Common Mistakes in English Advanced

7/28/2019 Common Mistakes in English Advanced

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Common mistakes

in English(by Spanish speakers)


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1. Direct translations

2. False Cognates

3. Common grammar mistakes

4. Pronunciation


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Direct translations


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Which of these is NOT

correct?a) Now Im living in Colombia

b) In this moment Im trying to organize atrip to Italy

c) I am currently studying modernlanguages.

d) I am going to the store right now.


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In this momentThis makes sense in Spanish as en este

momento, but in English we say

AT the momente.g. Sorry, Im busy at the moment

At the moment Im trying to organize a trip to

Italy

Other ways to say en este momento:

I am currentlystudying modern languages.

I am going to the store right now.


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In some occasionsO The correct way to say this is

ONsome occasions

Related with/Married with

O The correct prepositions are:Related to Married to


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We can realizeO We can realize orWe could realize

O When using realize in the past in English,we do not use it with can.

We realized


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Do you know New York?"Well yeah I knowABOUT New York, I know

WHERE it is, I have HEARD of it..."Since we don't have conocer, to "know"

something translates here as "saber".When talking about places, you shouldsay "have you been to___?"to ask if aperson has visited a place.

Have you been to New York?

Have you been to that new restaurant?


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correct?a) The party will be really fun.

b) Lets make a fun party!

c) I had fun in Parque Tayrona.

d) Did you have fun last night?


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Make fun

One does not "make fun".

You say "to have fun" e.g. "we hadfun" or some thing can "be fun" e.g. It

was fun

Do/make/have are often confused. We

made a party is not correct.


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correct?a) We decided to go to the movies.

b) We settled on a decision.

c) We made the decision to move out ofthe house.

d) You two must arrive at a decision beforewe leave.


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Make a question

One does not make a question, but ratherask a question.

The teacher would like the students to ask a

question.

Arrive at a decision

We say Make a decisionDecide


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Story vs. HistoryStory is a tale that you relate.

History is the academic study of the events

in a countrys timeline.

"I am studying History at University"

"Britain has a very interesting history"

"Sophie just told me a funny story"


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I am agreeA common example occurs when learners

use I am agree instead ofI agree

because they have too literally translatedthe sentence estoy de acuerdo from

Spanish.

I thought the test the teacher gave us wastoo hard.

I agree.


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The TV doesnt functionWe normally say something doesnt work

rather than it doesnt function!


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False Cognates


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In my careerIn English, your career is an occupation

undertaken for a significant period of aperson's life, usually with opportunities forprogress. It's confusing because of the wordcarrera in Spanish.For what we study, we say 'degree' or 'major'(US).

"He had a great careeras a journalist"

"I am enjoying my degree in EnglishAt college my majorwas Spanish


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Common false cognates

Spanish false cognates quiz
http://www.sporcle.com/games/Marix/falsecognateshttp://www.sporcle.com/games/Marix/falsecognates


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Grammatical

mistakes


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Which of these is not correct?a) People say that she is very intelligent.

b) The people thinks that it rains every day inBogota.

c) Everybody says that Andres DC is the bestclub in town.

d) Nobody wants to go to the soccer matchwith me.


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People thinksPeople counts as a 3rd person PLURAL, not

singular.

Everybody, Everyone, Nobody, No-one

etc. count as 3rd

person SINGULAR.

People think

e.g. People saythat hes an idiotEverybody saysthat he is an idiot

Nobody is saying that youre an idiot


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My fathersThis should be "myparents unless you have

two dads.

My brothers" should

be "my siblings, unless

they are all boys.

Im going to visit my

grandparents


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You have reasonThis is not "You areright!

"This does not have sense" - "This doesnot MAKEsense

"I have X years old" - "I am X years old"

"I have hungry I am hungry


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Aman whichO When referring to a person, we do not say

a man which

a girl which

O When referring to a person the word WHO

is used

a man who

a woman who


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correct?If you didnt hear properly/ didnt understand

a) Sorry, what?b) Excuse me?

c) Tell me?

d) What?

e) Pardon?


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Explain meO Explain this TO me

O Explain this

Tell me?

If you didnt hear properly/ didntunderstand, the normal response wouldbe:

O What?

O Sorry?

O Excuse me?

O Pardon?


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correct?a) I ate way too much food.

b) My mother loves me so much.

c) I love my boyfriend too much.

d) We have too much work to do.


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Too muchMy mother loves me too much.

I like Hollywood films too much.

Too much/ Too many is negative,meaning overly much.

There is too much traffic in Bogota

I like Hollywood films a lot

My mum reallyloves me


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ChildrensThe plural of child

is children

Other unlikely

plurals:

sheep, fish,

thesis/theses, data


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He/She, His/hersIt's important to remember this! Equally,

"hers"/"his. For Spanish speakers therecan be some confusion due to the use of

su. In English you must identify thegender.

Did you go to Carolines party?

Yes, I went to herparty. It was fun!The teacher said that he wants us to arrive

on time.


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For that reasonWhen you have just finished writing about

something, it should be "because of

THIS"...

Equally, you can use thus:

Numbers of school attendees have

dropped; thus the government haslaunched an initiative


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Are you boring?A boring person makes those around them

bored.

"I am bored" - means that I feel bored

"Are you bored?"

"Am I boring you?" - Am I making you

bored?

This lesson is boring. I am bored.


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English class is very funnyFunny means you are laughing at it!

It should be "English class is very fun".

"The teacher is really funny".

We went to a party, which was really fun.

Hugo was there and he was telling funny

stories!


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PronunciationPhil/feel, beach/bitch


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If the base verb ends

in

one of these sounds:

/t/

/d/

__________

/p/

/f/

/s/

/S/

/tS/

/k/

_____________Other sounds

example base verb*:

Want wanted

End ended

____________________________

___

Hope hoped

Laugh laughed

Fax faxed

Wash washed

Watch watched

Like liked

_____________________________

Play Played

Allow Allowed

Beg Begged

Pronunciation:

/id/

_________________

/t/

_________________

/d/


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SoundsO Sh/ChSheep, cheap, shore,

chore

O T/Th

Tree, three, mat, math

O Z sound ending

Boys, girls, bees, please


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Common Mistakes in English Advanced