This time I have chosen common mistakes we used to make in our spoken English.I hope you’ll like it too.
1.The old couple is very cheerful in their new home.
The old couple is very happy in their new home.
happy = feeling satisfied or contented
cheerful = tending to smile and laugh, or be in good spirits
2.The wages in Taiwan are very cheap.
The wages in Taiwan are very low.
cheap is used with goods.
low is used with wages, costs, payments, etc.
3.The concert will occur at eight o’clock next Tuesday.
The concert will take place at eight o’clock next Tuesday.
occur is usually used of unplanned events: The accident occurred last night shortly before ten.
for planned events use take place.
4.Have you ever gone to France? she asked.
Have you ever been to France? she asked.
Been is used when someone has visited a place in the past.
Gone is used when the person is still in the place they are visiting.
5. In arriving at the airport we discovered that the plane would be late.
On arriving at the airport we discovered that the plane would be late.
on = upon doing something.
6.Arlon is one of the oldest towns of Belgium.
Arlon is one of the oldest towns in Belgium.
a town in Belgium, a village in France. Not of
7.At the moment he noticed a man running to him.
At the moment he noticed a man running towards him.
Use to when you want to emphasize the destination.
Use towards when you want to emphasize the direction.
8.I work eight hours in a day.
I work eight hours a day.
in is not used in expressions such as:
The shop is open six days a week. He visits his father three times a year.
9.She asked me what was the time.
She asked me what the time was.
When the object of the sentence is a wh-clause, the subject and the verb in the wh-clause do not change places.
10.The magazine is printed every month.
The magazine is published every month.
publish = produce and distribute (a book or newspaper) for sale to the public.
print = produce many copies of a book , newspaper.
11.When she met my father, she was about to marry to another man.
When she met my father, she was about to marry another man.
be married to someone but marry someone without to
12.Last evening I went to BLAZON with a friend of mine.
Yesterday evening I went to BLAZON with a friend of mine.
last night but yesterday evening
13.It is believed that the castle was once the house of evil monsters.
It is believed that the castle was once the home of evil monsters.
house = a particular type of building usually lived in a family:
Do you live in a house or a flat?
home = any building or place in which a person lives (and feels a sense of belonging)
14.It was a very valuable golden ring.
It was a very valuable gold ring.In modern use thing which are made of gold are described as gold rather than golden.
15.I asked the doctor to come as soon as possibly.
I asked the doctor to come as soon as possible.
16.The accident happened at ten years ago.
The accident happened ten years ago.
Do not use at to introduce a time expression with ago.
17.Can I lend your pen a minute?
Can I borrow your pen a minute?
lend = give
borrow = take
18.During the flight she sat on the chair behind me.
During the flight she sat in the seat behind me.
seat = a place for sitting as found in a cinema, train, bus, etc.
chair = a moveable seat for one person.
19. There was a fight among two boys.
There was a fight between two boys.
Divide the apple between you three.
Divide the apple among you three.
Between is used for two only.
Among is used for more than two.
20.She made me so annoyed I felt like shouting to her.
She made me so annoyed I felt like shouting at her.
shout to someone = call someone to attract their attention
shout at someone = speak to someone in a very loud voice, special when angry
Posted by ကိုတူး(မိတၳီလာ GTI)
