12 COMMON PROBLEMS RELATING TO ENGLISH SENTENCE WRITING

Writing English sentences can sometimes pose challenges due to various factors. Here are
some common problems that students often face when it comes to writing English sentences:
1. Grammar and Syntax: Incorrect grammar and sentence structure can lead to confusion
and misinterpretation. Issues like subject-verb agreement, verb tenses, and sentence
fragments can make sentences unclear or incorrect.
- Incorrect: "Him and I went to the store."
-> Correct: "He and I went to the store."
2. Punctuation: Proper use of punctuation is crucial for conveying the intended meaning
accurately. Incorrect placement or omission of punctuation marks like commas, periods,
semicolons, and apostrophes can alter the message of a sentence.
- Incorrect: "Let's eat Grandma!"
-> Correct: "Let's eat, Grandma!"
3. Word Choice: Selecting the right words to convey your thoughts accurately can be
challenging, especially if English is not your first language. Improper word choice can
lead to ambiguity or even change the tone of your writing.
- Incorrect: "The movie was very terrifying."
-> Correct: "The movie was very thrilling."
4. Clarity and Conciseness: Sentences that are overly complex or wordy can be hard to
understand. It's important to convey your ideas clearly and concisely to ensure that
readers can follow your writing easily.
- Unclear: "After the long day at work, with all the stress and tiredness, I decided that what I
really needed was some relaxation."
-> Clearer: "After a long day at work, I decided I needed relaxation."
5. Sentence Fragments: Incomplete sentences lacking a subject, verb, or both can confuse
readers and disrupt the flow of your writing.
- Fragment: "Although I was tired. I decided to go for a walk."
-> Correct: "Although I was tired, I decided to go for a walk."
6. Run-on Sentences: On the other hand, run-on sentences can result from joining multiple
independent clauses without proper punctuation or conjunctions, making the writing
difficult to follow.
- Run-on: "I went to the store I bought some groceries I met a friend."
-> Correct: "I went to the store, bought some groceries, and met a friend."
7. Parallelism: In lists or comparisons, maintaining parallel structure among elements is
essential for a sentence's coherence and readability.
- Not parallel: "She likes reading, hiking, and to swim."
-> Parallel: "She likes reading, hiking, and swimming."
8. Ambiguity: Sentences that can be interpreted in multiple ways can lead to
misunderstandings. Care should be taken to ensure that the intended meaning is clear.
- Ambiguous: "I saw the man with the telescope."
-> Clarified: "Using the telescope, I saw the man."
9. Redundancy: Repeating the same information in different ways within a sentence can
make your writing verbose and less effective.
- Redundant: "The final outcome was unexpected and surprising."
-> Concise: "The outcome was unexpected."
10. Lack of Variety: Repeated use of the same sentence structures and vocabulary can make
writing monotonous. Incorporating a variety of sentence types and word choices can
make your writing more engaging.
- Monotonous: "I walked to the store. I bought some milk. I returned home."
-> Varied: "I walked to the store, purchased some milk, and then headed back home."
11. Consistency: Maintaining consistent verb tenses, pronoun usage, and style throughout
your writing is important for clarity and professionalism.
- Inconsistent: "He likes to jog, but she prefers swimming."
-> Consistent: "He likes to jog, but she likes to swim."
12. Context: Failing to provide enough context or background information can leave readers
confused about the subject or purpose of your writing.
- Unclear: "She started writing."
-> Clearer with context: "After years of hesitation, she finally started writing her novel."
 PRACTICE EXERCISES
FOR COMMON PROBLEMS IN ENGLISH SENTENCE WRITING.
Exercise 1: Grammar and Syntax
Identify and correct the grammar and syntax errors in the following sentences:
1. Her and me went to the park.
2. The cat is sleeping comfortable on the couch.
3. The books on the shelf needs to be organized.
4. John is taller than he's brother.
5. Every morning, she drink coffee for breakfast.
6. They was playing in the yard when it started raining.
7. The movie was so bored that I fell asleep.
8. Neither the teacher or the students were prepared for the test.
9. I can't hardly wait to see you again.
10. Running quickly through the forest, a rabbit was seen by me.
Exercise 2: Punctuation
Add the necessary punctuation marks to the following sentences:
1. The concert starts at 7 but I'll be there earlier
2. She wanted to buy eggs milk bread and butter
3. The weather is beautiful today its warm and sunny
4. My favorite hobbies are reading writing drawing and hiking
5. Don't forget your umbrella its going to rain
6. He said he would call however he never did
7. The dog chased the cat the cat climbed up a tree
8. I can't believe it's already Friday where did the week go
9. She studied hard for the test but she still didn't do well
10. Can you pass me the salt please
Exercise 3: Word Choice
Choose the correct word to replace the incorrect one in each sentence:
1. The dessert was extremely sweet / sweat.
2. She is allergic to sea / see food.
3. The party was a lot of fun / funny.
4. I can't accept this invitation, I'm to / too busy.
5. I would like to loose / lose some weight.
6. His behavior was quiet / quite strange.
7. The cake tasted badly / bad.
8. The sunsets are always breathtaking / breath taking here.
9. The hotel offered complementary / complimentary breakfast.
10. It was a difficult choice, but I made my choose / choice.
Exercise 4: Clarity and Conciseness
Rewrite the following sentences to make them clearer and more concise:
1. Because I was really tired after working all day, I decided that I should probably take
a short nap.
2. The reason why he was absent from the meeting is because he had a terrible cold.
 3. The book that I'm reading right now is about a detective who is trying to solve a
murder that happened in a small town.
4. In my opinion, I think that exercise is essential for maintaining good health.
5. The movie that we watched last night was one of the best movies that I have ever seen
in my life.
6. I plan to visit Paris in the near future, probably during the summer season.
7. She is a writer who specializes in writing science fiction novels.
8. The cake that my grandmother baked for my birthday was incredibly delicious.
9. The restaurant that we went to for dinner was extremely expensive.
10. He is a person who has a lot of experience in the field of computer programming.
Exercise 5: Sentence Fragments
Correct the sentence fragments in the following sentences:
1. Although she was tired. She decided to go for a run.
2. Because he was running late. He skipped breakfast.
3. After finishing his work. He went to the gym.
4. Despite the rain. They continued the game.
5. Walking in the park. The weather was perfect.
6. While studying for the exam. She realized the time had flown by.
7. Since it was his first time in the city. He decided to take a sightseeing tour.
8. With his guitar in hand. He started playing his favorite song.
9. During the summer vacation. They visited many different countries.
10. As a child. She always dreamed of becoming an astronaut.
Exercise 6: Run-on Sentences
Correct the run-on sentences in the following:
1. I woke up early this morning I wanted to catch the sunrise.
2. She loves to dance she's been taking ballet lessons for years.
3. The weather was perfect for a picnic we decided to go to the park.
4. I have a busy day ahead of me I need to finish a report meet with clients and prepare
for a presentation.
5. They went to the beach for a swim the water was cold but refreshing.
6. She cooked a delicious meal for her family they were all very impressed.
7. He enjoys hiking in the mountains he finds it relaxing and a great way to stay active.
8. The party was a lot of fun there were games music and dancing.
9. I want to travel to many different countries I want to experience new cultures and try
different foods.
10. The movie was long and intense it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
Exercise 7: Parallelism
Rewrite the following sentences to ensure parallel structure:
1. She enjoys running, swimming, and to play tennis.
2. His hobbies are reading, cooking, and to dance.
3. I like to hike in the mountains, camping in the woods, and taking long walks on the
beach.
4. The project requires researching, analyzing data, and writing a detailed report.
 5. She is not only talented in singing but also to play the piano.
6. The company values teamwork, dedication, and to be innovative.
7. To succeed in this role, you need to be organized, have good communication skills,
and be able to solve problems.
8. He wanted to visit museums, attend concerts, and exploring new restaurants.
9. The training program focuses on improving strength, flexibility, and to enhance
cardiovascular fitness.
10. The conference will cover topics like technology trends, business strategies, and how
to manage a team effectively.
Exercise 8: Ambiguity
Rewrite the following sentences to remove ambiguity:
1. They saw the man with a telescope.
2. The lawyer said the client's case was a difficult one.
3. I saw a woman with a telescope on the hill.
4. The chef told the server the food was terrible.
5. She told her friend that her mother was coming to visit.
6. The bank manager saw the customer with a briefcase.
7. The teacher said the test was easy.
8. The singer told the crowd her album was finally releasing.
9. The coach told the player his performance was excellent.
10. The doctor told the patient his recovery was going well.
Exercise 9: Redundancy
Edit the following sentences to eliminate redundancy:
1. The final outcome was completely unexpected and surprising.
2. She whispered quietly so nobody else could hear.
3. He climbed up to the top of the mountain peak.
4. The meeting was rescheduled to a new time slot.
5. The baby was crying loudly and desperately.
6. The student studied diligently and with determination.
7. The computer system crashed unexpectedly and without warning.
8. She was absolutely sure that she had locked the door securely.
9. The cake was incredibly delicious and very tasty.
10. The car accelerated quickly and rapidly.
Exercise 10: Lack of Variety
Rewrite the following sentences to introduce variety in sentence structure and vocabulary:
1. I like to read books. I also enjoy watching movies. I often go for walks.
2. The weather was nice. We had a good time at the beach. We played volleyball.
3. The assignment was difficult. I struggled with it. I managed to finish it in the end.
4. He is a good student. He always gets good grades. He participates in class.
5. She is a talented artist. Her paintings are beautiful. She has a unique style.
6. The city has many attractions. There are museums and parks. There are also
restaurants and shops.
7. The concert was amazing. The music was fantastic. The crowd was enthusiastic.
 8. The book was interesting. The plot was engaging. The characters were well-
developed.
9. The company is successful. It has a strong market presence. It offers quality products.
10. He is a skilled musician. He can play multiple instruments. He often performs at local
venues.
Exercise 11: Consistency
Rewrite the following sentences to ensure consistent verb tenses, pronoun usage, and style:
1. She is reading a book, and they will watch a movie.
2. He walked to the store, and she is driving to the mall.
3. The team was playing well, but the coach isn't satisfied.
4. The cat sleeps during the day, and the dog liked to run at night.
5. The concert was amazing, and the crowd enjoyed the music.
6. She had studied for hours, and then she is taking a break.
7. The company was launching a new product, but they don't have enough stock.
8. They were discussing the project, and he will make a presentation.
9. He loves skiing, and he also likes to plays tennis.
10. The weather was sunny yesterday, but it's going to rain tomorrow.
Exercise 12: Context
Rewrite the following sentences to provide sufficient context or background information:
1. He started painting.
2. She went to the store.
3. They were surprised.
4. The building collapsed.
5. She smiled.
6. He was excited.
7. The car stopped.
8. The cake was delicious.
9. She called her friend.
10. They laughed.

Can you provide the answers?

ChatGPT
Certainly! Here are the answers for the practice exercises:
Exercise 1: Grammar and Syntax
1. She and I went to the park.
2. The cat is sleeping comfortably on the couch.
3. The books on the shelf need to be organized.
4. John is taller than his brother.
5. Every morning, she drinks coffee for breakfast.
6. They were playing in the yard when it started raining.
7. The movie was so boring that I fell asleep.
8. Neither the teacher nor the students were prepared for the test.
 9. I can hardly wait to see you again.
10. Running quickly through the forest, I saw a rabbit.
Exercise 2: Punctuation
1. The concert starts at 7, but I'll be there earlier.
2. She wanted to buy eggs, milk, bread, and butter.
3. The weather is beautiful today; it's warm and sunny.
4. My favorite hobbies are reading, writing, drawing, and hiking.
5. Don't forget your umbrella; it's going to rain.
6. He said he would call; however, he never did.
7. The dog chased the cat, and the cat climbed up a tree.
8. I can't believe it's already Friday; where did the week go?
9. She studied hard for the test, but she still didn't do well.
10. Can you pass me the salt, please?
Exercise 3: Word Choice
1. The dessert was extremely sweet.
2. She is allergic to seafood.
3. The party was a lot of fun.
4. I can't accept this invitation; I'm too busy.
5. I would like to lose some weight.
6. His behavior was quite strange.
7. The cake tasted bad.
8. The sunsets are always breathtaking here.
9. The hotel offered complimentary breakfast.
10. It was a difficult choice, but I made my choice.
Exercise 4: Clarity and Conciseness
1. After a long day of work, I decided to take a short nap.
2. He was absent from the meeting because he had a terrible cold.
3. The book I'm reading is about a detective solving a murder in a small town.
4. In my opinion, exercise is essential for good health.
5. The movie we watched last night was one of the best I've ever seen.
6. I plan to visit Paris in the near future, likely during the summer.
7. She specializes in writing science fiction novels.
8. My grandmother baked an incredibly delicious cake for my birthday.
9. The restaurant we went to for dinner was extremely expensive.
10. He has a lot of experience in computer programming.
Exercise 5: Sentence Fragments
1. Although she was tired, she decided to go for a run.
2. Because he was running late, he skipped breakfast.
3. After finishing his work, he went to the gym.
4. Despite the rain, they continued the game.
5. Walking in the park, I found that the weather was perfect.
6. While studying for the exam, she realized the time had flown by.
7. Since it was his first time in the city, he decided to take a sightseeing tour.
 8. With his guitar in hand, he started playing his favorite song.
9. During the summer vacation, they visited many different countries.
10. As a child, she always dreamed of becoming an astronaut.
Exercise 6: Run-on Sentences
1. I woke up early this morning because I wanted to catch the sunrise.
2. She loves to dance; she's been taking ballet lessons for years.
3. The weather was perfect for a picnic, so we decided to go to the park.
4. I have a busy day ahead of me. I need to finish a report, meet with clients, and prepare
for a presentation.
5. They went to the beach for a swim. The water was cold but refreshing.
6. She cooked a delicious meal for her family, and they were all very impressed.
7. He enjoys hiking in the mountains because he finds it relaxing and a great way to stay
active.
8. The party was a lot of fun; there were games, music, and dancing.
9. I want to travel to many different countries. I want to experience new cultures and try
different foods.
10. The movie was long and intense, but it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
Exercise 7: Parallelism
1. She enjoys running, swimming, and playing tennis.
2. His hobbies are reading, cooking, and dancing.
3. I like to hike in the mountains, camp in the woods, and take long walks on the beach.
4. The project requires researching, analyzing data, and writing detailed reports.
5. She is not only talented in singing but also skilled at playing the piano.
6. The company values teamwork, dedication, and innovation.
7. To succeed in this role, you need to be organized, have good communication skills,
and solve problems effectively.
8. He wanted to visit museums, attend concerts, and explore new restaurants.
9. The training program focuses on improving strength, flexibility, and enhancing
cardiovascular fitness.
10. The conference will cover topics like technology trends, business strategies, and
effective team management.
Exercise 8: Ambiguity
1. They saw the man using a telescope.
2. The lawyer said the client's case was challenging.
3. I saw a woman on the hill who had a telescope.
4. The chef told the server the food was terrible.
5. She told her friend that her own mother was coming to visit.
6. The bank manager saw the customer who had a briefcase.
7. The teacher said the test was easy.
8. The singer told the crowd that her album was finally releasing.
9. The coach told the player his performance was excellent.
10. The doctor told the patient that his recovery was going well.
Exercise 9: Redundancy
 1. The final outcome was unexpected.
2. She whispered so nobody else could hear.
3. He climbed to the top of the mountain.
4. The meeting was rescheduled.
5. The baby was crying loudly.
6. The student studied diligently.
7. The computer system crashed unexpectedly.
8. She was sure that she had locked the door securely.
9. The cake was incredibly delicious.
10. The car accelerated rapidly.
Exercise 10: Lack of Variety
1. I enjoy reading books, and I also find pleasure in watching movies. Additionally, I
often take leisurely walks.
2. The weather was delightful, making our time at the beach enjoyable. We engaged in a
game of volleyball.
3. The assignment proved challenging, but with determination, I managed to complete it.
4. He excels academically, consistently achieving high grades, and he actively
participates in class discussions.
5. She possesses artistic talent; her paintings captivate with their beauty and unique style.
6. The city boasts numerous attractions. From museums and parks to restaurants and
shops, there's something for everyone.
7. The concert was a captivating experience, featuring exceptional music that resonated
with an enthusiastic crowd.
8. The book I recently read was engaging, with an intricate plot and well-developed
characters.
9. The company's success is driven by a strong market presence, quality products, and a
commitment to excellence.
10. He is a versatile musician proficient in multiple instruments. He frequently performs
at various local venues.
Exercise 11: Consistency
1. She is reading a book, and they are watching a movie.
2. He walked to the store, and she drove to the mall.
3. The team was playing well, but the coach wasn't satisfied.
4. The cat sleeps during the day, and the dog runs at night.
5. The concert was amazing, and the crowd enjoyed the music.
6. She had studied for hours, and then she took a break.
7. The company was launching a new product, but they didn't have enough stock.
8. They were discussing the project, and he was making a presentation.
9. He loves skiing, and he also enjoys playing tennis.
10. The weather was sunny yesterday, but it's going to rain tomorrow.
Exercise 12: Context
1. After getting his canvas and paints ready, he started painting a beautiful landscape.
2. She went to the store to buy some groceries and a birthday gift for her friend.
3. They were surprised by the unexpected arrival of their favorite musician at the event.
4. The building collapsed due to the earthquake that had shaken the city earlier.
5. She smiled as she remembered the funny joke her coworker had told her earlier.
6. He was excited about the upcoming vacation to a tropical island paradise.
7. The car stopped abruptly at the red traffic light, causing the passengers to jolt forward.
8. The cake was delicious, with layers of moist chocolate and rich cream filling.
9. She called her friend to invite her to the movie night they had been planning for
weeks.
10. They laughed heartily at the amusing story shared by their grandfather during the
family gathering.