IELTS Grammar: correct the mistakes

Can you find the mistakes in the following sentences? You might need to make several changes.

1. It is clear that, diploma and degree were the most popular qualifications.
2. Parents are usually try to provide their children different alternatives.
3. Most of computer games contain several of violence.
4. The number of people living in cities will be sharply increased.
5. Advertising are widely spread nowadays.

Please share your corrections in the "comments" area below this lesson. I'll add my corrections tomorrow.

Comments

[Lanni]

Please review my response:

1. It is clear that diploma and degree are the most popular qualifications.
Or: It is clear that diploma and degree were the most popular qualifications previously.

2. (The) parents are usually trying to provide their children different alternatives. ('The' is optional here because the sentence stands alone)

3. Most computer games contain several of violence.
Or: Most of the computer games contain several of violence. (Using 'several' as a pronoun)
Or: Most of the computer games contain several violence. (Using 'several' as an adj)

4. The number of people living in cities will sharply increase.

5. Advertising spreads widely nowadays.
Or: Advertising is widespread nowadays (More natural. Also, 'advertising' is uncountable)

Many thanks,
Lanni

[Stas]

Lanni,
'several' can't be used with 'violence' because it's an uncountable noun. 'Much' or 'a great deal' of would be more suitable.
In the second sentence Present Simple should be used (usually try), as 'are usually trying' implies an annoying habit.
"will sharply increase' is understandable, but sounds awkward. With the adverb at the end of the sentence will sound much better.
In the last sentence it should read 'is widely spread', because the subject (advertising) is singular.

[Ruangkhao Kwannak]

-It is clear that diploma and degree were the most popular qualifications.
-Parents usually try to provide their children in different alternatives.
-Most of computer games contain several of violences.
-The number of people who live in city will sharply increase.
-Advertising is widely spread nowadays.

[Agent 47]

It is clear that diploma and degree are the most popular qualifications.

Parents usually try to provide their children with different alternatives.

Most computer games contain several violence.

The number of people living in cities will increase sharply.

Advertising is widely spread nowadays.

[Lanni]

Hi Stas,

I completely agree with your solution for sentence no.2

I have no idea about the sentence no 3 and 4. I would like Simon's response for these.

I still hold my opnion of the last sentence. The reason is, 'spread' is a verb that should be turned into spread-ing (V-ing) in the structure 'Subject + verb to be + verb-ing'. It is correct to write 'is widely spread' in a passive sentence, however this sentence is seemingly not passive at all.

With best regards,

[Lanni]

Hi Stas,

After Googling, I have realized that you might properly be right in the sentence no 3.

Cheers :)

[Stas]

couldn't be otherwise))

as for the last sentence, it may have this passive implication, as it's not advertising itself that spreads, but it's done by someone...

however, 'several of violences' / 'several violence' is out of the question))))))

by the way, speaking about sentence 1 - the choice of tense there depends upon the time period stated in the task - if the statistics presented there refers to the past, 'were' should be used. But present perfect might be used in case the figures are of 2011)))

[Ruth W.]

My answers are:
1- eliminate(commas)
2-with
3-eliminate(several of)
4-who live
5-is

[Tomie Ngo]

my answers are:
1. It is clear that, diploma and degree were the most popular qualifications.
-> It is clear that diploma and degree were the most popular qualifications.
2. Parents are usually try to provide their children different alternatives.
-> The parents usually try to provide their children different alternatives
3. Most of computer games contain several of violence.
-> Most of the computer games contain some of violence.
4. The number of people living in cities will be sharply increased.
-> The number of people who live in cities will be sharply increased.
5. Advertising are widely spread nowadays.
-> Advertising is widely spread nowadays.

Simon, may you give me the true answers?

[Lei]

-It is clear that diploma and degree are the most popular qualifications.
-Parents usually try to provide their children different alternatives.
-Most computer games (or Most of the computer games)contain several of violence.
-The number of people living in cities will sharply increase.
-Advertising is widely spread nowadays.

[HASSAN]

Hi Simon
1- It is clear that degree and diploma are the most popular qualifications
2- Parents usually try to provide their children with different alternatives
3- Most computer games contain violence
4- The number of people living in cities will increase sharply
5- Advertisement is widely spread nowadays

[Johan]

1. It is clear that diploma and degree ARE the most popular qualifications.
2.Parents usually try to provide their children different alternatives.
3. Most computer games contain several SORTS of violence.
4. The number of people living in cities will sharply increase.
5. Adverts are widely spread nowadays.

All the best,
Johan

[duong]

dear Simon
1.It is clear that, diploma and degree are the most popular qualifications.
2.Parents usually try to provide their children different alternatives.
3.Most of computer games contain several of violences.
4.The number of people who live in cities will be sharply increased.
5.Advertising is widely spread nowadays.
All the best,
Duong

[Lanni]

Hi Stas and other IELTS online friends,

I really appreciate your comments here. For sure, sharing ideas and learning mutually are priceless. Thank you. Hopefully the world is small enough for us to meet in person in time to come.

Thank you, Simon. Your website is a treasure.

[Stas]

Lanni,
sure)

[divya]

Hi Simon,
1.It is clear that diploma and degree were the most popular qualifications.
2.Parents usually try to provide their children different alternatives.
3.Most of the computer games contain immense/lot of violence.
4.The number of people living in cities has sharply increased/The number of people living in cities will sharply increase.
5.Advertising is widely spread nowadays.

[HASSAN]

Dear Simon
is it possible to do a lesson about a line graph, beginning in the past and continuing to the future.
the use of the verb "expect", will be expected, it is expected, it was expected and other word compinations for this verb and as will as the verb "predict"
Thank you

[HASSAN]

I am sorry
cont.
when describing the period from the past to present and then to the future. Is it obligatory to use the present perfect or we can avoid using this verb tense
thanks again

[Vy]

I've read several answers above and this is my answers, I hope someone would help me correct it before Simon answer it tomorrow:
1.It is clear that, diploma and degree were the most popular qualifications.
->It is clear that diplomas and degrees are the most popular qualifications.
(I'm not sure about 'diploma' and 'degree' should be in plural form or not)

2.Parents are usually try to provide their children different alternatives.
->Parents usually try to provide their children with different alternatives.
(or: Parents usually try to provide different alternatives for their children.)

3.Most of computer games contain several of violence.
->Most computer games contain violence.
(thanks to Stas, I know violence is an uncountable noun)

4.The number of people living in cities will be sharply increased.
->The number of people living in cities will increase sharply.

5.Advertising are widely spread nowadays.
->Advertising is widely spread nowadays.

Regards,
Vy

[Oxana]

1. It is clear that diploma and degree are the most popular qualifications.

2. Parents usually try to provide their children different alternatives.

3. Most of computer games contain several violence.

4. The number of people living in cities will sharply increas.

5. Advartising is widely spread nowadays.

[KhanhLinh]

1. It is clear that diploma and degree were the most popular qualifications.
2. Parents usually try to provide their children different alternatives.
3. Most computer games contain several violence.
4. The number of people living in cities will sharply increase.
5. Advertising is widely spread nowadays.

[Jo]

1.It is clear that diploma and degree were the most popular qualifications.
2.Parents usually try to provide their children alternatives.
3.Most computer games contain several violence.
4.The number of people living in cities will sharply increase.
5.Advertising is widely spread nowadays.

[Mh]

1-It is clear that diploma and degree are the most popular qualifications

2-parents usually try to provide their children with different alternatives.

3-Most computer games contain several scenes of violence.

4-The number of people living in cities will sharply increase

5-Advertising is widely spread nowadays.

[win]

My answers are

1. It is clear that diplomas and degrees are the most popular qualifications.
2. Parents usually try to provide their children with different alternatives.
3. Many computer games contain several violence.
4. The number of people living in cities will increase sharply.
5. Advertising is widespread nowadays.

Thank you Simon!

[etbal]

1.It is clear that diploma and degree are the most popular qualifications.
2.Parents are usually try to provide their children different choices.
3.Most of computer games contain several scenes of violence.
4.The number of people living in cities will sharply increase.
5.Advertising are spreading widely nowadays.

[Moka]

1. No comma
2.no are
3. No several of
4.no passive form I.e will sharply increase.
5.advertising is always sing.

[gwapo]

1) It is clear that diploma and degree are the most popular qualifications.
2) Parents usually try to provide their children different alternatives.
3) Most computer games contain several violence.
4) The number of people living in cities will increase sharply.
5) Advertising is widely spread nowadays.

[Simon]

CORRECT ANSWERS FROM SIMON:

1. It is clear that diplomas and degrees were the most popular qualifications.
- no comma after "it is clear that"
- use plurals of 'diploma' and 'degree' because we are talking about a general category (it's similar to saying "dogs and cats are the most popular pets", not "dog and cat...")

2. Parents usually try to provide their children with different alternatives.
- not "are try"
- provide someone WITH something.

Maybe I'd change the sentence to "Parents try to give their children different opportunities."

3. Most computer games contain a lot of violence.
- Not "most of"
- "several" is followed by a plural, countable noun e.g. several problems, several scenes of violence.

4. The number of people living in cities will increase sharply.
- It's not passive ("will be increased" by someone?? - no)

5. Advertising is widespread nowadays.
- If you're not sure, you could write: "Advertising is everywhere"

Hope you found this useful - it wasn't easy!

Simon

PS. It's nice to see people discussing and working together. Thanks for pointing that out Lanni.

[Simon]

Hi Hassan,

Don't worry about using present perfect for line graphs that go into the future. Just use past simple for past dates, and "will" or "is expected to" for future dates. I'd miss out the year that refers to the present (e.g. 2011).

[Martin]

I always mark such sentences as "awkward", and I guess these types of mistakes happen when students try to do a literal translation from their native languages.

From what I know, the only way to reduce the number of "awkward" sentences in an essay is to read more English news/articles in a daily basis!

[Simon]

Hi Martin,

As usual I agree completely. "Awkward" is the perfect description of these sentences, and reading is the best solution!

[Soad Saleh]

1-It is clear that, diploma and degree are the most popular qualifications.
2-Parents are usually try to provide their children with different alternatives.
3- Most of computer games contain several violence.
4-The number of people living in cities will be sharply increasing.
5-Advertising are widely spreading nowadays.

[Simon]

Hi Soad Saleh,

My correct answers are further up this page.

[Ranbir]

hi simon
can u tell me why we not use "most of "?
In second sentence use of" PARENTS ARE " is correct or not ?

[jinsu noh]

hi,simon
can we say like this "2. parents usually try to provide different alternatives to their children" ,"5. Advertisement is widely spreaded nowadays" or not?

[NIKI]

It is clear that diploma and degree were the most popular qualifications.
Parents usually try to provide their children with different alternatives.
Most computer games contain a lot of violence.
The number of people living in cities will sharply increase.
Advertising is widely spread nowadays.