SHOULD or SHOULD HAVE TO is correct?

Many speakers of English in non-English speaking countries often use 'SHOULD HAVE TO' in speaking and writing. Among them, sentences like the following are very common.
1) “I SHOULD HAVE TO complete my assignment within three days”
2) “You SHOULD HAVE TO pass this test”

But, according to English grammar, this is a wrong use. Instead of using SHOULD HAVETO, you must use either SHOULD or HAVE TO. The reason is SHOULD is almost equal to HAVE TO although there is a slight difference in detailed grammatical analysis.

So, the previous wrong sentences can be rewritten as follows:
1) “I SHOULD complete my assignment within three days”
OR
“I HAVE TO complete my assignment within three days”

2) “You SHOULD pass this test”
OR
“You HAVE TO pass this test”

You can also express the same idea by using ‘WILL HAVE TO’ as in,
“I WILL HAVE TO complete my assignment within three days”, “I WILL HAVE TO pass this test” etc.

Difference between UNINTERESTED & DISINTERESTED!

English is undoubtedly the craziest language in the world! Perhaps most of you know that DISAPPEAR is the opposite of APPEAR, DISAGREE is the opposite of AGREE, DISHONEST is the opposite of HONEST and DISADVANTAGE is the opposite of ADVANTAGE.

Such words prove that the prefix 'DIS' is used to form the antonym (opposite word) of many words. Now the question is: what is the opposite of INTERESTED? Is it DISINTERESTED or UNINTERESTED?

'DISINTERESTED' and 'UNINTERESTED' are two words which have given rise to a lot of heated arguments among grammarians and common users of English around the world. Even the native users of English -knowingly or unknowingly- misuse these words.

According to strict and refined grammar, DISINTERESTED should not be used to mean 'not interested'. The reason is DISINTERESTED is a totally different word, meaning 'IMPARTIAL', 'OBJECTIVE' or 'UNBIASED'
Examples:
(1)"Only Mrs Alice can give you some DISINTERESTED advice on this matter". (meaning 'impartial')
(2)"Ask him for a DISINTERESTED account of the incident" (meaning 'impartial')
(3)"It is better to be DISINTERESTED when it comes to political views" etc. (meaning 'impartial')

On the other hand, 'UNINTERESTED' stands for 'NOT INTERESTED' (i.e. the accurate opposite of INTERESTED).
Examples:
(1) "Jane is totally UNINTERESTED in sports and games".
(2) "She seemed cold and UNINTERESTED in our offer".

Like wise,
"The food was dull and UNINTERESTING". (opposite: INTERESTING)
"The number of UNINTERESTING bollywood movies is increasing" etc. However, UNINTERESTING is not a very common usage. Instead 'BORING' or 'Dull' is widely preferred.

______________________________________________________________________________
NB Though UNINTERESTED is the exact opposite of INTERESTED, the other one DISINTERESTED is widely used by the speakers. Even the Oxford Dictionary says that DISINTERESTED can be used as the opposite of INTERESTED, but only in informal English (i.e. ordinary conversations). However, it is advisable to avoid using it to mean NOT INTERESTED in standard written English.

Good Night
Jack (Nova English Campus)

Womens or Women's? (POSSESSIVE CASE)

Hi Friends!
Many users of English are not quite sure about the proper use of 'possessive case'. In today's world of online communication (especially if you are part of Orkut, Facebook, Twitter, Myspace etc.) you need to make sure that you use the possessive case without causing confusion to your readers.

Here are a few guidelines regarding the correct use of 'possessive case' (to show the 'possession' or 'ownership').

(I) Normally, add 's to singular subjects to make the possessive case: e.g.

Jacob's blog
My brother's wife
For our daughter's future
Sam's parents

(II) Likewise, if the subject is plural, just add an apostrophe at the end of the word: e.g.

Girls' hostel (hostel for girls)
(If you write Girl's here, it would mean 'hostel for ONE girl')

Boys' school (school for boys)
(If you write Boy's here, it would mean 'school for ONE boy')

Your brothers' property (property of your brothers)
(If you write brother's here, it would mean 'property of ONE brother')

Parents' guidance (guidance of parents)
(If you write parent's here, it would mean 'guidance of ONE parent')

My friends' email (email of my friends)

(If you write Friend's here, it would mean 'email of ONE friend')

Remember again, in all the previous sentences, we are talking about plural subjects; but if they were singular subjects, we would use girl's, boy's, brother's, friend's, parent's etc. (carefully check the position of the apostrophe['])

(III) But in the case of irregular plurals, we must add both an apostrophe and s (....'s)

e.g.
Women's hostel (NOT womens)
Children's activities (NOT childrens)
Men's shaving cream (NOT mens)

                                                                        
The second part of this lesson will be posted tomorrow. Don't forget to leave your comments &suggestions!

Take care
Jacob (Nova English Campus)

EVERYDAY Vs EVERY DAY

Hi friends!

Although I try my best to post something on my blog every day, I fail to do so every now and then, caught up in some everyday busy activities. But I am very thankful to my blog visitors to bear with me, keep supporting me and encourage me to move on.

By the way, there is a twist in the tale. What I mean to say, if you are a careful reader who can feel the pulse of each nuance of standard written English, you might have noticed two 'everydays' in the previous introductory paragraph; one without space (everyday) and the other with a space(every day).

'EVERYDAY' is an adjective which means 'used, done or happening each passing day'.
e.g.
Everyday activities.
A small dictionary for everyday use.
The Internet has become part of everyday life.

In the examples given above, the word 'everyday' has been used as an adjective to modify such objects as 'activities', 'use' and 'life'. Also remember in this kind of use,  'everyday' is used usually before a noun (read the previous examples).

'EVERY DAY', on the other hand, is an adverb, meaning 'each day'.
e.g.
She goes to church every day.
It rains here almost every day.
He makes one or another mistake every day.

In these examples,'every day' is used as an adverb of time which modifies the verbs 'go', 'rain' and 'make'.

I think I made the concept as clear as possible. If you feel a bit confused, please read the explanation till you get the rules etched in your brain.

Thanks for your kind visit
&
Good night from Jack
(Nova English Campus)

Errors to be omitted while using English...... (Part 4)

A few more mistakes that I came across while interacting with a few students. Please note that the sentences given in brackets are standard English. Your valuable comments &and suggestions after reading the post are requested . Read on...................

My sister married with a doctor.
(My sister MARRIED a doctor.)

My big brother is studying in England.
(My ELDER BROTHER is studying in England.)

I want to reduce my weight.
(I want to LOSE weight.)

My dad is busy in his business.
(My dad is BUSY WITH his business.)

I’m busy with cleaning up my room.
(I’m busy CLEANING up her room.)

He is afraid from strangers.
(He is afraid OF strangers.)

Five years are a long period.
(Five years IS a long period.)

On the switch before inserting the disc.
(TURN ON the switch before inserting the disc.)

I like to eat good foods.
(I like to eat good FOOD.)

I hate my son-in-laws.
(I hate my SONS-IN-LAW.)

She doesn’t like the cricket.
(She doesn’t like CRICKET.)

Vincent is a matured man.
(Vincent is a MATURE man.)

Jane advised me don’t do it again.
(Jane advised me NOT TO DO it again.)

My uncle returned back from the U.S last year.
(My uncle RETURNED FROM the U.S last year.)
(My uncle CAME BACK FROM the U.S last year.)

We'll get down at the next bus stop.
(We'll GET OFF at the next bus stop.)

I'm having a headache.
(I have A headache / I've GOT A headache.)

Although he is poor, but he works very hard.
(Although he is poor, he works very hard.)

I get my salary twice a month.
(I get PAID twice a month.)

Don't expect me too much.
(Don't EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM/OF me.)

I forgot my hat in the house.
(I left my hat in the house.)

MOST COMMON ERRORS IN ENGLISH MADE BY INDIAN STUDENTS (Part 2)

Here are another twenty blunders in English that many non-native speakers often make:
Plese note that the sentences given in brackets are CORRECT)

He came back in India.
(He came back TO India.)

I'd like to study in abroad/overseas.
(I'd like to study abroad/overseas.)

He drives his bike so fast.
(He RIDES his bike so fast.)

I don't know to drive a car.)
(I don't know HOW TO drive a car.)

They entered into the hall.
(They entered the hall.)

I understood her the question.
(I MADE HER UNDERSTAND the question.)

He teches very well, isn't it?
(He teches very well, DOESN'T he?)

You are hiding something, isn't it?
(You are hiding something, AREN'T YOU?)

I would like to make a doctor.
(I would like to BE/BECOME a doctor.)

We had talked to him yesterday.
(We talked to him yesterday.)

We bought some furnitures.
(We bought some FURNITURE).

I cut my hair yesteday.
(I GOT MY HAIR CUT yesterday.)

If I am you, I will never do so.)
(If I WERE you, I WOULD never do so.)

I love listening music.
(I love LISTENING TO music.)

I missed my keys.
(I LOST my keys.)

Respected Sir, ................
(DEAR Sir, ................)

What's the time in your watch?
(What's the time BY your watch?)

Many foreign people visit my country.
(Many FOREIGNERS visit my country.)

Aamir Khan is my favourite hero.
(Aamir Khan is my favourite ACTOR/FILM STAR.)

My mom is a good cooker.
(My mom is a good COOK.)

Most Common English Errors of Indian students.......

Here's a list of some of the most common mistakes that many English speakers in India make. Of course the list is not complete. I will continue to add more in my oncoming blogs. If you remember some of such common blunders, please inform me through your comments as it may help a good number of Indian studnts who wish to hone their communication skills in English.

In each pair of the following sentences, the sentences given in brackets are the accepted standard English)

I like the peoples of my village.
(I like the PEOPLE of my village)

Their childrens are very naughty.
(Their CHILDREN are very naughty.)

She is my cousin-sister.
(She is my COUSIN.)

He is my cousin-brother.
(He is my COUSIN.)

What is your good name, please?
(What is your name, please?)

Mrs & Mr Khurana
(MR &MRS Khurana.)

My brother is reading in fourth class.
(My brother is STUDYING in fourth class.)
(My brother is in fourth class.)

I got many informations about....
(I got a lot of INFORMATION about....)

There are different types of equipments here.
(There are different types of EQUIPMENT here)

I want to buy a pant/pent.
(I want to buy A PAIR OF PANTS.)

It cost me only one rupees.
(It cost me only one RUPEE.)

200 kilometres are a ling distance.
(200 kilometres IS a long distance.)

Parents should aware their children about......
(Parents should MAKE THEIR CHILDREN AWARE ABOUT.....)

Anyways, hope to see you again.
(ANYWAY, hope to see you again.)

He oftenly comes here.
(He OFTEN comes here.)

My Mrs is not well today.
(My WIFE is not well today.)

I used to do exercise daily.
(I used to TAKE exercise daily.)

I am completely agree with you.
(I completely agree with you.)

He is belong to Delhi.
(He BELONGS to Delhi.)

Jack is one of my best friend.
(Jack is one of my best FRIENDS.)