English Grammar and Usage: Common Mistakes
Common English Mistakes
1.
Lend: Why don’t you ask a friend to lend you money if you have any money?
Case: Take some more money in case you need to get a taxi home.
Would: If my grades were good enough, I would study computing.
Been: I’ve been studying since 2011.
Unless: I’ll get you a CD for your birthday unless I haven’t got enough money.
Came: Henry Ford came up with the idea of the assembly line…
Long: I`ll need you 50 as long as…
Down: Our washing machine has broken down, so I have to…
Only: There is only a little space in my computer…
2.
- The theory of evolution was suggested by…
- The elephants in this area should be protected by a ban on hunting.
- I’m really looking forward to being taken to the zoo.
- A new species of bird has been discovered…
- People should be encouraged to recycle.
- The government has been put under pressure to change.
- Global warming has been predicted for a long time.
3.
Is: A new road is being built through the downs.
Succeeded: I hope we succeed in persuading the government to ban…
Out: I heard that the dodo died out because it couldn’t…
Discussed: The pollution problem should be discussed in tomorrow’s…
Avoid: Please try to avoid wasting water.
Out: Eventually, we will run out of fossil fuels.
4.
As: The film was as good as I had thought it would be.
Not: Children under three are not allowed to go on this ride.
Better: We had better get a professional to cut down those…
Should: You should have asked Helen to help.
Avoid: We want to avoid damaging the environment.
Away: Too much rubbish is thrown away in this country.
Go: Why are you always having a go at me?
5.
Living: I had been living there for three years in 2002.
Such: There were such a lot of people on the train that we had to stand.
Enough: You are not old enough to have a girlfriend.
Since: I haven’t had a holiday since…
Use: When you were a child, did you used to be naughty?
Got: I still haven’t got used to sharing a flat.
Succeeded: We finally succeeded in persuading them to put us on a…
Such: It was such a boring lesson that I fell asleep!
Put: I don’t know how you put up with her treating…
6.
Have: I have been going abroad since I was ten.
An: It was such an expensive holiday that we could only afford one week.
See: After Peter’s visits, we would all see him off at the station.
Enough: Hilda was not old enough to travel on her own.
Used: Years ago, a lot of people used to spend their holidays with relatives.
Lifetime: I was promised the holiday of a lifetime, but it was with teenagers…
Destination: Canada is an increasingly popular destination among teenagers.
Got: Because we got on well, the trip was a great success.
7.
- If you have financial problems, get some advice.
- If I were you, I would buy that car.
- If I could buy anything I want, I would buy a house in the country.
8.
Only: There are only a few notes left in my wallet.
Working: Paul has been working since six…
Succeeded: Did you succeed in persuading George to lend you some money?
If: We won’t get to the bank before it closes if we don’t leave soon.
Borrow: Could I borrow some money from you?
Long: …as long as
Do: How did they come up with the money…
A: I haven’t got a lot of money to spend on luxuries…
9.
Recover: It can take some time to recover from a break-up.
Been: Ed and Stacey have been married since September.
For: Marie has been acting for six years.
Raised: James Dean was raised by his aunt and uncle.
Put: I have put up with your behavior for too long.
Out: Jack helped me to sort out the problem quickly.
Already: I have already tried talking to her.
Just: Steve had just taken his exams when I…
10.
Running: The local environmental organization is running out of money.
Had: You had better read this article before you do your geography homework.
Informed: Why aren’t people being informed about this problem by the environment?
Succeed: You’ll never succeed in convincing him that…
Founded: This wildlife charity was founded in 1970.
Depend: These animals depend on us for their survival.
Accused: The company has been accused of breaking environmental laws.
Of: If we do not take care of the environment, it could end in disaster.
11.
Been: We have been visiting this resort for ten years.
When: My dad was thirty when he first went abroad.
Such: We had such a terrible holiday that we came…
Managed: We finally managed to find a hotel with a pool.
Used: We used to go to the mountains every summer when I was a child.
Enough: The sea wasn’t warm enough to go swimming.
Staying: I’m used to staying in luxury hotels.
Made: They made an announcement saying that our flight had been delayed.