260. Omission of there as an introductory word
Don’t say: Once lived a great king.
√ Say: Once there/There once lived a great king.
Use the adverb there to introduce the subject of a sentence in which the verb stands before the subject.
261 Omission of how after the verb to know
Don’t say: She knows to play the piano.
√ Say: She knows how to play the piano.
After the verb to know the adserb how always comes before an infinitive
262. Omission of other after a comparative
Don’t say: Homer was greater than all the Greek poets.
√ Say: Homer was greater than all the other Greek poets.
Since Homer was a Greek poet, the first sentence makes him greater than himself, which is illogical.
263. Omission of before in comparisons
Don’t say: I’d never seen such a thing.
√ Say: I’d never seen such a thing before.
Don’t leave out the word before in making a comparison between one thing and all others of the same kind.
264. Omission of else after everybody, etc.
Don’t say: She is stronger than everybody.
√ Say: She is stronger than everybody else.
Use the word else n making a comparison between one person or thing and others of the same kind after everybody, anybody, anything, etc.
265. Omission of the demonstrative pronoun one
Don’t say: This is the only that I like.
✓ Say: This is the only one that I like.
Use the demonstrative pronoun one (plural ones) in place of a noun mentioned before
266. Omission of the personal pronoun before the infinitive
Don’t say: I want to tell me the truth
✓ Say: I want you to tell me the truth.
Express the subject of the infinitive after verbs like want, like, wish, etc. if it is different from that of the main verb.
267. Omission of it as subject of an impersonal verb
Don’t say: Is very hot in the Sudan.
✓ Say: It’s very hot in the Sudan.
Use the pronoun it as the Subject of an impersonal verb
268. Omission of the pronoun subject from the principal clause
Don’t say: When he saw the teacher, stood up.
✓ Say: When he saw the teacher, he stood up.
In a sentence beginning with an adverbial clause, express the personal pronoun as the subject of the man clause.
269. Omission of the personal pronoun after a quotation
Don’t say: ‘I’m learning English,’ said.
✓ Say: ‘I’m learning English,’ he said.
After a quotation, express the personal pronoun as the subject of the reporting verb.
270. The object of the transitive verb omitted
Don’t say: 1 asked her for some paper, but she had not.
✓ Say: I asked her for some paper, but she had none/didn’t have any.
As a rule, every transitive verb must have an expressed object: here, none (equivalent to not any) is the object of had.
