The Dirty Dozens(AKA “THE DOUBLE D’S”)

English 3 – Mr. McGowan

THE FOLLOWING ERRORS ARE FORBIDDEN IN ALL WORK FROM NOW ON – YOU MUST

BE AWARE OF THE DOUBLE D’S!

DD #1 – Past tense of “would”COMMON ERROR:

I would of gone yesterday but I had to work.I shoulda done the work but I was too lazy.I could of passed the test but I didn’t study.

WHAT SHOULD IT BE?I would have gone yesterday but I had to work.I should have done the work but I was too lazy.I could’ve passed the test but I didn’t study.

DD #2 – The Subjunctive of “To Be”COMMON ERROR:

If I was you, I never would have done that.If I was John Proctor, I would have confessed and lived.If he was older, he never would have gotten the job,

(Something that isn’t true)

WHAT SHOULD IT BE?If I were you, I never would have done that.If I were John Proctor, I would have confessed and

lived.If he were older, he never would have gotten the job.

DD #3 – “They’re”, etc. I went to my neighbor’s house to give them

back they’re rake.

Their are many reasons why I hate English class.

There not going on Saturday night.

“THEY’RE” RULES“They’re” = THEY ARE

“There” = There is or There Are. or: Where? There.

“Their” = Possessive, belongs to them

DD #4 – “Less/Fewer” and “Amount/Number”I have a lot less money than you do.

You have fewer problems than I do.

What is the correct amount of change?

I have a large number of students.

RULESUse LESS or AMOUNT with singular nouns

Or, things that are ABSTRACT and can’t exactly be physically counted

Use FEWER or NUMBER with plural nounsThings you can COUNT physically

There are (less / fewer) than five dress shirts

in Mario’s closet.

You have (less / fewer) money today that you had yesterday.

DD #5 – Accept vs. Except

1. I cannot (accept / except) this award because I wasn’t responsible for the discovery.

 2. Everyone is a good person in this class

(accept / except) for you.

Accept = To receive, or admit to yourself

Except = everything butExceptions to the rule

Emerson says you must (accept / except) the plan that divine Providence has for you.

I hate every class (accept /except) this one.

DD #6 – Among vs. Between(Among / Between) you and me, I think this is

a mistake.

(Among / Between) the four of us, let’s keep this a secret.

(Among / Between) all of you, Mike does the best job.

AMONG = 3 or moreBETWEEN – 2

I can’t choose (among / between) these four dresses for the prom.

(Among / Between) you and me, I think that guy is an idiot.

DD #7 – Whether vs. WeatherI can never remember (whether / weather) to

use “weather” in this situation.

Does anyone know what the (whether / weather) is supposed to be tomorrow?

You should just stay on target and (whether/ weather) the storm.

WEATHER = related to climate

Or: Verb meaning “TO STICK IT OUT”

WHETHER = choiceNo need for “or not”

I can’t decide whether or not to go.

This (weather / whether) is terrible.

Bill is wondering (weather / whether) he should go to the prom.

I’m feeling kind of under the (weather / whether) today.

Whether the weather be coldWhether the weather be hot,We’ll be together whatever the weather

Whether we like it or not.

DD #8 – Further vs. FartherI live a lot (further / farther) away from

school than you do.

I don’t think we’re going to be able to go any (further /farther) with the project.

If you go (further / farther) than that, you will drive right past it.

FARTHER = comparative of “FAR”

Used with MEASURABLE DISTANCEMaryland is far, but South Dakota is farther.

FURTHER = a situation WITHOUT physical distanceI can’t go any further on the project without

your help.

I’m going to wrap up the presentation if you have no (further / farther) questions.

Sven threw the discus 14 feet (further / farther) than Olaf did.

That statement couldn’t be any (further / farther) from the truth.

DD #9 – Lose/Loose and Choose/ChoseThe hockey team doesn't want to (lose /

loose) the game.

The girl had such a bad sunburn that she could only wear (lose / loose) clothes.

These days, I usually (chose / choose) to waste my life away playing video games.

In the past, I always (chose / choose) wisely.

LOSE = not to win, or to misplaceLOOSE = not tightLOOSEN = to make something less tight

CHOOSE = present tense, to decideCHOSE = past tense, to decide CHOSEN = past participle, decided/picked

The shoes were so big that they were

___________ on the little boy's feet.

After the bad weather, the penned up dogs were set ____________ to run outside again.

The pet store manager was told to __________ the dog's collar as it was much too tight around his neck.

It is a terrible thing to _________ one's self respect.

You will _______________ out if you don't get there before the sale ends.

I (choose / chose) to vote for you in the

election last year.

We (choose / chose) our own representatives in this country.

You (choose / chose) the wrong path by coming here.

DD #10 – Lie/Lay, etc. I just want to go home and (lie / lay)

down.

Last week, Steve (lay / lain / laid) down at work because he was sick.

Last week, I (lay / lied / laid) the TPS report on your desk.

Steve has (lay / lied / lain / laid) on the floor for days.

LIE = to rest (to lie down)

Right now, I am lying on my bed.Yesterday, I lay down and took a napI have lain in bed late every morning this week.

LAY = to put (something) downI am laying the book down as we speak.Yesterday I laid the cup down before it spilled.I have laid it down every morning this week.

LIE = to tell an untruthYou are lying to me.I know you lied to me last week.You have lied to me since I’ve known you.

I just want to go home and (lie / lay)

down.

Last week, Steve (lay / lain / laid) down at work because he was sick.

Last week, I (lay / lied / laid) the TPS report on your desk.

Steve has (lay / lied / lain / laid) on the floor for days.

DD #11 – Sit/Set and Rise/RaiseI want to go home and (sit / set) down for an

hour.

My arms are tired; can I (sit / set) the couch down for a minute?

If you want to speak, I prefer if you (rise / raise) your hand.

What time does the sun (rise / raise) in the morning?

SIT = to rest in a seated position (no direct

objects)SET = to put (something) in a place (needs a

D.O.)

RISE = to go upward (no objects)RAISE = to cause (something) to rise (usually

needs an object)

Before you come to dinner, (sit / set) your

suitcase on the bed.

While people are talking, can you (sit / set) still?

The Amish people can build a barn and (rise / raise) it within a few days.

Sometimes it’s hard to (rise / raise) from bed early on weekends.

Sometimes it’s hard to (rise / raise) myself out of bed early on weekends.

DD #12 – Misplaced “ONLY”See other PPT