Common Mistakes in English

Good or Well Good is an adjective and well is an adverb. Many people, including many native speakers, incorrectly use the adjective form good, rather than the adverb well. Examples: I did good on the test. INCORR C!" # Correct form$ I did %ell on the test. She played the game good. INCORR C!" # Correct form$ &he played the game %ell. 'se the adjective form good %hen describing something or someone. In other %ords, use good %hen stating ho% something or someone is. Examples: She is a good tennis player. Tom thinks he is a good listener. 'se the adverb form well %hen describing ho% something or someone does something. Examples: She did extremely well on the exam. Our parents think we speak English well.

Has gone to vs. Has been to ... has/have gone to ... refers to someone %ho has gone to a place but has not yet returned. Examples: He's gone to the bank. He should be back soon. Where has Tom gone ... has/have been to ... refers to a place %hich someone has visited sometime in his life. In other %ords, (has been to( refers to an e)perience. Examples: He's been to !ondon many times. I'"e been to #isneyland twice.

Bring ake !et"h#Get !he use of bring and take is confusing for many students. !he choice bet%een bring or take depends on the location of the speaker. If the speaker refers to something that is at her current location, she uses bring. *enerally, use bring %hen something moves from there to here. Examples: I'm glad you brought me to this shop. It's great$ I'll bring the map with me on the trip. If the speaker refers to something that has been moved to a different location, she uses take. *enerally, use take %hen something moves from here to there. Examples: The coach took the boys to %ootball %ield. &ack took his laptop with him on his trip. !et"h#Get +hen speaking about going some%here and getting something and then bringing it back, use get ,-merican nglish. or $et"h ,/ritish nglish.. Examples: 'ould you get the newspaper She %etched her diary and showed him the entry.

Everyone 'se everyone as a pronoun to mean all the people in a group. Examples: #o you think e"eryone will want to come to the party She wants e"eryone to lea"e comments on her blog. Every one 'se every one as a noun to indicate each person. Examples: E"ery one o% the students has a (uestion about the grammar. )y boss told e"ery one o% the employees himsel%. Everyday

'se everyday as an adjective to mean 0daily0. Examples: *eter has an e"eryday appointment with his boss %or brie%ings. Susan has an e"eryday yoga class at %i"e pm. Every day 'se every day as a time e)pression to mean 0each day0. Examples: *eter studies +ussian e"ery day. She pratices the piano three hours e"ery day.

Whether # %$ /oth whether and i% are used to introduce a yes1no 2uestion$ Examples: He asked me whether I %elt well. We're not sure i% they ha"e decided. !he verb discuss generally takes whether rather than i%. Examples: We discussed whether he should be hired. They discussed whether to in"est in the new idea. &$ter 'repositions 'se only whether after prepositions$ Examples: We talked about whether we should go or not. I looked into whether he should stay. %n$initives 'se only whether before infinitives$ Examples: She can't decide whether to buy the house or wait. He considered whether to gi"e up the position or (uit next year.

!ormal # %n$ormal *enerally, whether is considered more formal than i%. Examples: !et me know whether you will be able to attend the con%erence. The 'EO will decide whether this is a risk worth taking.

Enough &d(e"tive # &dverb ) Enough +hen enough modifies an adjective or an adverb place enough a$ter the adjective 1 adverb$ Examples: #o you think he is strong enough to li%t that weight I think it's warm enough to take a walk without my ,acket. Enough ) *oun +hen enough modifies a noun, place enough before the noun$ Examples: He has enough money to buy a ticket. She said there were enough participants to begin the study.

& +ittle , & !ew # +ittle , !ew - little and little refer to non#count nouns, and is used %ith the singular form$ Examples: There's little wine le%t in the bottle. I'"e put a little sugar into your co%%ee. - %ew and %ew refer to count nouns, and are used %ith the plural form$ Examples: There are a %ew students in that classroom. He says %ew applicants ha"e presented themsel"es. - little and a %ew convey a positive meaning.

Examples: I'"e got a little wine le%t. would you like some They'"e got a %ew positions open. !ittle and %ew convey a negative meaning. Examples: He's got little money le%t. I ha"e %ew %riends in 'hicago.

& +ot- +ots .$- & +ot .$ !hese three e)pressions are used in informal nglish. !hey can mean either a great (uantity o% or a large number o% and can be rather confusing at times. 3ere are the general rules for their use. & +ot .$ # +ots .$ !hese t%o e)pressions both mean a great deal o% or se"eral. !hey are used before a count or non#count noun. !hese t%o e)pressions tend to be used in informal nglish. Examples: We need a lot o% people %or this game. She likes lots o% ,am on her toast. & +ot 'se a lot at the end of a sentence as an adverb. - lot is NO! follo%ed by a noun. !he meaning is the same as a great deal. Examples: I en,oy swimming a lot. )ary seems to tra"el a lot. !emale , !eminine # Male , Mas"uline !emale # Male 'se %emale or male %hen referring to the se) of people, plants and animals. Examples: The %emale bear can be %erocious when de%ending its cubs. -re you %emale or male

!eminine # Mas"uline 'se %eminine or masculine %hen referring to a characteristic that you feel is representative of the male or female of the species. Examples: Some people %eel that he is rather %eminine. The decorating was "ery masculine in that house. !emininity # Mas"ulinity !hese are the noun forms and refer to the state of being either feminine or masculine. Examples: /eminiity was "iewed as a curse when displayed by males be%ore the twentieth century. Some wonder i% his masculinity is too stressed.

%t/s vs. %ts It's is the contracted form of It is. !his form is used in sentences using (they( as the subject of the sentence %ith the verb (to be( used as either the helping verb ,e.g. It0s going ..., It0s raining .... or the principal verb of the sentence. Examples: It's di%%icult to %ind work these days. It's going to rain soon. Its is the possessive pronoun form. !his form is used to e)press that (it( has a specific 2uality, or that something belongs to (it(. Examples: I %ound its taste to be superb$ Its color is deep red. almost 0urgundy.

oo vs. wo vs. o Too means (also( and is generally used at the end of a sentence. (!oo( also indicates too much of a particular 2uality. Examples: That car is too expensi"e %or me$ I'd lo"e to come to the party. too.

Two is the %ritten form of the number 4. Examples: There are two applicants %or the ,ob. She has two cats. To is generally used as a preposition. It is also used as part of the infinitive form of verbs. Examples: I ga"e the book to him. The "erb 1to understand1 is irregular.

hey/re vs. here vs. heir They're is the contracted form of They are. !his form is used in sentences using (they( as the subject of the sentence %ith the verb (to be( used as either the helping verb ,e.g. !hey0re going ..., !hey0re playing .... or the principal verb of the sentence. Examples: They're working hard this week. They're "ery interested in helping out. There is used as an introductory subject is sentences %ith (!here is( and (!here are(. It is also used as an adverb of place meaning (in that place(. Examples: There are many people in that room. That's my house o"er there. Their is the possessive pronoun form. !his form is used to e)press that (they( have a specific 2uality, or that something belongs to (them(. Examples: Their house is in !os -ngeles. He liked their looks$

0ou/re vs. 0our You're is the contracted form of You are. !his form is used in sentences using (you( as the subject of the sentence %ith the verb (to be( used as either the helping verb ,e.g. 5ou0re going ..., 5ou0re %atching .... or the principal verb of the sentence.

Examples: 2ou're going to ha"e a great time$ 2ou're much better at tennis than &im. Your is the possessive pronoun form. !his form is used to e)press that something belongs to (you(. Examples: 2our wi%e is such a kind woman. I think your skills are outstanding.

1in"e vs. !or with 'resent 'er$e"t Since is used %ith the present perfect to e)press that something has happened sin"e a point in time. Examples: I'"e li"ed here since 3444. She's been working hard since two this a%ternoon. For is used %ith the present perfect to e)press that something has happened $or a period of time. Examples: I'"e worked at this ,ob %or 35 years. *eter's been playing tennis %or two hours.

Have vs. .$ in Conditional !orms Of is used instead of have in conditional forms due to pronunciation ,e.g. I %ould of visited Ne% 5ork if I had had the time... (Of( is a preposition %hereas (have( is an au)iliary verb used in conditional forms. Examples: He might ha"e le%t early on "acation. She would ha"e attended i% you had asked her to come.

Has gone to vs. Has been to ... has/have gone to ... refers to someone %ho has gone to a place but has not yet returned.

Examples: He's gone to the bank. He should be back soon. Where has Tom gone ... has/have been to ... refers to a place %hich someone has visited sometime in his life. In other %ords, (has been to( refers to an e)perience. Examples: He's been to !ondon many times. I'"e been to #isneyland twice.

hen vs. han Then is used as a time e)pression. Examples: I'll see you then. I'll be at the party. We can speak then. Note$ It is not used in the form (different than( %hich is used for comparisons. Than is used for comparisons. Examples: He's li"ed here longer than I ha"e. His skills are "ery di%%erent than mine.

2ouble *egatives +hen using the negative form of a verb ,e.g. 3e isn0t %orking ..., !hey aren0t going to .... do not use a negative 2uantifier such as nobody. nowhere. etc. Examples: They aren't going anywhere special. 6OT They aren't going nowhere special. She hasn't spoken to anyone yet. 6OT She hasn't spoken to nobody yet.

1o 3 % 1o ) &uxiliary 4erb ) 1ub(e"t 'se (so ... I( in a positive sense to sho% that %e feel the same %ay as another person, or have performed the same action. Change the au)iliary verb related to the original statement. !he form is usually used in the first person singular, ho%ever, other forms are also possible. Examples: He %lew to 7ene"a last summer. 8 So did she. I'd lo"e to "isit *oland some day. 8 So would I. I'm meeting a colleague tomorrow. 8 So am I. *either 3 % *either ) &uxiliary 4erb ) 1ub(e"t 'se (neither ... I( in a negative sense to sho% that %e feel the same %ay as another person, or have performed the same action. Change the au)iliary verb related to the original statement. !he form is usually used in the first person singular, ho%ever, other forms are also possible. Examples: I ha"en't had a promotion %or a long time. 8 6either ha"e I. They weren't sure they had the resources to complete the ,ob. 8 6either were we. She won't be able to attend the con%erence. 8 6either will I.

Both 3 and &ubjects connected by 0both 6 and0 take the a plural conjugation. Examples: 0oth -lice and &anice attended 9S'. 0oth &im and *eter are attending the con%erence in 6ew 2ork this weekend. Either 3 or 0 ither 6 or0 is used in sentences in a positive sense meaning (one or the other, this or that, he or she, etc.( 7erb conjugation depends on the subject ,singular or plural. closest to the conjugated verb. Examples: Either *eter or the girls need to attend the course. :second sub,ect plural; Either &ane or )att is going to "isit next weekend. :second sub,ect singular; *either 3 nor 0Neither 6 nor0 is used in sentences in a negative sense meaning (not this one nor the other, not this nor that, not he nor she, etc.(. 7erb conjugation depends on the subject ,singular or plural. closest to the conjugated verb. Examples: 6either /rank nor !illy li"es in Eugene. :second sub,ect singular; 6either -xel nor my other %riends care about their %uture. :second sub,ect plural;