Golden grammar rules 7

[ordinaryus]

91. Use which, not what, to refer back to a whole sentence.
She passed her exam, which surprised everybody. (NOT She passed her exam, what surprised everybody.)
My father has just climbed Mont Blanc, which is pretty good for a man of 75. (NOT … what is pretty good for a man of 75.)

For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 494.
92. Don’t use the with society when it has a general meaning.
We all have to live in society. (NOT We all have to live in the society.)
Rousseau said that society makes people evil. (NOT Rousseau said that the society makes people evil.)

For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 68.
93. Use a to-infinitive after want.
I want to go home. (NOT I want go home.)
The children want to stay up late. (NOT The children want stay up late.)

For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 613.
94. Use make, not do, with mistake.
I have made a mistake. (NOT I have done a mistake.)
You can’t speak a language without making mistakes. (NOT … without doing mistakes.)

For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 160.
95. Don’t repeat a relative pronoun with another pronoun.
There’s the man that I work for. (NOT There’s the man that I work for him.)
She saw a doctor who sent her to hospital. (NOT She saw a doctor who he sent her to hospital.)

For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 494.
96. After a superlative, use in with a place expression.
Which is the biggest city in the world? (NOT Which is the biggest city of the world?)
This is the best restaurant in the city. (NOT This is the best restaurant of the city.)

For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 139.
97. You explain and suggest something to somebody.
Please explain to me what you want. (NOT Please explain me what you want.)
Can you suggest a good restaurant to us? (NOT Can you suggest us a good restaurant?)

For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition sections 198 and 570.
98. Work is an uncountable noun.
I’m looking for work. (NOT I’m looking for a work.)
My brother has found a new job. (NOT My brother has found a new work.)

For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 148.
99. Be careful of the word order in negative infinitives.
It’s important not to work too hard. (NOT It’s important to not work too hard.)
I asked her not to make so much noise.


For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 280.
100. Possessives replace articles.
We stayed in John’s house at the weekend. (NOT We stayed in the John’s house at the weekend.)
She’s been studying Britain’s foreign policy since 1980. (NOT She’s been studying the Britain’s foreign policy since 1980.)

For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 70.