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35 basic mistakes to avoid !

Don't say/write (Correct written in bold)


1. Look - it rains.
Look - it's raining
2. It's often raining here.
It often rains here.
3.When I was 20 I was smoking.
When I was 20 I smoked.
4. I have seen Louis yesterday.
I saw Louis yesterday.
5.We're living here since April.
We've been living here since April.
6.I'll phone you when I will arrive.
I'll phone you when I arrive.
7. I'm not believing him.
I don't believe him.
8. I am born in Chicago.
I was born in Chicago.
9.My sister has 15 years.
My sister is 15 (years old).
10.I have cold in this house.
I am cold in this house.
11.I can to swim.
I can swim.
12. I must see the dentist yesterday.
I had to see the dentist yesterday.
13. I want go home.
I want to go home.
14. I came here for study English.
I came here to study English.
15. I drove there without to stop.
I drove there without stopping.

16. Where I can buy stamps?


Where can I buy stamps?
17.Is ready my new office?
Is my new office ready?
18.I'm no asleep.
I'm not asleep.
19.She looked, but she didn't see nothing. .
She didn't see anything OR she saw nothing.
20. Where is station?
Where is the station?
21. My sister is photographer.
My sister is a photographer.
22. You speak a very good English.
You speak very good English.
23. The life is difficult.
Life is difficult.
24. I haven't got some free time today
I haven't got any free time today.
25. Everybody were late.
Everybody was late.
26.It is more cold today.
It is colder today.
27. It's too much hot in this house.
It's too hot in this house.
28.The man which lives here is from Greece.
The man who lives here is from Greece.
29. The people in this town is very friendly.
The people in this town are very friendly.
30. She never listens me.
She never listens to me.
31. We went at the seaside on Sunday.
We went to the seaside on Sunday.
32. I like very much skiing.

I very much like skiing. or I like skiing very much.


33. This soup isn't enough hot.
This soup isn't hot enough.
34. I gave to her my address.
I gave her my address.
35. I have done a mistake.
I have made a mistake.

35 mistakes that intermediate students often make


1. I promise I pay you tomorrow.
I promise I'll pay you tomorrow.
2. This is the first time I'm here.
... the first time I've been here.
3. I've been here since three days.
I've been here for three days.
4. If I'll have time, I'll go home.
If I have time, I'll go home.
5. If I knew the price, I will tell you.
If I knew the price, I would tell you.
6. He said me that he was Chinese.
He told me that he was Chinese.
7. She told me she has a headache.
She told me she had a headache.
8. There's the man that I work for him.
There's the man that I work for.
9. I've told you all what I know.
I've told you all (that) I know.
10. Although it was late, but she went out.
Although it was late, she went out.
11. You have better to see the doctor.
You had better see the doctor.
12. I use to play tennis at weekends.
I play tennis at weekends.

13. It can rain this evening.


It may/might/could rain this evening.
14. My parents wanted that I study.
My parents wanted me to study.
15. You must stop to smoke.
You must stop smoking.
16. I look forward to see you.
I look forward to seeing you.
17. I'm boring in the lessons.
I'm bored in the lessons.
18. He has much money.
He has a lot of I plenty of money.
19. Most of people agree with me.
Most people agree with me.
20. I looked at me in the mirror.
I looked at myself in the mirror.
21. We waited during six hours.
We waited during for six hours.
22. I like eating chocolate milk.
I like eating milk chocolate.
23. Come here and look at that paper.
Come here and look at this paper.
24.We go there every Saturdays.
We go there every Saturday.
25. Which is the biggest city of the world?
Which is the biggest city in the world?
26. I'm thinking to change my job.
I'm thinking of changing my job.
27. Can you give me an information?
Can you give me some information?
28. He's married with a doctor.
He's married to a doctor.

29. Can you mend this until Tuesday?


Can you mend this by Tuesday?
30. There's a hotel in front of our house.
There's a hotel opposite our house.
31. I like warm countries, as Spain.
I like warm countries, like Spain.
32. Please explain me what you want.
Please explain to me what you want.
33. When you come, take your bike.
When you come, bring your bike.
34. My brother has got a new work.
My brother has got a new job.
35. He's Dutch, or better Belgian.
He's Dutch, or rather Belgian.

Even advanced students make mistakes. Here are 35.


1. I'll ask you in case I need help.
I'll ask you if I need help.
2. I object to tell them my age.
I object to telling them my age.
3. I like the 60s music.
I like 60s music. / the music of the 60s
4. ten thousand, a hundred and six
ten thousand, one hundred and six
5. 'Who's that?' - 'He's John:
'Who's that?' - 'It's John.'
6. I don't like to be shouted.
I don't like to be shouted at.
7. It's ages since she's arrived.
It's ages since she arrived.
8. The police is looking for him.
The police are looking for him.
9. Prices are surely rising fast.

Prices are certainly rising fast.


10. I have big respect for her ideas.
I have great respect for her ideas.
11. I don't like nowadays fashions.
I don't like today's/modem fashions.
12. She passed her exam, what surprised everybody.
She passed her exam, which surprised everybody.
13. I've good knowledge of German.
I've a good knowledge of German.
14. Finally! Where have you been?
At last! Where have you been?
15. I'll be home since 30' clock.
I'll be home from 3 0' clock.
16. We waited one and a half hour.
We waited one and a half hours.
17. It's time they go home.
It's time they went home.
18. I'll see you a few days later.
I'll see you in a few days.
19. All along the centuries, there have been wars.
All through the centuries, there have been wars.
20. I want a completely other colour.
I want a completely different colour.
21. Let's go and have coffee to Marcel's.
Let's go and have coffee at Marcel's.
22. That's mine - I saw it at first!
That's mine - I saw it first!
23. Switzerland is among Germany, France, Austria and Italy.
Switzerland is between Germany, France, Austria and Italy.
24. According to me, it's a bad film.
In my opinion / I think it's a bad film.
25. It was a too good party to miss.
It was too good a party to miss.

26. Whole Paris was celebrating.


The whole of Paris was celebrating.
27. I nearly wish I'd stayed at home.
I almost wish I'd stayed at home.
28. One speaks Italian in my town.
We/They speak Italian in my town.
29. The girl wants an own room.
The girl wants her own room.
30. Couldn't you help me, please?
Could you ... ? / You couldn't ... , could you?
31. I'll try to know when it starts.
I'll try to find out when it starts.
32. I love this so beautiful country.
I love this country - it's so beautiful.
33. It's getting winter.
It's getting to be winter.
34. Our flat is decorated this week.
Our flat is being decorated this week.
35. The Mont Blanc is 4808m high.
Mont Blanc is 4808m high.

Here are 25 mistakes, advanced students makes also !


1. No doubt the world is getting wanner.
There is no doubt that the world is getting wanner.
2. I can't think of anybody whom to invite.
I can't think of anybody to invite.
3. My father, whom we hope will be out of hospital soon, ...
My father, who we hope will be out of hospital soon, ...
4. Would you follow me wherever I would go?
Would you follow me wherever I went?
5.We all have to live in the society.
We all have to live in society.

6. The number of the unemployed is going up.


The number of unemployed is going up.
7. She was showing tiredness signs.
She was showing signs of tiredness.
8. She works the hardest when she's working for her family.
She works hardest when she's working for her family.
9. I'm thankful for your help.
I'm grateful for your help.
10. We talked about if it was ready.
about whether it was ready.
11. What live in those little holes?
What lives in those little holes?
12. Some people are interested, but the majority doesn't care.
Some people are interested, but the majority don't care.
13. It mustn't be the postman at the door. It's only 7 0' clock.
It can't be the postman at the door. It's only 7 0' clock.
14. A third of the students is from abroad.
A third of the students are from abroad.
15. Except Angie, everybody was there.
Except for Angie everybody was there.
16. I wish you felt I would feel better tomorrow.
I hope you feel I would feel better tomorrow.
17.The train may be late, as it happened yesterday.
The train may be late, as happened yesterday.
18. When I wrote my letters, I did some gardening.
When I had written my letters, I did some gardening.
19. When I had opened the door, the children ran in.
When I opened the door, the children ran in.
20. Stefan can never return back to his country.
Stefan can never return to his country / Stefan can never go back to his country
21. Will you go and see me when I'm in hospital?
Will you come and see me when I'm in hospital?
22. May you go camping this summer?

Do you think you'll go camping this summer?


23. My cousin works for the NATO.
My cousin works for NATO.
24. My wife will be angry unless I'm home by 7.00.
My wife will be angry if I'm not home by 7.00.
25. We were poured water on.
We had water poured on us. / Water was poured on us.

14 Common Grammatical Mistakes in English And How to


Avoid Them
1. Misplaced apostrophes
Apostrophes arent difficult to use once you know how, but putting them in the wrong place
is one of the most common grammar mistakes in the English language. Many people use an
apostrophe to form the plural of a word, particularly if the word in question ends in a vowel,
which might make the word look strange with an S added to make it plural.
The rules:
Apostrophes indicate possession something belonging to something or someone else.
To indicate something belonging to one person, the apostrophe goes before the s. For
instance, The girls horse.
To indicate something belonging to more than one person, put the apostrophe after the s.
For example, The girls horse.
Apostrophes are also used to indicate a contracted word. For example, dont uses an
apostrophe to indicate that the word is missing the o from do not.
Apostrophes are never used to make a word plural, even when a word is in number form, as
in a date.
How not to do it:
The horses are in the field
Pens for sale
In the 1980s
Janes horse is over there
The girls dresses are ready for them to collect
How to do it properly:
The horses are in the field
Pens for sale
In the 1980s
We didnt want to do it
Janes horse is over there
The girls dresses are ready for them to collect

2. Your/youre
We covered this one before in our post on homophones, but its such a widespread problem
that theres no harm in covering it again.
The rules:
Your indicates possession something belonging to you.
Youre is short for you are.
How not to do it:
Your beautiful
Do you know when your coming over?
Can I have one of youre biscuits?
How to do it properly:
Youre beautiful
Do you know when youre coming over?
Can I have one of your biscuits?
3. Its/its
We said earlier that apostrophes should be used to indicate possession, but there is one
exception to this rule, and that is the word it. Unsurprisingly, this exception gets lots of
people confused.
The rules:
Its is only ever used when short for it is.
Its indicates something belonging to something that isnt masculine or feminine (like his
and hers, but used when youre not talking about a person).
If it helps, remember that inanimate objects cant really possess something in the way a
human can.
How not to do it:
Its snowing outside
The sofa looks great with its new cover
How to do it properly:
Its snowing outside
The sofa looks great with its new cover
4. Could/would/should of
This common mistake arises because the contracted form of could have couldve
sounds a bit like could of when you say it out loud. This mistake is made frequently across
all three of these words.

The rules:
When people write should of, what they really mean is should have.
Written down, the shortened version of should have is shouldve.
Shouldve and Should have are both correct; the latter is more formal.
How not to do it:
We could of gone there today
I would of done it sooner
You should of said
How to do it properly:
We couldve gone there today
I would have done it sooner
You shouldve said
5. There/their/theyre
Weve met this one before, too; its another example of those pesky homophones words
that sound the same but have different meanings.
The rules:
Use there to refer to a place that isnt here over there.
We also use there to state something There are no cakes left.
Their indicates possession something belonging to them.
Theyre is short for they are.
How not to do it:
Their going to be here soon
We should contact theyre agent
Can we use there boat?
Their is an argument that says
How to do it properly:
Theyre going to be here soon
We should contact their agent
Can we use their boat?
There is an argument that says
6. Fewer/less
The fact that many people dont know the difference between fewer and less is reflected
in the number of supermarket checkout aisles designated for 10 items or less. The mistake
most people make is using less when they actually mean fewer, rather than the other
way round.

The rules:
Fewer refers to items you can count individually.
Less refers to a commodity, such as sand or water, that you cant count individually.
How not to do it:
There are less cakes now
Ten items or less
How to do it properly:
There are fewer cakes now
Ten items or fewer
Less sand
Fewer grains of sand
7. Amount/number
These two work in the same way as less and fewer, referring respectively to
commodities and individual items.
The rules:
Amount refers to a commodity, which cant be counted (for instance water).
Number refers to individual things that can be counted (for example birds).
How not to do it:
A greater amount of people are eating more healthily
How to do it properly:
A greater number of people are eating more healthily
The rain dumped a larger amount of water on the country than is average for the month
8. To/two/too
Its time to revisit another common grammar mistake that we also covered in our
homophones post, as no article on grammar gripes would be complete without it. Its easy
to see why people get this one wrong, but theres no reason why you should.
The rules:
To is used in the infinitive form of a verb to talk.
To is also used to mean towards.
Too means also or as well.
Two refers to the number 2.
How not to do it:

Im to hot
Its time two go
Im going too town
He bought to cakes
How to do it properly:
Im too hot
Its time to go
Im going to town
He bought two cakes
9. Then/than
Confusion between then and than probably arises because the two look and sound
similar.
The rules:
Than is used in comparisons.
Then is used to indicate something following something else in time, as in step-by-step
instructions, or planning a schedule (well go there then there).
How not to do it:
She was better at it then him
It was more then enough
How to do it properly:
She was better at it than him
It was more than enough
Well go to the baker first, then the coffee shop
10. Me/myself/I
The matter of how to refer to oneself causes all manner of conundrums, particularly when
referring to another person in the same sentence. Heres how to remember whether to use
me, myself or I.
The rules:
When referring to yourself and someone else, put their name first in the sentence.
Choose me or I by removing their name and seeing which sounds right.
For example, with the sentence John and I are off to the circus, you wouldnt say me is
off to the circus if it was just you; youd say I am off to the circus. Therefore when talking
about going with someone else, you say John and I.
You only use myself if youve already used I, making you the subject of the sentence.
How not to do it:

Me and John are off to the circus


Myself and John are going into town
Give it to John and I to look after
How to do it properly:
John and I are off to the circus
John and I are going into town
Give it to John and me to look after
Ill deal with it myself
I thought to myself
11. Invite/invitation
This mistake is now so common that its almost accepted as an alternative, but if you really
want to speak English properly, you should avoid it.
The rules:
Invite is a verb to invite. It refers to asking someone if theyd like to do something or
go somewhere.
Invitation is a noun an invitation. It refers to the actual message asking someone if
theyd like to do something or go somewhere.
How not to do it:
I havent responded to her invite yet.
She sent me an invite.
How to do it properly:
I havent responded to her invitation yet.
She sent me an invitation.
Im going to invite her to join us.
12. Who/whom
Another conundrum arising from confusion over how to refer to people. There are lots in the
English language!
The rules:
Who refers to the subject of a sentence; whom refers to the object.
Who and whom work in the same way as he or him. You can work out which you
should use by asking yourself the following:
Who did this? He did so who is correct. Whom should I invite? Invite him so
whom is correct.
That is often used incorrectly in place of who or whom. When referring to a person,
you should not use the word that.

How not to do it:


Who shall I invite?
Whom is responsible?
He was the only person that wanted to come
How to do it properly:
Whom shall I invite?
Who is responsible?
He was the only person who wanted to come
13. Affect/effect
Its an easy enough mistake to make given how similar these two words look and sound, but
theres a simple explanation to help you remember the difference.
The rules:
Affect is a verb to affect meaning to influence or have an impact on something.
Effect is the noun a positive effect referring to the result of being affected by
something.
There is also a verb to effect, meaning to bring something about to effect a change.
However, this is not very commonly used, so weve left it out of the examples below to avoid
confusion.
How not to do it:
He waited for the medicine to have an affect
They were directly effected by the flooding
How to do it properly:
He waited for the medicine to have an effect
They were directly affected by the flooding
14. I.e. and e.g.
These two abbreviations are commonly confused, and many people use them
interchangeably. However, their uses are very different.
The rules:
I.e. means that is or in other words. It comes from the Latin words id est.
E.g. means for example. It comes from the Latin words exempli gratia.
Only use i.e. and e.g. when writing informally. In formal documents, such as essays, it is
better to write out the meanings (for example or that is).
How not to do it:
He liked many different cheeses, i.e. cheddar, camembert and brie.

He objects to the changes e.g. he wont be accepting them.


How to do it properly:
He liked many different cheeses, e.g. cheddar, camembert and brie.
He objects to the changes i.e. he wont be accepting the

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