Common mistake 'it' + non-3rd person verb

Common Mistake: Mixing 'it' with a Non-3rd Person Verb

One common mistake that people often make in their writing is mixing the pronoun 'it' with a non-3rd person verb. This error can lead to confusion and lack of clarity in your sentences. It's important to understand when and how to correctly use 'it' with the appropriate verb form.

Usage Guidelines

When using the pronoun 'it' as a subject in a sentence, you must pair it with a 3rd person verb form. The different forms of the verb depend on whether the subject is singular or plural, and whether it is in present or past tense.

Here are some examples to demonstrate the correct usage:

Incorrect: It have been a long day.
Correct: It has been a long day.
Incorrect: It were nice to see you.
Correct: It was nice to see you.
Incorrect: It can't rains forever.
Correct: It can't rain forever.

As you can see from the examples above, the third-person singular verb forms 'has,' 'was,' and 'can't' are used instead of the plural forms 'have,' 'were,' and 'can't'.

How Linguix Grammar Checker Can Help

A reliable tool like Linguix Grammar Checker can assist you in avoiding this common mistake. By analyzing your writing and suggesting corrections, it helps ensure that you use the correct verb form with the pronoun 'it'.

Remember, using the incorrect verb form with 'it' can result in grammatically incorrect sentences and confusion for your readers. To maintain clarity and accuracy in your writing, always match 'it' with the appropriate 3rd person verb form.

'it' + non-3rd person verb mistake examples

Incorrect:
It support transparency.

Correct:
It supports transparency.
Incorrect:
It only matter to me.

Correct:
It only matters to me.
Incorrect:
I think it's a good thing because it keep us on our toes.

Correct:
I think it's a good thing because it keeps us on our toes.
Incorrect:
The lights suddenly went out and it become dark.

Correct:
The lights suddenly went out and it becomes dark.
Incorrect:
I had to unpair it and re-pair it and it work…

Correct:
I had to unpair it and re-pair it and it works…
Incorrect:
I really hope it run.

Correct:
I really hope it runs.
Incorrect:
if it please you otherwise, tell me that also.

Correct:
if it pleases you otherwise, tell me that also.
Incorrect:
I think it go crazy.

Correct:
I think it goes crazy.
Incorrect:
I hope it work good.

Correct:
I hope it works good.
Incorrect:
Tom thought it tell the truth.

Correct:
Tom thought it tells the truth.
Incorrect:
They are hoping it win these competitions.

Correct:
They are hoping it wins these competitions.
Incorrect:
I assume it help

Correct:
I assume it helps
Incorrect:
I assume it still exist.

Correct:
I assume it still exists.
Incorrect:
For me it make sense for them to do that before the feature was incorporated in the making of V2.

Correct:
For me it makes sense for them to do that before the feature was incorporated in the making of V2.
Incorrect:
RealTimeTraders.com obtains data from sources it believe to be reliable.

Correct:
RealTimeTraders.com obtains data from sources it believes to be reliable.
Incorrect:
If the company picks and chooses which year it want to go, the FPPC regs make the "gift" of the trip from the company, not CFEE.

Correct:
If the company picks and chooses which year it wants to go, the FPPC regs make the "gift" of the trip from the company, not CFEE.
Correct:
Does it support transparency?
Correct:
Doesn't it support transparency?
Correct:
The American publisher let it go out of print.
Correct:
How did it come about?
Correct:
So, send me it please.
Correct:
I'll say it clear, ...
Correct:
How do it contact you to do this?
Correct:
I took my umbrella lest it rain.
Correct:
He immediately wrote it down.
Correct:
Wi-Fi doesn’t interfere with Z wave, and it sometimes can with zigbee.
Correct:
Is it right?
Correct:
I heard it thunder in the distance.
Correct:
How'd it go with Tom last night?
Correct:
Do it well.
Correct:
All my doubts about it have been driven away.
Correct:
It fell without resistance to Union forces under Brig.
Correct:
You may take this book as long as you keep it clean.
Correct:
Embrace life whether it be a moment or, an eternity.
Correct:
But he insisted that it be housed in a special museum.
Correct:
Many other components beside it determine how much cooling you'll get.
Correct:
How had it come to this?
Correct:
They find it really cool.
Correct:
He could do it even better.
Correct:
The details of how to do it have been explained.
Correct:
I can have it ready in thirty minutes.
Correct:
Cut it short all over.
Correct:
Don't cut it too short in the front.
Correct:
You will understand it as time passes.
Correct:
The lights suddenly went off and it become dark.
Correct:
Instead of setting it piece by piece, you can...
Correct:
I'm not paying to have it continue.
Correct:
He had put it right at the beginning.
Correct:
He removed it right then.
Correct:
This question of Slavery was more important than any other; indeed, so much more important has it become that no other national question can even get a hearing just at present.
Correct:
We roast our coffee after you place your order and ship it FREE to you the same day.
Correct:
How's it feel now?
Correct:
What's it look like to you?
Correct:
Push it open.
Correct:
They simulate a shell's trajectory by 'flying' it in short steps and applying data about the conditions affecting the trajectory at each step.
Correct:
It up front states that we are not asking for a vote to change the governance at the June meeting.
Correct:
They confirmed it so will you please do it?
Correct:
They say it cant happen.
Correct:
... to the cheerfully optimistic, and it need not imply anything specific about the writer's...
Correct:
Then please do it after school.
Correct:
If we don't need it now let's not complicate things.
Correct:
He's doing it slightly rough, then.
Correct:
He's finding it very rough on the sea.
Correct:
He keeps it in sync.
Correct:
The buy it now button.
Correct:
He mentioned it in paragraph one.
Correct:
He noted it in test samples.
Correct:
Let's achieve it before bed.
Correct:
He asked it in general.
Correct:
He asked it in general
Correct:
Please order this product by February 15, and we will be able to deliver it before March 15.
Correct:
And he has done it before spring break.
Correct:
Submit it please
Correct:
That’s exactly it Bob, a single latch lock.
Correct:
Something that help it run fast.
Correct:
The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem for that sweet odor which does in it live.
Correct:
Si le grain ne meurt – 1926 (translated as If It Die)
Correct:
What'll it be, what'll it be, you and me.
Correct:
Backing it are some of the world's top oil companies and banks, including BP Amoco Plc.

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