Exercise to identify and correct five errors in a paragraph about stamp collecting.
A worksheet from Unit 1 titled "Correct the Errors," showing a paragraph with five grammatical mistakes to be corrected.
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: ESL Beginner Writing Lessons: Error Correction Worksheet -
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: ESL Beginner Writing Lessons: Error Correction Worksheet -
Let's analyze the original essay and identify the five errors. Then, we’ll rewrite it with corrections and explain each fix.
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> My hobby is collecting stamps. I started collect stamps when I was five years old. My grandfather sent me a letter from Canada, and I really liked the stamp. I began collect more and more stamps, and soon I have more than 100! Last week, I read a book about collecting stamps, and I see a picture of a beautiful stamp that was worth over $100! This hobby is very interesting, so I don't think I will ever quit collect stamps.
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1. "I started collect stamps"
→ Incorrect verb form. After "started", we need the gerund (verb + -ing) or an infinitive with "to".
✔ Correct: "I started to collect" or "I started collecting"
*(Both are correct; "collecting" is more natural here.)*
2. "I began collect more and more stamps"
→ Same issue as above. "Began" is followed by a gerund or infinitive.
✔ Correct: "I began to collect" or "I began collecting"
3. "soon I have more than 100!"
→ Incorrect tense. The action happened in the past ("began"), so this should be past tense.
✔ Correct: "soon I had more than 100!"
4. "and I see a picture"
→ Tense error. The sentence starts with "Last week", which is past time. So "see" should be past tense.
✔ Correct: "and I saw a picture"
5. "quit collect stamps"
→ Incorrect verb form. "Quit" is followed by a gerund (verb + -ing).
✔ Correct: "quit collecting stamps"
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> My hobby is collecting stamps. I started collecting stamps when I was five years old. My grandfather sent me a letter from Canada, and I really liked the stamp. I began collecting more and more stamps, and soon I had more than 100! Last week, I read a book about collecting stamps, and I saw a picture of a beautiful stamp that was worth over $100! This hobby is very interesting, so I don’t think I will ever quit collecting stamps.
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1. "started collect" → "started collecting"
→ After verbs like *start*, *begin*, *continue*, etc., use the -ing form (gerund) for a natural flow.
2. "began collect" → "began collecting"
→ Same rule as above. "Begun" is not used here — it's "began" (simple past), followed by gerund.
3. "I have" → "I had"
→ The timeline is past: started at age 5, then “soon” after that → past event. Use past tense.
4. "I see" → "I saw"
→ "Last week" indicates past time → use past tense verb.
5. "quit collect" → "quit collecting"
→ "Quit" is followed by a gerund, not base verb. Example: "quit smoking", "quit eating junk food".
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✔ Final Answer:
> My hobby is collecting stamps. I started collecting stamps when I was five years old. My grandfather sent me a letter from Canada, and I really liked the stamp. I began collecting more and more stamps, and soon I had more than 100! Last week, I read a book about collecting stamps, and I saw a picture of a beautiful stamp that was worth over $100! This hobby is very interesting, so I don’t think I will ever quit collecting stamps.
---
Original Essay:
> My hobby is collecting stamps. I started collect stamps when I was five years old. My grandfather sent me a letter from Canada, and I really liked the stamp. I began collect more and more stamps, and soon I have more than 100! Last week, I read a book about collecting stamps, and I see a picture of a beautiful stamp that was worth over $100! This hobby is very interesting, so I don't think I will ever quit collect stamps.
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Step-by-step Error Identification:
1. "I started collect stamps"
→ Incorrect verb form. After "started", we need the gerund (verb + -ing) or an infinitive with "to".
✔ Correct: "I started to collect" or "I started collecting"
*(Both are correct; "collecting" is more natural here.)*
2. "I began collect more and more stamps"
→ Same issue as above. "Began" is followed by a gerund or infinitive.
✔ Correct: "I began to collect" or "I began collecting"
3. "soon I have more than 100!"
→ Incorrect tense. The action happened in the past ("began"), so this should be past tense.
✔ Correct: "soon I had more than 100!"
4. "and I see a picture"
→ Tense error. The sentence starts with "Last week", which is past time. So "see" should be past tense.
✔ Correct: "and I saw a picture"
5. "quit collect stamps"
→ Incorrect verb form. "Quit" is followed by a gerund (verb + -ing).
✔ Correct: "quit collecting stamps"
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✔ Corrected Version:
> My hobby is collecting stamps. I started collecting stamps when I was five years old. My grandfather sent me a letter from Canada, and I really liked the stamp. I began collecting more and more stamps, and soon I had more than 100! Last week, I read a book about collecting stamps, and I saw a picture of a beautiful stamp that was worth over $100! This hobby is very interesting, so I don’t think I will ever quit collecting stamps.
---
🔍 Explanation of Corrections:
1. "started collect" → "started collecting"
→ After verbs like *start*, *begin*, *continue*, etc., use the -ing form (gerund) for a natural flow.
2. "began collect" → "began collecting"
→ Same rule as above. "Begun" is not used here — it's "began" (simple past), followed by gerund.
3. "I have" → "I had"
→ The timeline is past: started at age 5, then “soon” after that → past event. Use past tense.
4. "I see" → "I saw"
→ "Last week" indicates past time → use past tense verb.
5. "quit collect" → "quit collecting"
→ "Quit" is followed by a gerund, not base verb. Example: "quit smoking", "quit eating junk food".
---
✔ Final Answer:
> My hobby is collecting stamps. I started collecting stamps when I was five years old. My grandfather sent me a letter from Canada, and I really liked the stamp. I began collecting more and more stamps, and soon I had more than 100! Last week, I read a book about collecting stamps, and I saw a picture of a beautiful stamp that was worth over $100! This hobby is very interesting, so I don’t think I will ever quit collecting stamps.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of paragraph correction worksheet pdf.
