Shirlie writes:
I've been having problems with English grammar. For instance I find these questions (picked from "error detection" tests) are beyond me. Please help.
1. Scientists search for the places where prehistoric people might live.
The answer sheet says live is wrong, I don't know why.
2. For instance, some fish lay thousands of eggs at a time, most of them are eaten.
The answer sheet says them is wrong, and I don't know why.
3. According to one theory, the more offspring an animal species produces, the great will be the chance that the species can survive.
I think great is wrong and it should be changed into greater to make up a balanced structure with "the more"; but the answer sheet tells me that the wrong answer is that. I am really confused.
4. Edmund King said the study showed that "not only the loud music is a nuisance to others, it could also be the cause of accidents."
The answer sheet says "is" is wrong, and I don't know why.
My comments:
The first sentence, Shirlie, should read: Scientists search for the places where prehistoric people might have lived.
"Have lived" instead of "live" in the present tense because it is a subjunctive. It's a conditional sentence. It describes a situation that does not or could not exist, i.e. in the present case, the existence of the said historic people is possible but doubtful. Whenever something is talked about as a possibility rather than a fact, the subjunctive mood is used.
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