How to Avoid Mistakes by Using the Correct Sentences in English

Below are some of the most common English mistakes made by ESL students, in speech and in writing. Go through the examples and make sure you understand the corrections.

 

Avoid mistakes by using "at" and "by" correctly

 

Their use is one of the biggest problems for English language students because it causes a lot of grammatical errors!

Examples:

• We live in a village by Tanta.
  
• We live in a village near Tanta. 

• Khalifa stayed by me last weekend. 
• Khalifa stayed at my place last weekend. 

• I stayed by my grandmother during the Easter holidays. 
• I stayed at my grandmother's (house) during the Easter holidays. 

• Sara lives by her mother. 
• Sara lives with her mother. 
  

 

Avoid mistakes by using "look forward to" correctly

Sometimes the phrase "look forward to" is not used correctly, we have included some false and some true. Note the word To is a preposition, so it is followed by a noun or a gerund. 

Examples:

• I'm looking forward for my holidays.
• I'm looking forward to my holidays.

• I look forward to hear from you.
• I look forward to hearing from you.

• We look forward to meeting they tonight.
• We look forward to meeting them tonight.

 

See: Common mistakes when speaking and writing English

 

Avoid mistakes by using "eat" and "food" correctly

 

The words "eat" and "food" are not always used correctly We have included some wrong and some correct phrases Always use a good dictionary if you are not sure.

When used as nouns, eats means food, while food means any solid substance that can be consumed by living things, especially by eating, in order to sustain life.

Examples:

• My mother is cooking the eat.
• My mother is cooking the meal.
  

• The eat tastes wonderful.
• The food tastes wonderful.
  

• I like Mexican eat. 
• I like Mexican meals.

Here are some correct phrases:

• I don't eat fish. 
• I go to eat at my grandmother's.
• Come and eat!

 

How to use "the Internet" correctly

 

Sometimes the phrase "the Internet" is not used correctly. We have listed some false and some true.

Examples:

• I'm in the Internet.
• I'm on the Internet.
• I'm on the Net.

• I surf in the Internet.
• I surf the Internet.
• I surf the Net.

• You'll find the information in the Internet.
• You'll find the information on the Internet.

• In our hotel all rooms have access to Internet.
• In our hotel all rooms have access to the Internet.

• I use internet.
• I use the Internet.

• You can buy the book in the Internet.
• You can buy the book over the Internet.

 

Avoid mistakes by using "become, get, go and turn" correctly

 

We have included some false statements and some true. Note: the word "get" is more common than "become".

Examples:

• I became a present from him.
• I got a present from him. 

• When do I become my steak?
• When do I get my steak? 

• He became a shock when he saw his car.
• He got a shock when he saw his car. 

• The tea becomes him good.
• The tea does him good. 

• I will a teacher.
• I want to become a teacher. 

• He would famous
• He became famous. 

• We were friends.
• We became friends. 

• It would clear that she wanted to leave.
• It became clear that she wanted to leave. 

• It will dark.
• It's getting dark. 

• He was red.
• He turned red. 

• She was white when she saw the accident.
• She went white when she saw the accident.

 

See: Homonyms vocabulary: All words list

 

Common English phrases mistakes

 

Avoid mistakes by using the correct sentences, Examples:

• I was in Cairo shopping.
• I was shopping in Cairo.

• He played yesterday football. 
• He played football yesterday.
• Yesterday he played football.

• Adam rode carefully his bike. 
• Adam rode his bike carefully.

• He reads often books. 
• He often reads books.

• He always is late.
• He is always late.

• Play you football or handball?
• Do you play football or handball?

• When did you yesterday see Sara?
• When did you see Sara yesterday? 

• Tests of the Shroud of Turin have produced some curious findings. For example, the pollen of forty-eight plants native to Europe and the Middle East.
• Tests of the Shroud of Turin have produced some curious findings. For example, the cloth contains the pollen of forty-eight plants native to Europe and the Middle East.

• An important part of my life have been the people who stood by me.
• An important part of my life has been the people who stood by me.

• The two best things about the party was the food and the music.
• The two best things about the party were the food and the music.
  

• The hearing was planned for Monday, December 2, but not all of the witnesses could be available, so it was rescheduled for the following Friday, and then all the witnesses could attend.
• The hearing, which had been planned for Monday, December 2, was rescheduled for the following Friday so that all witnesses would be able to attend.

• When writing a proposal, an original task is set for research.
• When writing a proposal, a scholar sets an original task for research.

• Many tourists visit Arlington National Cemetery, where veterans and military personnel are buried every day from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. 
• Every day from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., many tourists visit Arlington National Cemetery, where veterans and military personnel are buried.
  

• The candidate’s goals include winning the election, a national health program, and the educational system.
• The candidate’s goals include winning the election, enacting a national health program, and improving the educational system.

• He gave his mother an extravagant gift after the argument. In spite of everything.
• In spite of everything, he gave his mother an extravagant gift after the argument.

• Some critics are not so much opposed to capital punishment as postponing it for so long.
• Some critics are not so much opposed to capital punishment as they are to postponing it for so long.

• Einstein was a brilliant mathematician. This is how he was able to explain the universe. (Unclear)
• Einstein, who was a brilliant mathematician, used his ability with numbers to explain the universe. (Clear)

• Because Senator Martin is less interested in the environment than in economic development, he sometimes neglects it. (Unclear)
  
• Because of his interest in economic development, Senator Martin sometimes neglects the environment. (Clear)

• Castro’s communist principles inevitably led to an ideological conflict between he and President Kennedy.
• Castro’s communist principles inevitably led to an ideological conflict between him and President Kennedy.

• Because strict constructionists recommend fidelity to the Constitution as written, no one objects more than them to judicial reinterpretation.
• Because strict constructionists recommend fidelity to the Constitution as written, no one objects more than they [do] to judicial reinterpretation.

• In the current conflict its uncertain who’s borders their contesting.
• In the current conflict it is [it’s] uncertain whose borders they are [they’re] contesting.

• The Aztecs ritual’s of renewal increased in frequency over the course of time.
• The Aztecs’ rituals of renewal increased in frequency over the course of time.

• The recession had a negative affect on sales.
• The recession had a negative effect on sales.
• The recession affected sales negatively.
  

• The laboratory instructor chose not to offer detailed advise.
• The laboratory instructor chose not to offer detailed advice.

 

Avoid commas errors

 

A comma error occurs when a comma is needed but is not present, or when a comma is used but is not grammatically necessary. Many people tend to use commas like salt: they sprinkle them in randomly to add flavor to their writing. 

Here are some faults:

• The term, “scientific illiteracy,” has become almost a cliche, in educational circles. (Unclear)
• The term “scientific illiteracy” has become almost a cliche in educational circles. (Clear)

• Field trips are required, in several courses, such as, botany and geology. (Unclear)
• Field trips are required in several courses, such as botany and geology. (Clear)

• When it comes to eating people differ in their tastes.
• When it comes to eating, people differ in their tastes.

• The Huns who were Mongolian invaded Gaul in 451.
• The Huns, who were Mongolian, invaded Gaul in 451.

• Scientists report no human deaths due to excessive caffeine consumption. Although caffeine does cause convulsions and death in certain animals.
• Scientists report no human deaths due to excessive caffeine consumption, although caffeine does cause convulsions and death in certain animals.

• He was very hungry, he ate a whole pizza.
• He was very hungry. He ate a whole pizza.
• He was very hungry, so he ate a whole pizza.

• In 1952 Japan’s gross national product was one third that of France, by the late 1970s it was larger than the GNPs of France and Britain combined.
• In 1952 Japan’s gross national product was one third that of France. By the late 1970s it was larger than the GNPs of France and Britain combined.

• Diseased coronary arteries are often surgically bypassed, however half of all bypass grafts fail within ten years.
• Diseased coronary arteries are often surgically bypassed; however, half of all bypass grafts fail within ten years.

• The boys snuck home late that night. Then waited for the consequences.
• The boys snuck home late that night, then waited for the consequences. 

• Old cars, that have been left in a junkyard, are an eyesore.
• Old cars that have been left in a junkyard are an eyesore.

• The bouquet of flowers on the table, belongs to Mary.
• The bouquet of flowers on the table belongs to Mary.

 

Most common grammar mistakes writers should avoid

 

Use these handy tips to improve your writing so your work will be clearer, accurate, and more professional.

Examples:

• The boy ran really fast to catch the runaway ball.
• The boy sprinted to catch the runaway ball.
  

• The caravan came over the top of the hill.
• The caravan crested the hill.
  

• Listening to loud music slowly gives me a headache.
• When I listen to loud music, I slowly develop a headache.

• He was laying on the couch.
• He was lying on the couch.

• John had a card for Helga, but couldn’t deliver it because he was in her way.
• John had a card for Helga, but couldn’t deliver it because Tim was in Helga’s way.

• Lila enjoyed the bouquet of tulips John gave her on prom night however she prefers roses.
• Lila enjoyed the bouquet of tulips John gave her on prom night; however, she prefers roses

• It has come to our attention that your tax returns are overdue and we urge you to file them at your earliest convenience.
• Your tax returns are overdue. Please file them now.

• Sam could of received an A on his essay, but he made too many grammatical mistakes.
• Sam could have received an A on his essay, but he made too many grammatical mistakes.
  

• Jack made a water pail with his own hands for Jill.
• Jack made a water pail for Jill.

• I have visited Niagara Falls last weekend.
• I visited Niagara Falls last weekend.

• The woman which works here is from Japan.
• The woman who works here is from Japan.

• She’s married with a dentist.
• She’s married to a dentist.

• She was boring in the class.
• She was bored in the class.

See: All prepositional phrases list in the English language

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References

grammarly - writing.wisc - authority.pub