Do you make any of these speaking mistakes?
I’m very curious so please let me know in the comments if you do!
If you are a more visual learner, you can watch the video!
Let’s start…
1. Incorrect: The people was very friendly.
Correct: The people WERE very friendly.
Explanation: ‘People’ is a plural countable noun. You need ‘were’.
Person = was People = were
2. Incorrect: Yes, I’m agree.
Correct: Yes, I agree.
Explanation: ‘Agree’ is an active verb in the present simple. You don’t need ‘be’. You wouldn’t say: I am talk, I am think, I am buy…
3. Incorrect: It depends of my mood.
Correct: It depends on my mood.
Explanation: ‘Depends on’ is a phrasal verb. You can also use ‘depends upon’, but that is more formal and less common.
4. Incorrect: Clara said me that she is allergic to dust.
Correct: Clara told me that she is allergic to dust.
Explanation: We use ‘tell + person’ (my mum, him, her, us etc.), not SAY.
However, ‘say to + person’ is correct.
5. Incorrect: I took a coffee with some friends.
Correct: I HAD a coffee with some friends.
Explanation: We use ‘have’ with food and drinks. I have breakfast every morning. We had a few beers last night.
6. Incorrect: That shop is very cheaper.
Correct: That shop is very cheap.
Explanation: ‘Cheaper’ is a comparative. Only use comparatives
when you are comparing two or more things.
7. Incorrect: I didn’t do nothing yesterday.
Correct: I didn’t do ANYTHING yesterday.
Explanation: Don’t use double negatives in a sentence.
8. Incorrect: I go always to bed late.
Correct: I always go to bed late.
Explanation: Put ‘always’ before the main verb. I can always find great deals online. My colleague is always talking.
9. Incorrect: I’m no tired.
Correct: I’m NOT tired.
Explanation: Use ‘not’ before a negative adjective. I’m not hungry. We are not happy.
10. Incorrect: I will visit my parents on Sunday.
Correct: I AM GOING to visit my parents on Sunday. / I am visiting my parents on Sunday.
Explanation: Use ‘going to’ and the ‘present continuous’ for future arrangements.
If you’d like explanations, examples and exercises for all 12 tenses in English, you can purchase my 61-page info pack. CLICK the image below.
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11. Incorrect: I’m in England for learn English.
Correct: I’m in England TO learn English.
Explanation: Use ‘to’ when you express purpose.
Why do you wear glasses? TO see better.
Why are you going to the shop? TO buy milk
Why are you in England? I’m in England TO learn English.
12. Incorrect: Where is?
Correct: Where is IT?
Explanation: You need a noun.
Where is my phone? Where is your house?
13. Incorrect: Can you borrow me a pen?
Correct: Can you LEND me a pen?
Explanation: LEND = give for a short period
BORROW = take for a short period
You wouldn’t say: Can you take me a pen?
You would say: Can you give me a pen?
14. Incorrect: I always do the same mistakes.
Correct: I always MAKE the same mistakes.
Explanation: We use ‘make’ with ‘mistakes’.
15. Incorrect: I should ask to my boss.
Correct: I should ask my boss.
Explanation: Do not use TO after ‘ask’.
16. Incorrect: I’m late because I lost my bus.
Correct: I’m late because I MISSED my bus.
Explanation: ‘Miss’ means that you were too late.
17. Incorrect: Can you tell me where is the toilet?
Correct: Can you tell me where the toilet IS?
Explanation: Put ‘be’ at the end of an indirect question.
18. Incorrect: I love very much coffee.
Correct: I love coffee very much.
Explanation: ‘Very much’ normally goes at the end of the clause.
19. Incorrect: We can to go out on Friday.
Correct: We can go out on Friday.
Explanation: Do not use ‘to’ after a modal verb.
20. Incorrect: This food remembers me of my family.
Correct: This food REMINDS me of my family.
Explanation: These are two different verbs.
remind – something makes me remember something
You remind me of my sister. (I look at you and I think of my sister.)
This reminds me of the time I lost my passport. (This situation makes me think of a past situation.)
remember – I can think of past events/information without any help.
- I can remember people’s names very well. (I can think of this information without any help.)
- I never remember to set my alarm. (I can’t think of this information. I always forget.)
21. Incorrect: I’ll see you in Monday.
Correct: I’ll see you ON Monday.
Explanation: We use ‘on’ before days of the week.
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Hi Arnel,
Thank you once again because every time I find your explanation very useful.
Hi Saima! I’m so happy you find my explanations useful! You are very welcome!
They are very helpful for me, thanks.
Wonderful Nebi! I’m so glad this lesson was helpful!