common mistakes in English

    • common mistakes in English

      COMMON MISUSED FORMS

      Mistakes are often made by using the wrong preposition. I bought a book called commom mistakes in English and chose some common mistakes that I and others sometimes make related to prepositions.
      1. afraid of, not from
      don’t say: the girl is afraid from the dog.
      Say: the girl is afraid of the dog

      2. arrive at, not to
      don’t say: we arrived to the village at night.
      Say: we arrived at the village at night.

      3. ashamed of, not from
      don’t say: He is now ashamed from his conduct.
      Say: : He is now ashamed of his conduct.

      4. consist of, not from.
      Don’t say: a year consist from 12 months.
      Say: a year consist of 12 months.

      5. covered with, not by
      Don’t say: the mountains are covered by snow.
      Say: the mountains are covered with snow

      6. cure of, not from
      Don’t say: the man was cured from his illness.
      Say: the man was cured of his illness.

      7. Confidence in, not on, and not to
      Don’t say: I have great confidence on/to him.
      Say: I have great confidence in him.

      7. Get rid of, not from
      Don’t say: I shall be glad to get rid from him.
      Say: I shall be glad to get rid of him.

      8. good at, not in
      don’t say : my brother is good in mathematics.
      Say: my brother is good mathematics.
      Also we say: bad at, clever at, weak at, quick at, slow at, ..etc

      9. look at, not to
      Don’t say: look to this beautiful picture.
      Say: look at this beautiful picture.
      10. jealous of, not from
      don’t say: he is very jealous from his brother.
      Say: he is very jealous of his brother.

      11. take by, not from
      don’t say: he took his brother from the hand.
      Say: he took his brother by the hand.

      12. write in ink, not with ink
      don’t say: I have written the letter with ink.
      Say: I have written the letter in ink.

    • This a really interesting topic dear sister. We all make such mistakes when speaking or writing in English. I remember how a teacher of mine used to call some of these (silly) mistakes. Its not because they are silly but actually due to the fact that some of these mistakes can easily be avoided. Anyway, i really hope that through this topic, we would all learn to avoid most of the common mistakes. Looking forward to hear more from you dear sister about the topic. I would also try to see if i can come up with a few, myself. Till then, |eMy regards

    • Here is another set of mistakes



      A. He learned us how to play hockey
      solution: taught

      expl.: to teach: to give instruction
      to learn: to receive instruction


      B. Divide the apple between you three
      solution: among

      expl.: among: used for more than 2
      between: used for 2 only



      C. He was standing just besides me
      solution: beside

      expl.: beside: by the side of
      besides: in addition to (ex. We study French besides English)



      D. I'm going to lay down for an hour
      solution: lie

      expl.: lie: intransitive (never has an object
      lay: transitive (always object

      Also: to produce eggs (the hen has laid an egg); to lay the table/cloth (idiom: to prepare the table for a meal)



      E. He raises very early in the morning
      solution: rises

      expl.: rise: intransitive
      raise: transitive (=lift up something
      to rise-rose-risen
      to raise-raised-raised


      F. When I grow I shall be a doctor
      solution: grow up

      expl.: grow: become bigger
      grow up: become a man or a woman



      Other meanings of 'to grow':

      * to cultivate: Rice grows in Egypt

      * to cause to grow: We grow flowers in our garden

      * to allow to grow: He grew a beard

      * to become: the nights grow cold in winter



      G. I want to lend a book from you
      solution: borrow

      expl.: borrow: to get something from someone
      lend: to give something to someone



      H. Someone has robbed all his money
      solution: stolen

      expl.: steal: object is the thing taken away
      rob: object is the person from whom or the place from which the thing is taken (man, house, bank…)



      I. Tables are usually made from wood
      solution: of

      expl.: made of: the material of which the thing is made can still be seen

      made from: the material can no longer be seen (ex. Bread is usually made from wheat)



      J. The teachers accepted to go with us
      solution: agreed

      expl.: accept: take what is offered (never followed by infinitive)

      agree: do what one is asked to do.



      K. His uncle is presently in London
      solution: at present

      expl.: at present: now
      presently: soon



      L. My elder brother is six feet high
      solution: tall

      expl.: tall: used for persons (opposite = short
      high: used of trees, buildings, mountains (opposite = low



      M. She told me an interesting history
      solution: story

      expl.: history: systematic record of past events
      story: account of events



      O. Hundred years make a century

      solution: a hundred (also: one hundred/thousand



      P. English are fond of sports
      solution: The English

      expl.: 'the' before names of nationalities, describing a people collectively



      Q. He considers me as his best friend

      Solution: /

      expl.: 'consider': never followed by 'as'

      But: He regards me as his best friend.



      R. According to my opinion, he is right
      solution: In my opinion



      S. As usually, he left his pen at home

      solution: As usual



      T. I hope he will succeed at his work
      solution: in



      U. Many people have died from malaria
      solution: of