Oxford English Grammar Course Advanced •

COMMON MISTAKES TEST

Name 

All the sentences contain common mistakes. Write the corrections.

1 Look always in the mirror before you start driving.

 
2 Here is coming my bus.
 
3 It’s saying in today’s paper that there’s going to be another strike.

 
4 When I was a child, I was playing a lot of basketball.

 
5 It happened while I stayed in Ireland.  
6 ‘How long are you here for?’ ‘Since March.’
 
7 Who has given you that?
 
8 We visit my sister every few days since we’ve bought the car.

 
9 I had left a coat to be repaired. Is it ready?
 
10 I could get in touch with Martin yesterday, at last.
 
11 Use my phone? Yes, of course you could.
 
12 She only left a few minutes ago: she mustn’t be home yet.
 
13 I’m not sure where Sarah is. She can be with Jason.
 
14 May you change your job soon?
 
15 They don’t allow people parking in front of the factory.
 
16 I can’t think of anybody whom to ask for help.
 
17 These pills are to take three times a day.
 
18 This material is impossible to catch fire.
 
19 This box is too heavy to lift it.
 
20 I had trouble in my first term, because I wasn’t used to write long essays.
 
21 The talking to the driver is strictly forbidden.
 
22 He’s doing researches on low-temperature physics.
 
23 The biggest time-waster in our office are meetings.
 
24 We need a five-litres can of oil.
 
25 I had a disappointment feeling when I saw my exam results.
 
26 Pete’s and Ann’s new house is lovely.
 
27 I’ve forgotten their street’s name.
 
28 I especially like mountain’s flowers.
 
29 In the 17th century one believed in witches.
 
30 Do you want a plain one or a one with cream?
 
31 My children are more interested in parties than in the nature.
 
32 The number of the unemployed is rising steadily.
 
33 My brother works at the Birmingham Airport.
 
34 Whole Venice was under water.
 
35 She fell unconsciously on the floor.
 
36 I got talking to a nice and old woman on the bus.
 
37 The questioned students were released and allowed to go home.
 
38 More you smile, more you look beautiful.
 
39 I’m impressed by your so excellent English.
 
40 Our house is among the woods, the river and the village.
 
41 There’s a supermarket just across the street, directly in front of our house.
 
42 In a better world you would be free to say what you would think.
 
43 I’m busy today: I’d rather you come tomorrow.
 
44 It’s time they go home.
 
45 I wish I would have more free time.
 
46 We’ll go skiing next weekend in case the snow’s good.
 
47 I had supper, then I phoned Jean.
 
48 It was cold, however it was pleasant.
 
49 At no time she said anything about her illness.
 
50 Is it going to rain? I don’t hope so.
 
Elbarskhan & mmh
Oxford English Grammar Course • Advanced   COMMON MISTAKES TEST  
© Michael Swan and Catherine Walter  PHOTOCOPIABLE
Oxford English Grammar Course Advanced •
COMMON MISTAKES TEST
Answer Key
1 Always look …  [See page 10] 28 … mountain flowers.  [See page 131]
2 Here comes …  [See page 26] 29 … they believed … or … people
3 It says …  [See page 26] believed  [See page 138]
4 … I played …  [See page 41] 30 … or one with cream.  [See page 139]
5 … while I was staying …  31 … than in nature.  [See page 147]
[See page 41] 32 The number of unemployed … 
6 ‘How long have you been …’ or ‘… [See page 148]
Until …’  [See page 44] 33 … at Birmingham Airport. 
7 Who gave …  [See page 48] [See page 149]
8 … since we bought …  [See page 49] 34 The whole of Venice … or All of
… since buying is also possible.  Venice …  [See page 158]
[See page 246] 35 She fell unconscious … 
9 I left …  [See page 52] [See page 173]
10 I managed to / was able to get in 36 … a nice old woman … 
touch … or I succeeded in getting in [See page 174]
touch …  [See page 60] 37 The students questioned … 
11 … of course you can.  [See page 62] [See page 176]
12 … she can’t be home yet.  38 The more you smile, the more
[See page 65] beautiful you look.  [See page 183]
13 … She may/might/could be …  39 … your English, which is so excellent.
[See page 66] or … your excellent English. 
14 Do you think you may …  [See page 188]
[See page 66] Might you …? is also 40 … between the woods … 
possible. [See page 197]
15 They don’t allow parking / people to 41 … opposite our house. 
park …  [See page 99] [See page 198]
16 … anybody to ask …  [See page 102] 42 … to say what you thought. 
17 … to be taken …  [See page 103] [See page 204] Also possible: … what
18 … cannot catch fire.  [See page 103] you think.
or It’s impossible for this material to 43 … I’d rather you came … 
catch fire.  [See page 104] [See page 206]
19 … too heavy to lift.  [See page 103] 44 … they went home.  [See page 206]
20 … used to writing …  [See page 105] 45 I wish I had …  [See page 206]
21 Talking to the driver …  46 … if the snow’s good.  [See page 235]
[See page 106] 47 I had supper; then I phoned Jean.
22 … (some) research …  [See page 125] [See page 254]
23 … is meetings.  [See page 127] 48 It was cold; however, it was pleasant.
24 … a five-litre can …  [See page 128] [See page 254]
25 … a feeling of disappointment  49 At no time did she say … 
[See page 129] [See page 258]
26 Pete and Ann’s …  [See page 130] 50 … I hope not.  [See page 279]
27 … the name of their street. 
[See page 130]

Elbarskhan & mmh

Oxford English Grammar Course • Advanced   COMMON MISTAKES TEST  
© Michael Swan and Catherine Walter  PHOTOCOPIABLE