchen.
D
13. Tornadoes can pick up objects as heavy as automobiles and carry them
A
B
for hundreds of foot.
C
D
14. Many kinds of vegetables are growth in California’s Imperial Valley.
A
B
C

D
15. In typical pioneers settlements, men, women, and children worked from
A
B
C
morning until night at farm and household tasks.
D
16. Some engineers have predicted that, within twenty years, automobiles
A
B
will be make almost completely of plastic.
C
D
17. The pine tree is probably the more important lumber tree in the world.
A
B
C
D
18. Mary Lyon founded Mount Holyoke College, the first permanent
A
institution of higher learning for woman in the United States.
B
C
D
19. Adult humans have more than a trillions cells in their bodies.
A
B
C
D
20. Phytoplankton is found only in the upper layers of the ocean, where

A
B
C
sunlight can reach.
D
KEY
1. D→ mammals
8. C→ thousands
15. A→ pioneer
2. C→ human
9. C→ mile
16. C→ made
3. B→ automobile
10. C→ men
17. B→ most
4. A→ year
11. D→ editorial
18. D→ women
5. B→ sources
12. C→ appliance
19. B→ trillion
6. B→ percent
13. D→ feet
20. D→ sunlight
7. A→ colleges
14. C→ grown
7. ERRORS WITH VERB FORMS
Students should remember that:
-Verb forms are participles (present participles, past participles); gerunds; infinitives;
simple forms of verbs.

-There are 3 commons mistakes related to the verb forms:
+Incorrect choice of verb forms
E.g: The writer Edgar Allen Poe is usually credited with invent the short story.
A
B
C
D
The answer is C. After preposition with a gerund should be used not a simple form.
+Incorrect choice of participles
15


E.g: There are probably around 3000 languages speaking in the world.
A
B
C
D
The answer is C. A past participle “spoken” is required not a present participle.
+Incorrect forms of infinitives.
E.g: Viral infections are generally more difficult to treating than bacterial infections.
A
B
C
D
The answer is C. The correct form of the infinitive is to treat.
EXERCISE: Choose the underlined part A, B, C or D that needs correction in each
of the following questions.
1. The most widely used material for package consumer goods is cardboard.
A
B

C
D
2. One of the latest methods of quarrying stone is to cutting the stone
A
B
C
with a jet torch.
D
3. In 1994, biologist Charles Michener devised a system for to classfy
A
B
the approximate 20000 species of bees.
C
D
4. Most candles are made of paraffin wax mix with compounds
A
that have higher melting points to keep them from melting in hot weather.
B
C
D
5. Machines used to harvest tree crops such as cherries or almonds can
A
B
be classified either as shakers and as pick-up machines.
C
D
6. Fishing cats, found in Southeast Asia, are distinguished by their
A
B
webbed feet that enable them catching fish.

C
D
7. Geothermal energy is energy to obtain by using heat from the Earth’s interior.
A
B
C
D
8. Bathe in mineral water has long been believed to have beneficial effects.
A
B
C
D
9. It is the facets cut into a diamond that make it to sparkle.
A
B
C
D
10. Ralph Blakelock specialized in paint wild, lonely nighttime
A
B
landscapes, usually with black trees silhouetted against the moon.
C
D
11. The Farallon Islands are a group of uninhabited islands lying about 40 mile west of
A
B
C
D
San Francisco.
12. The crushing leaves of yarrow plants can serve as a traditional medicine for

A
B
C
cleansing wounds
D
13. Robert A. Moog developed an electronic device that could be used
16


A
B
for play synthesized music.
C
D
14. Hypnosis is sometimes employed as a means of helping people to quit to smoke.
A
B
C
D
15.Throughout his long career, Pete Seeger has been a lead figure in
A
B
C
reviving folk music.
D
KEY
1. C→ packing
6 . D→ to catch
11. D→ miles
2. C→ to cut

7. B→ obtained
12. A→ crushed
3. B→ classifying
8. A→ sparkle
13. C→ for playing
4. A→ mixed
9. D→ bathing
14. D→ smoking
5. D→ or
10. B→ painting
15. C→ leading
8. ERRORS WITH PREPOSITIONS
Prepositions are used in the following ways
+In adverbial phrases that show time, place and other relationship.
+After certain nouns.
+After certain adjectives and participles.
+After certain verbs.
+In phrasal prepositions
+In certain set expressions.
*There are 2 types of errors of prepositions that we are often meet.
-Errors in prepositions choice
E.g: The pitch of a turning fork depends of the size and shape of its arms.
A
B
C
D
The answer is B. The preposition on not of is needed here.
-Incorrect inclusion or omission of prepositions.
E.g: Some of the most of spectacular waterfalls in the eastern United States are found
A

B
C
D
in the Pocono.
The answer is B. The preposition of should not be used in this phrase.
EXERCISE: Choose the underlined part A, B, C or D that needs correction in each
of the following questions.
1. Water polo is a game in which is played in the water by two teams, each with
A
B
C
D
seven players.
2. Dynamics is a branch of physics that deals for the relationship between motion
A
B
C
and force.
D
3. Many of radio stations began broadcasting baseball games during the 1920s.
A
B
C
D
4. The economy of Maine is based on to a great extent in its forests, which cover
A
B
C
80 percent of its surface area.
17

D
5. The removal of waste materials is essential to all forms of live.
A
B
C
D
6. John Diefenbaker, Prime Minister of Canada during 1957 to 1963, is given
A
B
much of the credit for the adoption of the Canadian Bill of Rights.
C
D
7. The first stage on the manufacturing of all types of clothing is the cutting of the
A
B
C
D
material.
8. All of the wheat grown throughout the world belongs one of fourteen species.
A
B
C
D
9. There are approximately 600 different species of trees native of the continental
A
B
C
D

United States.
10. It takes over four years for light from the nearest star reaching the earth.
A
B
C
D
KEY
1. A→ which
6. A→ from
2. B→ deals with
7. A→ in
3. A→ many of
8. C→ belongs to
4. C→ on its
9. D→ native to
5. D→ life
10. D→ to reach
9. ERRORS WITH ARTICLES
There are 2 types of articles: definite and indefinite articles.
*Definite article: (the) is used:
+Before nouns mentioned from the second time
+Before nouns for the only one thing or person
+Before nouns followed by a relative cause
+Before nouns with ordinal number
+Before adjective in superlative forms of adjectives
+Before some expressions of time and position: the morning; the past; the front; the
top; the end; the beginning….
+It is used in quantity expressions in this pattern: quantifier + of+ the + noun.
+Used when there is only one example of thing or person, or when the identity of the
thing or person is clear

+It is used when an adjective is used without a noun to mean “ people who are….”
*Indefinite articles (a/ an) is used:
+Before singular nouns when one does not have a specific person, place, thing or
concept in mind.
+Can be used to mean one or per.
There are 3 common types of mistakes related to articles:
+Incorrect article choice
+Incorrect omission or inclusion of an article
+Use of a definite article in a place of a possessive.
EXERCISE: Choose the underlined part A, B, C or D that needs correction in each
of the following questions.
1. The most butterfly eggs are coated with a sticky substance that holds them to
A
B
C
18


plants.
D
2. A number of large insurance companies have the headquarters in Hartford,
A
B
C
D
Connecticut.
3. To be effective, an advertisement must first attract an attention.
A
B
C

D
4. Virgin Islands National Park features a underwater preserve with coral reefs and
A
B
colorful tropical fish.
C
D
5. Arthritis, a painful swelling of the joints, is often associated with elderly people,
A
B
C
but can afflict young as well.
D
6. Wilmington is an only large city in the state of Delaware.
A
B
C
D
7. About the third of the Earth’s land surface is covered by relatively flat plains.
A
B
C
D
8. In the 1920s, gasoline companies began giving away free road maps to
A
B
C
the customers.
D
9. The Tropic of Cancer is imaginary line that marks the northern boundary of

A
B
C
the Earth’s tropical zone.
D
10. Hereford cows are one of most common breeds of cattle raised for beef.
A
B
C
D
11. American soprano Kathleen Battle taught music in elementary school before
A
beginning the career as a professional singer.
B
C
D
12. In 1891, first state law to help local communities pay for highways was passed
A
B
C
in New Jersey.
D
13. Lumber is dried and seasoned in an heated chamber called a dry kiln.
A
B
C
D
KEY
1. A→ most
5. D→ the young

9. B→ is an imaginary
2. C→ their
6. A→ the only
10. B→ the most common
3. D→ attention
7. A→ a third
11. C→ her career
4. A→ an underwater
8. D→ their customer
12. A→ the first
13. C→ a heated
10. ERRORS WITH COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES
There are 2 types of mistakes often to be met when using comparative form:
+Incorrect choice of the three forms: absolute, comparative and superlative
19


+Incorrect forms of comparative and superlatives.
I. Equal comparison
1. S + “be” + as + adj + as + N ( pronoun )
Ex:

He is as tall as his father.
S+ V + the same + (N) + as + N (pronoun).

Ex. - My house is as high as his.
→ My house is the same height as his.
* Remember to use “the same as” not “ the same like”
II. Comparatives
1. Comparatives

S + be +

short Adj +er
+
More + long Adj

than + N ( pronoun)

Ex. -Today is hotter than yesterday.
- My father sings more beautifully than my brother.
2. Double comparatives
a)
The+ comparative + S + V +(O), the + comparative + S + V +(O)
b)
S+ V+ more+ and +more + adj/ adv
Ex. She becomes more and more beautiful.
S + V + adj/ adv +er and + adj/ adv +er
Ex. Dung is younger and younger.
III. Superlatives
.
S + V + the + short adj/ adv +est
+( N )+ ( in/ of ) + N
most + long adj/ adv
Ex. - John is the tallest boy in my class.
*Note
• Short adj : One syllable adjectives
• Long adj: More than one syllable adjectives
20

ADJECTIVE
One syllable adjective: old,
fast, clean, long
One syllable adjectives ending
in –e: wide, nice
Two syllable adjectives ending
in –y, -er, -ow ,-le: dirty,
simple, clever, narrow
Other adjectives with two or
more syllables: honest,
modern, comfortable
Irregular adjectives: good, bad,
far, old

COMPARISON CHART
COMPARATIVE
Older, faster, cleaner,
longer
Wider, nicer

SUPERLATIVE
The oldest, the fastest, the
cleanest, the longest
The widest, the nicest

Dirtier, simpler, cleverer,
narrower

The dirtiest, the simplest,
the cleverest, the narrowest

More honest, more
modern, more comfortable

The most honest, the most
modern, the most
comfortable
The best, the worst, the
farthest/the furthest, the
oldest/the eldest (only with
family members)

Better, worse,
farther/further,
older/elder(only with
family members)

EXERCISE: Choose the underlined part A, B, C or D that needs correction in each
of the following questions.
1. Richard feels good than several days ago.
A
B
C
D
2. Mary and Daisy are both intelligent students. Mary is so intelligent as Daisy.
A
B
C
D
3. I found the conversation as most interesting and I was glad to practice my

A
B
C
D
English.
4. The Caspian Sea, a salt lake, is the largest than any other lakes in the
A
B
C
D
world.
5. He drives the car more dangerous than his brother does.
A
B
C
D
6. It was the most biggest building that I had ever seen.
A
B
C D
7. I wish my house were so large as Jone’s.
A B
C
D
8. The Mekong is one of the longer river in the world.
A
B
C
D
9. She can play the piano more good than her sister.

A
B
C
D
10. Many people believe that New York is the most great city in America.
A
B
C
D
KEY
1. B→ better
6. B→ biggest
2. C→ as
7. B→ as
3. B→ the most interesting
8. C→ longest
4. C→ larger
9. C→ better
5. B→ dangerously
10. C→ greatest
11. ERRORS WITH CONJUNCTIONS
- Errors with correlative conjunctions.
21


Parallel structures
The same grammatical form should follow each part of the paired conjunctions.
Both + noun + and + noun/pronoun
Both my sister and I went to Hoang Van Thu High School.
Not only + adj/noun + but also + adj/noun

Trang is not only intelligent but also generous.
Not only + verb + but also + verb
Minh not only saw the famous writer but also spoke to him.
Either + noun/verb + or + noun/verb
Students can choose either English or French in this semester.
Neither + verb/noun + nor + verb/noun
She had promised to visit me, but she neither came nor telephoned.
Subject and verb agreement
• Two subjects connected by both … and … take a plural verb.
Both Tam and Dan work for an instruction company.
• When two subjects are connected by not only … but also, either … or…, neither…
nor…, the second subject determines the form of the verb.
Not only my parents but also my brother is on a trip to Ha Long.
Either the teacher or the students have to make a plan for the class newspaper.
Neither salt nor sugar is necessary for this dish.
 Notes
• Not only… but also … can be replaced by not only … but … as well.
It is not only rainy but also windy in this season.
It is not only rainy but windy in this season as well.
EXERCISE: Correct the following sentences.
1 Both Sam and Tim dislikes coffee.
2 Either my brother or my sister are at home to help.
3 She neither likes coffee nor tea.
4 Neither at home nor at school he wants to work.
5 She will either eat at home or in a restaurant.
6 Are you going to join either us and them?
7 Both my sister or my uncle live in Paris.
8 She neither writes or phones me.
9 He is both sad or rich.
10 Either Tim nor Richard will come.

KEY
1. Both Sam and Tim dislike coffee.
2. Either my brother or my sister is at home to help.
3. She likes neither coffee nor tea.
4. He wants to work neither at home nor at school
5. She will eat either at home or in a restaurant.
6. Are you going to join either us or them?
7. Both my sister and my uncle live in Paris.
8. She neither writes nor phones me.
9. He is both sad and rich.
22


10. Either Tim or Richard will come.

IV: BÀI TẬP LUYỆN TẬP TỔNG HỢP
EXERCISE 1: Choose the underlined part A, B, C or D that needs correction in
each of the following questions.
1. Rocks can be broken apart by water that seeps into the cracks and freeze in low
temperatures.
A. broken apart
B. that
C. freeze
D. temperatures
2. Columbus, Ohio, the capital of the state, are not only the largest city in Ohio but
also a typical metropolitan area, often used in market research.
A. are
B. the largest
C. but also
D. used

3. Although maple trees are among the most colorful varieties in the fall, they lose its
leaves sooner than oak trees.
A. among
B. in the fall
C. its
D. sooner than
4. The teacher told the students to don't discuss the take-home exam with each other.
A. told
B. to don't
C. discuss
D. with each other
5. Because she didn't like shop very much, she did most of it with her personal
computer.
A. Because
B. shop
C. did
D. with
6. Knowledges about cultures provides insights into the learned behaviors of groups.
A. Knowledges
B. insights into
C. learned
D. behaviors
7. Some people think that the desire to wear sunglasses are more a need to impress
than to protect the eyes.
A. that
B. are
C. than to
D. the
8. Those of us who have a family history of heart disease should make yearly
appointments with their doctors.

A. who
B. should make
C. yearly
D. their
9. If Robert Kennedy would have lived a little longer, he probably would have won the
election.
A. would have lived
B. a little longer
C. probably
D. won
10. Excavations in several mounds and villages on the east bank of the Euphrates
River have revealed the city of Nebuchadnezzar, an ancient community that had been
laying under later reconstructions of the city of Babylon.
A. on the east bank B. have revealed
C. had been laying
D. later
11. Aluminum has a hard imperious coasting which protects the metal from corrode.
A. has
B. hard
C. imperious
D. corrode
12. After learned to print, elementary school children learn cursive writing.
A. learned
B. elementary
C. children
D. writing
13. Studies of job satisfaction are unreliable because there is so many variables and
because the admission of dissatisfaction may be viewed as a personal failure.
A. is
B. many

C. because
D. may be viewed
23


14. Computers have made access to information instantly available just by push a few
buttons.
A. have
B. access
C. instantly available
D. by push
15. Latex rubber is made from a milky substantial in plants and trees of the sapodilla
family.
A. made from
B. milky
C. substantial
D. trees of
16. Fishing have been found to contain a particular type of fat that may help lower
blood cholesterol levels.
A. Fishing
B. to contain
C. that
D. levels
17. When caterpillars are fully-grown, they attach themselves to a leave or twig and
form a shell around itself called a cocoon.
A. are fully-grown B. to a leave or twig
C. around itself
D. called
18. In experiments with large numbers of animals crowded in small cages, some have
not been affected, but the rest of have shown all of the symptoms associated with

stress and mental illness.
A. large numbers B. the rest of
C. have shown
D. all of the symptoms
19. The athlete, together with his coach and several relatives, are traveling to the
Olympic Games.
A. athlete
B. with
C. his coach
D. are
20. Luther Burbank earned the funds to go west by sale his new ideas about growing
potatoes.
A. the funds
B. go west
C. sale
D. about
EXERCISE 2: Choose the underlined part A, B, C or D that needs correction in
each of the following questions.
1. Before television became so popular, Americans used to entertain each other in the
evening by playing games, saying stories, and singing songs.
A. so popular
B. to entertain
C. each other
D. saying
2. The professor had already given the homework assignment when he had
remembered that Monday was a holiday.
A. the homework assignment
B. had remembered
C. Monday D. was
3. Akuce Ganuktibm, she spent her life working with the health and welfare of the

families of workers.
A. she
B. her life
C. welfare
D. the
4. It is extremely important for an engineer to know to use a computer.
A. It is
B. extremely
C. for
D. to know
5. The master of ceremonies announced in a loud and clear voice and told that the
dinner would be late due to unforseen circumstances.
A. of ceremonies
B. and told
C. would be
D. due to
6. Narcissus, a character in mythology, gazed at his own image in a pool so ardently
that he fell into itself and downed.
A. a character in mythology
B. his own
C. that
D. into itself
7. The professor was considering postponing the examination until the following week
because the student's confusion.
A. considering
B. postponing
C. the following week
D. because
8. Sinaitic is the name of an alphabet which developed their symbols from Egyptian
hieroglyphics.

A. Sinaitic
B. which developed
C. their
D. symbols
9. The native people in the Americas were referred to as Indians because, according to
the believe at the time, Christopher Columbus had reached the East Indies.
A. referred to
B. according to
C. believe
D. had reached
24


10. After to have won the light-heavyweight title at the 1960 Olympic Games,
Muhammad Ali began to box professionally.
A. to have
B. at the
C. began
D. professionally
11. There are many different ways of comparing the economy of one nation with those
of another.
A. There are
B. of comparing
C. those
D. another
12. He said he must come to the party if he finishes his assignment for next week's
seminar.
A. must come
B. finishes
C. for

D. week's
13. The basic law of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division are taught to all
elementary school students.
A. law
B. division
C. taught
D. school
14. Sandra has not rarely missed a play or concert since she was seventeen years old.
A. not rarely
B. a play
C. since
D. seventeen years old
15. The need for a well-rounded education was an idea espoused by the Greeks in time
of Socrates.
A. for
B. well-rounded education
C. espoused
D. in time of
16. To assure the safety of those workers who must handle radioactive material, the
employer should not leave them enter contaminated areas without protective clothing.
A. To assure
B. who
C. leave
D. enter
17. The religion attempts to clarify man's relationship with a superhuman power.
A. The religion
B. to clarify
C. man's
D. superhuman power
18. In 1975, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, the average life

expectancy for people born during that year is 72.4 years.
A. according to
B. born
C. during
D. is
19. Many of the famous advertising offices are located in Madison Avenue.
A. Many
B. advertising
C. located
D. in
20. When he took the ticket out of from his pocket, a hundred dollar bill fell to the
floor without his noticing it.
A. the
B. from his pocket
C. to
D. without
EXERCISE 3: Choose the underlined part A, B, C or D that needs correction in
each of the following questions.
1. Each of the nurses report to the operating room when his or her name is called.
A. of the
B. report
C. his or her name
D. is called
2. Because blood from different individuals may different in the type of antigen on the
surface of the red cells and the type of antibody in the plasma, a dangerous reaction
can occur between the donor and recipient in a blood transfusion.
A. Because
B. different
C. can occur
D. and

3. Both viruses also genes are made from nucleoproteins, the essential chemicals with
which living matter duplicates itself.
A. also
B. are
C. living
D. itself
4. Although the Red Cross accepts blood from most donors, the nurses will not leave
you give blood if you have just had a cold.
A. accepts
B. leave
C. give
D. had
5. Economists have tried to discourage the use of the phrase "underdeveloped nation"
and encouraging the more accurate phrase "developing nation" in order to suggest an
ongoing process.
A. to discourage B. the use
C. encouraging
D. the more
6. Since infection can cause both fever as well as pain, it is a good idea to check a
patient's temperature.
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