The noun determiner every agrees with a singular noun, however, as the context requires a plural noun, all is used instead of every. In the data “… less people …”, less is used for uncountable noun, so it should be replaced by fewer, which is used before a plural countable noun. Likewise, only is followed by a few not few, thus, the construction “… only few people” is improved into “…only a few people …”
3.1.2.2 Number
Errors in number mostly occur in the use of plural noun, the omission of the plural inflectional suffix {–es}
Error:
… one of the cigarette…
… two or more language …
… these scene are …
Suggested correction:
… one of the cigarettes …
… two or more languages …
… these scenes are …
Another type of errors is related to the use of singular noun, that is the addition of the plural inflectional suffix in the context where a singular noun is required:
Error:
…a speech acts …
… another tables …
The pedagogical process which is normally acquired by every children are different…
Suggested correction:
… a speech act …
… another table …
The pedagogical process which is normally acquired by every child (is) different …
This type of errors occurs as a plural noun is used after the determiners such as, a, another, every and each, which have to be followed by a singular noun.
3.1.2.3 Pronouns
Errors in pronouns fall into three subtypes: the omission of relatives pronoun, substitution of relative pronouns and addition of pronoun subjects. In the first subtype, the relative pronoun functioning as subject in a relative clause is omitted as can be seen in the following:
Error:
…to find out the types of
cohesive devices are used …
It is a group of words consists of …
Suggested correction:
… to find out the type of cohesive devices
which are used …
It is a group of words which consists of…
The second type involves the substitution of relative pronoun where an incorrect relative pronoun is used instead of the intended one:
Error:
… among people, which involve
formal relationships …
… a large group which members …
