Common Mistakes In English

COMMONMISTAKES

WHAT NOT TO USE...

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- Where is the supermarket?

- I don't know ____________________

1. Word order in WH word clauses

- Don't use invert the subject and auxiliary. It's not a question. These WH clauses are the same as normal sentences, so the word order is the same too.

NOT: He realized what was he doing. Correction: He realized what he was doing. NOT: I can’t believe what have you done. Correction: I can’t believe what you have done.

1. Word order in WH word clauses

- Use a single affirmative verb in the present and past simple. They do NOT use an auxiliary, but negatives still have auxiliaries.

Past Simple: NOT: I don’t know where did he go last night. Correction: I don’t know where he went last night. (OR: I don’t know where he didn't go last night.) Present Simple NOT: They want to see what does he do. Correction: They want to see what he does. (OR: They want to see what he doesn't do.)

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2. Generalisations with 'The'

- English does not use a definite article (the) when speaking about a plural or uncountable nouns in general; i.e. meaning ‘all of them’.

NOT: The life is beautiful. Correction: (-) Life is beautiful. NOT: What makes me sad is the poverty. Correction: What makes me sad is (-) poverty.

2. Generalisations with 'The'

- When we use 'the' with a plural or uncountable noun, it means that we are being specific about only one of that type of noun.

I’m reading about the life of Michael Jackson. (Only his life and no other) The poverty in our society is a terrible thing. (Only our society and no other) The sports that you do don’t interest me. (Only your sports and no others)

2. Generalisations with 'The'

HOWEVER: It is possible to use the definite article plus a singular countable noun to generalise too. This makes one noun an example for all of the same group. Compare: Life would be much less interesting without tigers. Life would be much less interesting without the tiger. Cars are probably the most important invention in mankind’s history. The car is probably the most important invention in mankind’s history.

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3. Adding an ‘s’ after thousand, million...

in expressions like thirteen thousand dollars, eight million people, etc.

The mistake: “There are 21 millions residents in the state of Florida.” The correct way: “There are 21 million residents in the state of Florida.” Explanation: If we mention an exact number, we don’t add an ‘s’ after hundred, thousand, million, or billion. However, we use an ‘s’ in these expressions is if we give a non-specific number (hundreds of dollars, thousands of people, millions of voters, etc.).

4. Making nouns plural in compound adjectives

The mistake: “We have a three-days weekend coming up.” The correct way: “We have a three-day weekend coming up.”

Explanation: A compound adjective is when two or more words join to modify the same noun. If a compound adjective has a noun, the noun should be singular. “Let’s take a ten-minute break.” “Becky has a four-year-old daughter.” “Did you go on your normal five-mile run this morning?”

5. Misusing used to

The mistake: “I’m used to wake up early, so I have no problem getting here at 7 a.m.” The correct way: “I’m used to waking up early, so I have no problem getting here at 7 a.m.”

Explanation: We use used to + base form to talk about something that was true in the past but no longer true. We use to be used to + gerund/noun to talk about something that we are or are becoming accustomed to.

5. Misusing used to

Examples of correct usage (something that is no longer true): “I used to have long hair when I was younger.” “Did you use to work in retail?” “Mark used to be a bartender.” Examples of correct usage (something someone is accustomed to): “I’m not used to running in the heat, so I’m going to take it easy today.” “My wife isn’t used to eating spicy food, so please don’t make the chili too hot.” “I don’t want to drive a lot because I’m not used to my new car yet.”

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