Grammatical issues.

[Basmamostafa]

Hello everyone,

I hope you get to this ASAP, since I have an English exam on Saturday.

1) Standing on the corner in the pouring rain and shielding himself from the deluge with a large umbrella ,was a tall man. Is there anythong wrong with this sentence? What about the punctuatuion marks, do I need to add a comma before was a tall man?

2) We lost several hundred dollars by taking his advice. Do I need to add as comma before "by taking his advice?"

3) When Diogenes said that he was looking for an honest man. What did he mean? I think the full stop before the question is wrong; shouldn't it be a comma?

4) If i were you, I would give him a call.
I would give him a call if I were you. IS it right not to add a comma before if in the second sentence?

5) To find his way home, Heon used his compass. Is the comma here right?

6) The meeting was in a state of confusion, with everyone speaking at the same time.
I understand that using the comma in the previous sentence is not right but I don't understand why

7) Do we say There is a lot of girls or There are a lot of girls. ?

There (are/is) a table, two couches and a desk.

9) None, does it use singular verbs or plural ones?

10) Everyone said that (his/their)....
Someone said that (his/their)....

11) Scientists are discovering that animals can think and (can) communicate their thoughts. Shoud I remove the second "can"? Is it okay if i just left it there.

12) How do we use punctuation marks with for instance and for example?
I think Kate is a great person. For instance, she helps the poor.
I think Kate is a great person; for instance, she helps the poor.
I think Kate is a great person, for instance, she helps the poor.
Which one is right?

Thanks for your time

[Mister Micawber]

.
1) No comma
2) No comma
3) I think the full stop before the question is wrong; shouldn't it be a comma?-- Yes

4) IS it right not to add a comma before if in the second sentence?-- Yes, that is right.

5) Is the comma here right?-- Yes

6) The comma is needed.

7) There are a lot of girls.

There are a table, two couches and a desk.--both OK in spoken English, though

9) Either is acceptable with countable referents.

10) Both are acceptable in most contexts

11) Is it okay if i just left it there.-- Yes

12) How do we use punctuation marks with for instance and for example?-- A comma always follows. These are right:
I think Kate is a great person. For instance, she helps the poor.
I think Kate is a great person; for instance, she helps the poor.
.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's