COMMON ERRORS TO AVOID

1. Word order in a sentence: SUBJECT + VERB + OBJECT + ADVERBIAL PHRASE (manner, place, time).

They revise English quickly in class every morning.

In questions: QUESTION WORD + AUXILIARY VERB + SUBJECT + MAIN VERB + OBJECT + ? How long does the flight last?

2. The article the is only used when talking about something specific; not when talking in general. I like chocolate (general) The chocolate we had yesterday was delicious (specific) 3. Verbs in English sentences always need a subject, but it is not normally repeated. It's really sunny today 1 think it is hard to study Chinese She got up, got dressed and went to school There must always be subject-verb agreement: She works as a teacher

4. People is a plural countable noun and the plural of person. People are often late. People dont like lies 5. Irregular plurals: Children is a plural countable noun and the plural of child. Its also used instead of sons and daughters when you dont want to specify the gender. The children we saw yesterday were very happy My children don't like fish (fills) Men and women are also irregular plurals. Avoid adding -s

6. Adjectives are always singular and go before the noun. I like honest people. Good students work hard 7. When a verb is the subject of a sentence we use the gerund. We also use it after prepositions Smoking is bad for your health He's very good at writing compositions

8. Check who or what you are referring to when you use a possessive adjective (my, your, his, her, its, our, their). My city is in the north of Spain. Its name is Vigo My best friend is John. His family is from London 9. We don't use the article a/an before a plural or uncountable noun (we use some). We use an before a word which starts with a vowel sound, but not with a semi vowel sound: I'll see you in an hour English is a universal language

10. The infinitive without to is used after modal verbs and the verbs make and let. I must study harder My parents let me go out every day 11. Frequency adverbs go after the verb to be and auxiliaries but before other verbs. I sometimes go skiing I don't usually have tea

12. Too (tamb) always goes at the end of a sentence. Also goes after the verb to be and auxiliaries but before other verbs. I like chocolate too. I have also visited Barcelona. 13. After means "desprs de. When you mean "desprs" you must use then or afterwards. We went to the cinema and then/afterwards we had a pizza After going to the cinema, we had a pizza

14. More only means ms but remember to use er in the comparative form of short adjectives: English is more interesting than maths English is easier than maths 15. We use a lot of / much / many before a noun: There were many / a lot of people on the beach last weekend

 We use very before an adjective or an adverb: That book was very interesting We use very much as an adverbial phrase of manner: I like this book very much