ONE OF MY FRIEND or FRIENDS

Hi Buddies!
Today I'm posting one of the most common grammatical mistakes that many learners of English make.

Quite often, I've heard and read many people use such sentences as 'Sam is one of my best friend.' , 'India is one of most populated country', 'Maths is one of her favourite subject' etc.

Although these sentences look okay at first sight, they are ungrammatical. As a rule ONE OF must be followed by a PLURAL NOUN. e.g. One of the boys, one of my brothers, one of the problems etc.

Therefore, the wrong sentences in the introductory paragraphs must be rewritten as: (Carefully see the plural subjects after 'one of')

'Sam is one of my best friends.' , India is one of most populated countries', 'Maths is one of her favourite subjects' etc.

The explanation:
In sentence 1, the speaker means to say that they have many best friends, and Sam is one of them.

In sentence 2, the speaker means to say that there are many most populated countries, and India is one of them.

In sentence 3, the speaker means to say that she has many favourite subjects, and Maths is one of them.

                                                                                                                    
Jacob (Nova English Campus)

ARE YOU A FLEXITARIAN?!

Hi Friends!
Here are a few STYLISH & EXTREMELY USEFUL words to spice up your conversation....

SOUL PATCH (n): a small growth of beard under a man's lower lip.[Jane hates the SOUL PATCH of her boy friend]



RIP-ROARING (adj)=noisy, exciting and full of activity.
[A RIP-ROARING celebration/party/occasion/programme/gathering]

JUMBRELLA (n)= very large umbrella set above tables outdoors at a coffee shop, pub or restaurant. Compare: PARASOLE.

FLEXITARIAN (n)= A vegetarian who sometimes eats meat, egg or fish.

JAMBOREE (n)= a large party or festival.
[The new student JAMBOREE is tonight, and I'm really nervous about it.]

JINGOIST (n)= a person who thinks that his country is the best in the world. JINGOISM(n);  JINGOISTIC(adj)

WASHY (adj)= (about a food/drink/curry) too watery.
[The soup she served us was really WASHY!]

GET THE SACK= to be dismissed frm job.
[I will GET THE SACK if I arrive at the office late]

TECHIE(n)= someone who works in computing or who knows a lot about computers.

GOOGLE (v)= to search for information on the Internet using Google.

[I GOOGLED a lot for some information about her]

You can also get such interesting and stylish words every day through SMS free of cost. To activate, please type JOIN JACOBNOVA and send it to 09223492234.

NB When you type the sms, remember that there is only ONE space in the activation SMS i.e. between JOIN and JACOBNOVA. Do not type ''JACOBNOVA'' as two words. And the whole SMS must be in capital letters.


Enjoy your English!!!
Jacob (Nova English Campus)

GENDER-NEUTRAL LANGUAGE

Hi Friends!
Today let's talk a little about 'gender-neutral language'!

In English, the gender-based grammatical constructions are fast fading away. for example, it is so common for English users the world over to use such sentences as 'EVERYONE should carry HIS own umbrella', 'NO ONE is allowed to park HIS car here' etc.

However, the eminent writers and educated speakers of English, especially in English speaking countries are slowly but steadily shifting towards a gender-neutral language. (e.g. now it is okay to say 'EVEYONE should carry THEIR own umbrella', 'NO ONE is allowed to park THEIR car here' etc).

Although a few users have used such modified sentences since the 1960s, they have been more frequently used today - mainly due to the rapid global growth of Feminist Movement.

So, you may now say,
'Has ANYBODY done THEIR work?' (modern English)
 (though 'Has ANYBODY done HIS work?' is also correct)
'Everyone did THEIR work independently' (modern English)
(though 'Everyone did HIS work independently' is also correct)!

                                                                                                                      
Happy learning!!!
Jacob (Nova English Campus)

Common Errors of Indian Users of English (Part 3)

As requested by many of you, here are a few more frequent mistakes :

She is my maternal/paternal aunty.

(She is my AUNTY.)

He is my maternal/paternal uncle.
(He is my UNCLE.)

Insert your shirt.
(TUCK IN your shirt.)

The nurse examined my pulse.
(The nurse FELT my pulse.)

Rain is coming.
(IT'S GOING TO RAIN.)

I am living here from/since six years.
(I HAVE BEEN living here FOR six years.)

I am practicing yoga from my childhood.
(I HAVE BEEN practicing yoga SINCE my childhood.)

She married last year.
(She GOT MARRIED last year.)

My wife delivered a healthy boy.
(My wife WAS DELIVERED OF a healthy boy.)

I'm sorry sir ji.
(I'm sorry SIR.)

I’m capable to do it.
(I’m capable OF DOING it.)

They worked hardly to pass the test.
(They worked HARD to pass the test.)

The driver, as well as four passengers, were injured.
(The driver, as well as four passengers, WAS injured.)

My younger brother is taller than me.
(My younger brother is taller than I.)

This task is more easy than the other one.
(This task is EASIER than the other one.)

The minister will reach today afternoon.
(The minister will reach THIS afternoon.)

I saw her in the park yesterday night.
(I saw her in the park LAST NIGHT.)

John caught five fishes.
(John caught five FISH.)

I have got headache.
(I have got A HEADACHE.)

She felt embarrassing.
(She felt EMBARRASSED.)