Unit Three: Common Sentence Errors

Exercise 1: Correct the fragments in the following sentences.

1. The contemporary generation is adept at using complicated gadgets such as X BOX and Play
Station. They can easily adapt themselves with the latest innovations.
2. Sofia is the most intelligent student in Hydraulic Department, so she was recruited to be a
graduate assistant.
3. Although many universities graduate engineers every year, graduates from ASTU will be more
privileged in the near future.
4. The mechanic wearing jeans overalls is the owner of the garage.
5. The Ministry of Education has summoned all the university presidents to brief them on the
planned Engineering Education overhaul.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the following sentences by correcting the run-on and comma splice.

1. I shall never write other run-on sentences. I know it is unacceptable.

2. Do not buy Chinese made vehicles since their maintenance cost is expensive.
3. You should not buy the car for its look; you should consider the availability of spare parts.
4. My SUV is quite luxurious. It consists of a built in LED TV and a refrigerator.
5. Waqtola did not like to buy a Hummer SUV as its fuel consumption was unaffordable for him.

Exercise 3: Rewrite the following sentences by placing the modifiers at the appropriate position.
1. The labourers at the construction site worked nearly for ten hours a day.
2. The slab was reinforced by the site engineers before it broke down.
3. The engineers built a prefabricated house that had two bed rooms near the site.
4. The Technical Report Writing course, which we took in the first semester, had enabled us to do
our final project.
5. The site engineer wearing yellow helmet was supervising the buildings.

Exercise 7: Correct the shifts in the following sentences.

1. Student should submit their assignment on time.

2. When we complained about the grading system in ASTU, we could feel the president‘s angry
reaction.
3. The electricians fixed all the power transmission problems in the building, but the project
manager repaired leaking pipes.
4. Read the manual carefully, and assemble the equipment correctly.
5. The engineer explained the design to the owners who asked questions after the explanation.
Exercise 8: Rewrite the following sentences by correcting the agreement errors. Some of the
sentences are error free.

1. The project manager, with his assistants is visiting the site.

2. Neither the project manager nor the site engineers were responsible for the delay of the finishing.
3. The number of highly qualified engineers has dramatically increased in Ethiopia. 
4. A number of engineers are graduating from universities all over the country every year. 
5. A pair of safety shoes has been given to the site manager.
6. One of the technicians who have been working at the substation is a graduate from ASTU. 
7. Neither of the students has submitted their assignment.