271. Omission of the direct object when there are two objects
Don’t say: I asked him for some ink, and he gave me.
✓ Say: I asked him for some ink, and he gave me some.
Some transitive verbs like give, bring, send, tell, buy, show, must have two expressed objects, direct and indirect: here, some is the direct object of gave.
272. The object of the verb enjoy omitted
Don’t say: I enjoyed during the holidays.
✓ Say: I enjoyed myself during the holidays.
Or: I enjoyed my holidays.
Don’t follow the verb enjoy by a preposition. It must always have an object, which may either be a reflexive pronoun or a noun.
Note: We say “I had a good time”, as this is an idiomatic expression, but we can’t say “I enjoyed my time.” We must specify “I enjoyed my time in Greece.”
273. Omission of the noun after an adjective
Don’t say: The unfortunate was shot dead.
✓ Say: The unfortunate man was shot dead.
The noun that comes after an adjective can’t be understood, it must be expressed
Note: Omit the noun after an adjective only when the adjective is used as a noun in the plural –> The poor envy the rich.
274. Omission of the word and between numbers
Don’t say: Fight thousand thirty-seven.
✓ Say: Eight thousand and thirty-seven.
Use the conjunction and to connect hundred, thousand million to a number of tens or units
275. Omission of the word or between numbers
Don’t say: I’ve only two. three friends.
✓ Say: I’ve only two or three friends.
We must always insert the conjunction or between numbers like this two or three men, five or six pages, eight or ten days.
276. Omission of the word old from age
Don’t say: My sister is fifteen years.
✓ Say: My sister is fifteen years old.
Note: We can also say “My sister is fifteen years of age.” or simply “My sister is fifteen.”
277. For this used instead of for this reason
Don’t say: For this he wants to leave.
✓ Say: For this reason he wants to leave.
The phrase for this is incorrect. Say for this reason or for that reason. Also owing to that or because of that
278. Better used instead of had better
Don’t say: Better go home at once.
✓ Say: You’d better go home at once.
The correct phrase is had better. “You had better go.” means “It would be a good thing for you to go.”
279. Up and down used instead of upstairs and downstairs
Don’t say: He’s up, he’s down.
✓ Say: I Ie’s upstairs, he’s downstairs.
“He’s up” means he’s out of bed. “He’s upstairs (downstair)” means he’s on the upper (lower) floor of the building
280. Throw it used instead of throw it away
Don’t say: It’s dirty, throw it.
✓ Say: It’s dirty, throw it away.
Throw it means to throw a thing at someone or somewhere, such as a ball.
Throw it away means to get rid of it by throwing it aside.
281. I don’t think used instead of I don’t think so
Don’t say: I don’t think.
✓ Say: I don’t think so.
I don’t think means I don’t use my brains, while I don’t think so means l am not of that opinion.
282. Before yesterday, etc., used instead of the day before yesterday, etc.
Don’t say: Lynne arrived before yesterday.
Say: Lynne arrived the day before yesterday.
The phrases before yesterday, after tomorrow, after next week are incorrect. Say instead, the day before yesterday, the day after tomorrow, the week after next.
283. Thank you used instead of No, thank you
Don’t say: Thank you (if you want to refuse an offer)
✓ Say: No, thank you.
Note: Use thank you to accept an offer and it generally mean “Yes, please.”