Commonly Made Mistakes in English

COMMONLY MADE MISTAKES IN ENGLISH

Language teaching practice often takes into consideration the first language interference as the reason of many errors made by learners while learning English as a second language.  They tend to superimpose their first language habits onto the second language consciously or unconsciously.  Of course, the first language influence is not the only reason for the mistakes committed by the second language learners of English. Thus, all learners of English make some mistakes while learning English as a second or foreign language.  These mistakes happen in the area of grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.

Let’s discuss some of the commonly made mistakes that learners make while learning English as a second or foreign language.

1.      * He is angry on me.

In English you are not angry on somebody, you are angry with somebody.

So the correct sentence would be,

He is angry with me.

2.      * Mary is married with John.

It is not married with someone but married to someone.  So the correct sentence would be,

Mary is married to John.

3.      * I called him yesterday night.

It is not yesterday night but last night.  So the correct sentence would be,

I called him last night.

4.      * Tina spoke to me today morning.

It is not today morning but this morning. So the correct sentence would be,

Tina spoke to me this morning.

5.      * I am agree with you.

The correct sentence is,

I agree with you.

6.      * He play football everyday.

We are suppose to use –s form of the verb (plays) with third person singular in simple present. So the correct sentence would be,

He plays football everyday.

7.      * I didn’t spoke to him.

When we make negative of the past simple, we use did and the base form of the main verb (not the past tense form). The correct sentence would be,

I didn’t speak to him.

8.      * I am teaching from 2004.

To talk about an activity started in the past and still going on, present perfect continuous (have/has + been + -ing form of the verb) is used. And the preposition since is used before the starting point and not from. The correct sentence is

I have been teaching since 2004.

9.      * I am studying from two hours.

To talk about an activity started in the past and still going on, present perfect continuous (have/has + been + -ing form of the verb) is used. And the preposition for is used before duration  and not from. So the correct sentence would be

I have been studying for two hours.

10.  * I am understanding you.

The state verbs are not used with –ing form.  So instead of the present continuous, present simple is used for these verbs. So the correct sentence is

I understand you.

Non-native speakers of English often consider it their right to take liberty with the language as long as the intended meaning is conveyed to the receiver. But the intended meaning can be communicated more effectively if one speaks the language appropriately. The abovementioned errors can be avoided if one is  aware and careful while speaking English.  No matter how good one is at English, there is always a scope for improvement.

At, On and In

At, On and In

When speak any language, we either speak about past time, present time or future time. We make references to time through the use of appropriate forms of verbs and other lexical items (adverbs and prepositions of time). In my previous article ‘Developing a Sense of Past, Present and Future’, I have discussed the forms of verbs.  In the present article, I am going to discuss the use of basic prepositions of time, namely, at, on and in.

We use the preposition ‘at’ before exact clock time. 

at	5 o’clock 6 p.m. midnight noon

 

  For example, I come to college at 9 o’clock everyday.

We use the preposition ‘on’ before the names of days and dates.

On	Sunday Monday 14th April New Year’s Day

For example, I will go for a movie on Sunday.

We use the preposition ‘in’ before the names of months, years and seasons.

In	May 2004 winter

            For example, I complete M.A. in 2004.

We do not use at, on or in when the adverb of time (August, Monday etc.) is preceded by this, last, next or every.

            For example, I called him this morning.

                                 We will go to Mumbai next Sunday.

                                 They attended the meeting last summer.

                                 I come to college every day.

We usually use in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening.

            For example, What do you usually do in the evening?

But, if these adverbs of time (morning, afternoon etc.) are preceded by the names of days, we use the preposition ‘on’ and not ‘in’

            For example, What are you doing on Sunday morning?

We use the article ‘at’ before the following adverbs of time.

·        At night

·        At the weekend

·        At Christmas ( on Christmas Day)

·        At the moment

·        At the end of May

Thus, the use of prepositions of time is as important as the use of appropriate forms of verbs to express time in English.  Verb forms, prepositions of time and adverbs of time and frequency help the speaker express time  effectively.

References:

Murphy, R. (1992). ESSENTIAL ENGLISH GRAMMAR, Cambridge University Press, New Delhi.