Mistakes Flashcards
It is the final session that you’ll be joining us.
It is the final session that you’ll be joining us for.
It’s the final session for which you’ll be joining us.
I came across with the author.
I came across the author.
Have in mind
Keep in mind
Bear in mind
It is supposed that they are OK
Supposedly they are OK
They are supposed to be OK
It is assumed that they are OK.
False friend: Judicious
Having or showing reason and good judgment in making decisions:
We should make judicious use of the resources available to us.
Canceling me
Canceling ON me
It’s time to ……………………… a bet on yourself and open your own business.
If you ……………………… an investment in yourself now, it will pay off.
Make
Make sure you ……………………… some background research before coming up with a plan.
I only ever ……………………… business with people I trust.
Do
A large number of young people ……………………… a side hustle.
We’re going to ……………………… a training course about setting up a business.
Run
She decided it was time to ……………………… out on her own.
I need to ……………………… up to the challenge.
I won’t ……………………… down from this role until I’ve accomplished what I set out to do.
Step
Successful business people always ……………………… themselves accountable.
It’s important to ……………………… your ground and not back down.
Hold
Shall we ……………………… a meeting to discuss our plans?
Hold
You need to ……………………… through in the face of challenges.
Push
She ……………………… out her plans in a meeting with clients.
Have you ……………………… a date for the launch yet?
Set
She recommended me that I take a few days off from work.
She recommended taking a few days off from work
She recommended that I take a few days off from work
We are only five on our team
There are five of us on our team.
We say there are five of us, there are seven of them, there are three of you, etc. We don’t normally say We are five, they are seven, etc.
I would rather to work from home than come to the office.
I would rather work from home than come to the office.
After rather, we use the base form of the verb (I’d rather go/work/eat/see, etc.).
We’re used to have a lot of work to do, so meeting the deadline won’t be a problem.
We’re used to having a lot of work to do, so meeting the deadline won’t be a problem.
To talk about something that someone is accustomed to doing, we use the following formula:
Subject + verb to be + used to + gerund
Examples:
I’m used to getting up early, so I don’t mind coming in at 7 a.m.
She’s not used to speaking English on the phone, so it sometimes makes her nervous.
Note that we often use this grammatical structure to talk about why something is (or isn’t) a problem.
My client sent me an email but I haven’t replied her yet.
My client sent me an email but I haven’t replied yet.
We use reply without an object or followed by “to” + what/who we are replying to.
Examples:
I received an invitation from John, but I haven’t replied yet.
I haven’t replied to his email yet.
Note that the same rule applies to the verb respond.
Maybe I’m going to finish this today.
I might finish this today.
We don’t use Maybe + subject + I’m going to to communicate a future possibility. Instead, we use might and the base form of the verb.
Examples:
She might go to the meeting.
They might not finish the project on time.
Note that we can also use Maybe +subject + will + base form to communicate a future possibility that the speaker is thinking about at the moment of speaking. Maybe I’ll watch the game tonight, for example.
Please borrow me your badge so I can get into the storage closet.
Please lend me your badge so I can get into the storage closet.
The person who owns the item lends it, and the person who uses the item for a short period of time borrows it.
I can’t finish this by the end of the day. Even though I spend all day on it, I won’t finish on time.
I can’t finish this by the end of the day. Even if I spend all day on it, I won’t finish on time.
We use even though or although for something that is true. We use even if to talk about a hypothetical condition.
Examples:
We’re going to the beach tomorrow even if it rains. (hypothetical condition)
Even though it rained, we had a great time at the beach. (something that is true)
Probably, I’ll go to the beach on Saturday.
I’ll probably go to the beach on Saturday.
Probably typically goes before the main verb or after the verb to be.
Note that the negative would be I probably won’t go to the beach on Saturday.
Our office is near to the airport, so it will be easy for you to get here.
Our office is near the airport, so it will be easy for you to get here.
We say close to or near, but not near to.
Despite I was tired, I came to work today.
Even though/Although I was tired, I came to work today.
We use despite/in spite of before a noun or gerund. We use even though/although before a subject and a verb.
Examples:
Despite being sick, I came to work.
In spite of being sick, I came to work.
Although I was sick, I came to work.
Even though I was sick, I came to work.
We have people from all over the world here: India, United States, Venezuela, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, and France. (two mistakes)
We have people from all over the world here: India, the United States, Venezuela, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. (two mistakes)
We use the in the names of certain countries:
the United States
the United Kingdom
the Czech Republic
the Dominican Republic
the Netherlands
the Philippines
the Bahamas
the Maldives
the United Arab Emirates
the Sudan
General rules for when we use the in the name of a country:
a. if the country or area is a collection of islands (the Maldives, the Canary Islands).
b. If we are using the complete name of the country with the word “of.” The People’s Republic of China, for example.
Are we going to have to work overtime again this week? I hope no.
Are we going to have to work overtime again this week? I hope not.
I thought you were still with Microsoft. When did you stop to work there?
I thought you were still with Microsoft. When did you stop working there?
We use stop + gerund to communicate that an action has finished.
Examples:
I stopped working at 6 p.m. last night.
We use stop + infinitive to communicate that we stopped one action in order to start another action.
Examples:
I was working this morning, but I stopped to run some errands.
I’m not pretty sure about what we should do.
I’m not sure about what we should do.
We don’t use pretty sure in the negative. We can say I’m pretty sure, but I’m not pretty sure is incorrect.
How long time did you work in the public sector?
How long did you work in the public sector?
We say How long… for questions about duration of time
Do you know where is the restaurant?
Do you know where the restaurant is?
After expressions like
Do you know…,
Could you tell me,.. and
I was wondering if…
we use statement order, not question order. These are called indirect questions.
Examples:
Could you tell me what time it is?
Do you know who she is?
He is well-experienced, so we know that he can do the job.
He has a lot of experience, so we know that he can do the job.
We can’t use well before all adjectives. Sometimes it works (well-paid, well-educated), but sometimes it does not (well-knowledgeable, well-interpreted).
Who is in charge to decide which printer to buy?
Who is in charge of deciding which printer to buy?
We say in charge of + gerund.
I had a hard time getting in touch with my supervisor. After calling for hours, I finally could get in touch with her.
I had a hard time getting in touch with my supervisor. After calling for hours, I finally was able to get in touch with her.
We use was/were able to to talk about one successful event in the past. We use could or was/were able to to talk about what was generally possible in the past.
Examples:
We were able to outbid out competitors. (we outbid them and won the contract)
We could outbid our competitors. (incorrect if we are talking about one successful event in the past)
When I was younger I could work out every day. (generally possible in the past = was/were able to or could)
When I was younger, I was able to work out every day. (generally possible in the past = was/were able to or could)
Note that in the negative form we can use both forms.
Examples:
We weren’t able to outbid our competitors.
We couldn’t outbid our competitors.
United States is a big country with about four hundred million residents.
The United States is a big country with about four hundred million residents.
Jane filled the form and gave it to the government official.
Jane filled out the form (or filled the form out) and gave it to the government official.
We were so excited when we met Times Square.
We were so excited when went to Times Square for the first time.
Maintaining a family can be very difficult, especially if only one of the parents works.
Supporting a family can be very difficult, especially if only one of the parents works.
Each time he goes to the movies he gets a large popcorn.
Every time he goes to the movies he gets a large popcorn.
Students can fail the course if they do not attend to class regularly.
Students can fail the course if they do not attend class regularly.
Chris was driving drunk, and he crashed with a parked car.
Chris was driving drunk, and he crashed into a parked car.
All of the members of their family are similar than each other.
All of the members of their family are similar to each other.
Some people buy expensive things despite of not having much money.
Some people buy expensive things despite not having much money (or even though/although they don’t have much money).
I have to wake up early because I don’t live near to the office.
I have to wake up early because I don’t live near (or close to) the office.
She cares her four children while her husband is at work.
She takes care of/looks after her four children while her husband is at work.
I have a doubt about what I should do in this situation.
I’m not sure what I should do in this situation.
The novel has place in Brooklyn in the 1910’s.
The novel TAKES place in Brooklyn in the 1910’s.
Maybe they’re going to Russia to visit his family at the end of the year.
They might go to Russia to visit his family at the end of the year.
Put your wallet away. I invite you.
Put your wallet away. I’m buying/I got it/It’s on me.
Kim wants to change her car
Kim wants to get a new car.
I don’t know if I believe you because you have a reputation for not saying the truth.
I don’t know if I believe you because you have a reputation for not telling the truth.
Put the music and let’s dance.
Put the music on (or Put on the music) and let’s dance.
The hotel manager told me to follow her and conducted me to my room.
The hotel manager told me to follow her and led me to my room.
I visited Walmart on the way home from work.
I went to/stopped at Walmart on the way home from work.
The cost of living is getting each time more expensive.
The cost of living is getting more and more expensive.
I have to wake up at seven thirty
I have to wake up at half past 7.
You came and you didn’t tell me
I wish you _____ you _____
I wish you HAD TOLD ME you WERE COMING
James isn’t enjoying his job. He says nobody pitches ___ so he has to do all the work himself
James isn’t enjoying his job. He says nobody pitches IN so he has to do all the work himself
I wish I ____ come to the zoo with you next weekend, but I’m going to be busy.
I wish I COULD come to the zoo with you next weekend, but I’m going to be busy.
He forgot his mother’s birthday
He wished he ____ his mother’s birthday.
He wished he HADN’T FORGOTTEN his mother’s birthday.
How can you _____with that noise?
How can you PUT UP with that noise?
We can’t ____ making this decision.
We can’t PUT OFF making this decision.
I look forward _______ with you tomorrow.
I look forward TO MEETING WITH you tomorrow.
I’m looking forward TO MEETING WITH you tomorrow.
You OUGHT TO be mad if you think I’m going to lend you any more money.
You MUST be mad if you think I’m going to lend you any more money.
Would you mind IF YOU SEND me the statistics?
Would you mind SENDING me the statistics?
I avoid MAKING/DOING presentations because I get nervous.
I avoid GIVING presentations because I get nervous.
I avoid PREPARING presentations because I get nervous.
Next month I WILL KNOW Derek for 20 years
Next month I WILL BE KNOWING Derek for 20 years
Next month KNOWN Derek for 20 years
Next month I WILL HAVE KNOWN Derek for 20 years
I would HAD CALLED you yesterday, but I didn’t have your number.
I would HAVE CALLED you yesterday, but I didn’t have your number.
If the weather WAS better, we could’ve gone to the beach.
If the weather WOULD HAD BEEN better, we could’ve gone to the beach.
If the weather HAD BEEN better, we could’ve gone to the beach.
I COULD HAVE BEEN happy to see him, but I didn’t have time.
I WOULD BE happy to see him, but I didn’t have time.
I WOULD HAVE BEEN happy to see him, but I didn’t have time.
What would you do if you WIN a million dollars?
What would you do if you WON a million dollars?
____ phone is this?
WHOSE phone is this?
Do you know where he STUDY now?
Do you know where he STUDIES now?
He drives really SLOW, and it drives me crazy!
He drives really SLOWLY, and it drives me crazy!
When did it start raining? (Most natural response)
It started an hour ago.
How long has it been snowing? (Most natural response)
It has been snowing all morning.
I look forward to meet with you tomorrow
I look forward TO MEETING WITH you tomorrow.
It’s GOING TO rain
(Prediction based on evidence: The sky is cloudy)
I wish I was at the party last Saturday.
I wish I had been at the party last Saturday.
I wish my parents aren’t so protective.
I wish my parents weren’t so protective
I wish my grandmother will visit me more often.
I wish my grandmother would visit me more often
I wish I known the answer, but I don’t.
I wish I knew the answer, but I don’t
I wish I haven’t gone to that meeting. It was really boring.
I wish I hadn’t gone to that meeting. It was really boring.
