Error analysis (a) corrections

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1 For those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

This suggests that what is not known by some people is whether they have children or not – rather than the fact that there is a nursery available for the children.
Corrected versions: For those of you who don’t know it and have children, we have a nursery downstairs.
or May we inform those with children that we have a nursery downstairs.

2 I suggest we wait a few more minutes for Maureen to arrive so we can leave altogether.

I suggest we wait a few more minutes for Maureen to arrive so we can leave all together.

All together describes a group or things or people in one place.
Altogether means ‘completely’.

3 Swingbridge Choir invites any members of the public who enjoy sinning to join the choir.

Singing – surely?

4 Before baking some cooks brush the chicken pies with milk to give a shiny finish.

The lack of punctuation with this word order does not make it clear whether ‘brush’ in an instruction or a verb whose subject is certain cooks. As it stands the sentences therefore suggests that the cooks will be put into the oven, rather than the chicken pies! Let’s hope they enjoy heat!
Improved versions would be: Before baking, some cooks brush the chicken pies with milk to give a shiny finish or Some cooks brush the chicken pies with milk before baking to give a shiny finish. Or You may choose to give the chicken pies a shiny finish by brushing them with milk before baking them.

5 Student loans are means-tested. This means what your parents’ level of income effects how much you’re entitled to receive.

The verb is misspelt, mixing up effect and affect – the more common of the two.
Student loans are means-tested. This means what your parents’ level of income affects how much you’re entitled to receive.
To effect – verb – is to result, carry out or achieve. To affect = to influence

6 I know there are few people are not interested in seeing the film.

Some languages do not use relative pronouns, so this point can be difficult. The relative clause here needs a relative pronoun – who or that (1). Alternatively, if the ‘not interested‘ is to be attributive, and used adjectivally, then the verb must go (2).
(1) I know there are few people who / that are not interested in seeing the film. or
(2) I know there are few people not interested in seeing the film.
I know there are a few people (who / that are) not interested in seeing the film.

7 Jimmy has good job.

Jimmy has a good job – because a countable noun in the singular needs a determiner.
Remember that an uncount noun does not need a determiner – Eg Exercise is important. Jimmy drinks coffee but not tea. This is another tricky point for languages which do not have determiners.

8 The 2010 AGM will be hell May 10 and 11 in Milton Keynes.

Just a typing error – ‘will be held’. It may well be terrible – hell, even – but let’s hope not!