Common mistakes 051-100

Question 1

Felicidades por tu éxito.

Answer 1

Congratulations ON your success. (WRONG: for)

Question 2

Las montañas están cubiertas de nieve.

Answer 2

The mountains are covered WITH snow. (WRONG: by)

Question 3

Mi libro es diferente al tuyo.

Answer 3

My book is different FROM yours. (AVOID: than (US); LESS COMMON: to (UK))

Question 4

Estoy decepcionado contigo.

Answer 4

I’m disappointed [WITH | IN] you. (WRONG: of)

Question 5

Dividí el pastel en cuatro partes.

Answer 5

I divided the cake INTO four parts. (WRONG: in)

Question 6

Dividí el pastel en cuatro.

Answer 6

I divided the cake IN four. (WRONG: into)

Question 7

Estaba vestida con una falda amarilla.

Answer 7

She was dressed IN a yellow skirt. (WRONG: with)

Question 8

Es una excepción a la regla.

Answer 8

This is an exception TO the rule. (WRONG: of)

Question 9

Intercambió su colección de cajas de cerillas por algunos sellos extranjeros.

Answer 9

He exchanged his collection of matchboxes FOR some foreign stamps. (WRONG: by)

Question 10

Mi hermana es buena en matemáticas.

Answer 10

My sister’s good AT maths.
(WRONG: in)

Question 11

No insistas en eso.

Answer 11

Don’t insist ON that. (WRONG: in)

Question 12

Pronto se irán a Inglaterra.

Answer 12

They’re leaving for England soon. (WRONG: to)

Question 13

Robert tomó a su hermano de la mano.

Answer 13

Robert took his brother BY the hand. (WRONG: from)

Question 14

Es un secreto entre tú y yo.

Answer 14

It’s a secret between you and me. (WRONG: and I)

Question 15

Un amigo suyo nos contó la noticia.

Answer 15

A friend of his told us the news. (WRONG: of him)

Question 16

Amelia compró la misma bolsa que yo.

Answer 16

Amelia bought the same bag AS me. (WRONG: than; that)

Question 17

Como [siempre | de costumbre] (ella) se ve genial.

Answer 17

As usual, she looks great. (WRONG: As usually…)

Question 18

Al final la encontraron muerta.

Answer 18

In the end, they found her dead. (WRONG: At the end…)

Question 19

Jugaron bajo la lluvia/sol.

Answer 19

They played IN the rain/sun. (WRONG: under)

Question 20

Le pregunté a Paul si iba a ir.

Answer 20

I asked Paul WHETHER he was going. (WRONG: if)

Question 21

Fui a casa a pie.

Answer 21

I walked home. / I went home on foot. (WRONG: by foot)

Question 22

¡Mierda! He perdido el tren.

Answer 22

Shit! I missed the train. (WRONG: lost)

Question 23

Me he olvidado los libros en casa.

Answer 23

I left my books at home. / I forgot to bring my books. (WRONG: I forgot my books at home; don’t use “forget” + direct object + location)

Question 24

Me gusta practicar deportes como el fútbol americano y el béisbol.

Answer 24

I enjoy playing sports SUCH AS football and baseball. (WRONG: like; use “like” to mean “similar to”)

Question 25

Personajes como Cenicienta, Drácula y Frankenstein siguen apareciendo en películas y novelas.

Answer 25

Characters LIKE Cinderella, Dracula, and Frankenstein continue to appear in movies and novels. (WRONG: such as; use “such as” for included examples)

Question 26

No tengo ningún libro.

Answer 26

I don’t have any BOOKS. (WRONG: book; ANY + [countable name] always plural)

Question 27

Estamos pensando en comprar una casa el año que viene.

Answer 27

We’re planning to buy a house next year. (WRONG: thinking)

Question 28

Inés está en la coral.

Answer 28

Inés is AT the choir.

Question 29

La policía está viniendo.

Answer 29

The police ARE coming.

Question 30

Ayer estuve dos horas jugando.

Answer 30

Yesterday I was playing FOR two hours (WRONG: I was playing two hours / I was two hours playing)

Question 31

Si fuese más joven…

Answer 31

If I WERE younger…

Question 32

Coge una manzana del frigorífico

Answer 32

GET an apple from the fridge. (WRONG: Take)

Question 33

Los médicos recomendaron/sugirieron/insistieron/exigieron/propusieron que mi padre (no) visitara a un especialista.

Answer 33

The doctors recommended/suggested/insisted/demanded/proposed (that) my father (should) (NOT) see a specialist. (WRONG: sees (use always subjuntive); my father to see)

Question 34

Tengo problemas para entender a tu hermano.

Answer 34

I have [problems | trouble] UNDERSTANDING your brother. (WRONG: to understand)

Question 35

Si te meter eso en la boca, puedes ahogarte.

Answer 35

If you put that in your mouth, you COULD choke. (WRONG: can)

Question 36

Aquí tienes.

Answer 36

Here you [are | go]. WRONG: Here it is; Here you have)

Question 37

¿A qué suena?

Answer 37

WHAT does it sound like? (WRONG: How)

Question 38

Te habría preguntado lo mismo.

Answer 38

I’d HAVE asked you the same. (WRONG: had; All modals (can, could, shall, should, will, would, may, might and must) must be followed by a bare infinitive)

Question 39

Esta es la casa de Kelly y Joseph.

Answer 39

This is Kelly and Joseph’s house. (WRONG: Kelly’s and Joseph’s)

Question 40

—¿Dónde está tu hermano? —Mira, está ahí.

Answer 40

—Where’s your brother? —Look, HE is there. (WRONG: it is there)

Question 41

Te puedes hacer daño/ahogar.

Answer 41

You [COULD | MIGHT] hurt yourself / choke. (WRONG: can)

Question 42

¿Por qué no darle la vuelta?

Answer 42

Why not turn it round? (WRONG: no to turn)

Question 43

¿Me vas a obedecer o no?

Answer 43

Are you going to obey me or NOT. (WRONG: no)

Question 44

¿Es tu cumpleaños? ¡Felicidades!

Answer 44

Is it your birthday? Happy birthday! (WRONG: congratulations)

Question 45

¿Quieres un chicle?

Answer 45

Do you want some gum? (WRONG: a gum)

Question 46

Aquí tienes una lista de las preguntas más frecuentes.

Answer 46

Here’s a list of our most frequently asked questions.

Question 47

No me vuelvas a pegar nunca más.

Answer 47

Don’t ever hit me again.

Question 48

¿A quién debo invitar?

Answer 48

Whom shall I invite? (WRONG: who)

Question 49

Sugerí que fueran a nadar.

Answer 49

I suggested that they go swimming. (WRONG: I suggested them to go swimming.)

Question 50

Ponte el pijama.

Answer 50

Put on your pyjamas. (WRONG: Get dressed)