Common Mistakes in English
Useful lists and summaries Have another look at...
Prepositions after certain words 14
Use of the gerund 19
Use of certain tenses 27
Negatives 37
Third-person singular, simple present 50
Indefinite article 53
Verb TO BE 55
Definite article 68
Questions 79
The correct order of words 82
Use of certain prepositions 88
Use of will and shall 106
Singular and plural 130
Irregular verbs in everyday use bear to He 198-199
light to write 200-201
Part 1 Misused forms Using the wrong preposition 1
Misuse of the infinitive 13
Use of the wrong tense 18
Miscellaneous examples 28
Un-English expressions 40
Using the wrong preposition Mistakes are often made by using the wrong preposition after certain words. The following list includes the words which most often give trouble:
1 Absorbed (- very much interested) in, not at. Don't say: The man was absorbed at his work. / Say: The man was absorbed in his work.
2 Accuse of, not for. Don't say: She accused the man for stealing. / Say: She accused the man of stealing. Note: Charge takes with 1 The man was charged with murder.
3 Accustomed to, not with. Don't say: I'm accustomed with hot weather. / Say: I'm accustomed to hot weather. Note: Also used to: He is used to the heat.
4 Afraid of, not from. Don't say: Laura is afraid from the dog. / Say: Laura is afraid of the dog.
5 Aim at, not on or against. Don't say: She aimed on {or against) the target. / Say: She aimed at the target, Mote Use the preposition at to denot e direction, throw at, shout at, fire at, shoot at. Shoot (without the at) means to kill He shot a bird (= he hit and killed it) 6 Angry with, not against. Don't say: The teacher was angry against him. / Say: The teacher was angry with him. not e I W e get angry with a person but at a thing He was angry at The weather 'not with the weather ) Mote 2 Also annoyed with, vexed with, indignant with a person, but at a thing. 7 Anxious (= troubled) about, not for. Don't say.'They're anxious for his health. •/ Say: They're anxious about his health. Noi e Anxious meaning wishing very much lakes for Parents are anxious for their children's success. 8 Arrive at, not to. Don't say: We arrived to the village at night. / Say:: We arrived at the village at night. Note Use arrive in with countries an d large cities. Mr Smith has arrived in London (or New York. India, etc ) 9 Ashamed of, not from. Don't say: He's now ashamed from his conduct. / Say: He's now ashamed of his conduct. Note it isn't correct to use ashamed of meaning shy Ashamed means feeling shame or guilt about something. Shy means feeling nervous with someone Instead of saying 1 I'm ashamed (or shamed) of my teacher, say I'm shy of my teacher 2 Misused forms 10 Believe in, not to. Don't say: We believe to God. / Say: We believe in God. Note : To believe in means to have faith in. To believe (without the in) means to regard something as true: / believe everything he says. 11 Boast of or about, not for. Don't say: James boasted for his strength. / Say: James boasted of (or about) his strength. 12 Careful of, with or about, not for. Don't say: Elke's very careful for her health. / Say: Elke's very careful of/about her health. Or: You should be more careful with your money. Not e Take care of' He takes care of his money. 13 Travel by train, etc., not with the train, etc. Don't say: He travelled with the train yesterday. / Say: He travelled by train yesterday. Note : W e say: by train, by boat, by plane, by bike; also, by land, by sea, by air, by bus; in a bus or on a bus; by car or in a car, by taxi or in a taxi; on horse-back, on a donkey, on a bicycle; on foot. 14 Complain about, not for. Don't say: Annette complained for the weather. / Say: Annette complained about the weather. Not e Whe n talking about illness w e use complain of. W e say She complained of a sore throat. 15 Composed of, not from. Don't soy: Our class is composed from thirty students. / Say: Our class is composed of thirty students. 3 Part Misused forms 23 Deprive of, not from. Don't say: Nelson Mandela was deprived from his freedom. / Soy: Nelson Mandela was deprived of his freedom. 24 Die of an illness, not from an illness. Don't say: Many people have died.from malaria. / Say: Many people have died of malaria. Not e People die of illness, of hunger , of thirst, of or from wounds ; from overwork ; b y violence, fay the sword, by pestilence; in battle; for their country, for a cause, through neglect; on the scaffold; at the stake. 25 Different from, not than. Don't say: My book is different than yours. / Say: My book is different from yours. 26 Disappointed by, about or at, not from. (a) by/at/about: Don't say: Phillipa was disappointed from the low mark she got in the test. / Say: Phillipa was disappointed by/about/at the low mark she got in the test. (b) with/in: Don't say: Jane was disappointed from her son. / Say: Jane was disappointed with/in her son. Mote 1 Before a person w e use with or in, before a thing w e use at, about or b y and before a gerund w e use at: Keith is very disappointed at not winning the prize. W e use that (optional before a ne w clause)' / wa s disappointed (that) I didn't get an invitation. 27 Divide into parts, not in parts. Don't say: I divided the cake in four parts. / Say: I divided the cake into four parts. Note A thing ma y be divided in half or in two Paul divided the apple in half (or in two). 5 Part 1 28 No doubt (n) of or about, not for. Don't say: I've no doubt for his ability. / Say: I've no doubt of (or about) his ability. Note- Doubtful of: / am doubtful of his ability to pass 29 Dressed in, not with. Don't say: The woman was dressed with black. / Say:The woman was dressed in black. Note 1 The woman ivas in black is also correct 30 Exception to, not of. Don't say: This is an exception of the rule. / Say: This is an exception to the rule. Note: W e say with the exception of: She liked all her subjects with the exception of physics 31 Exchange for, not by. Don't say: He exchanged his collection of matchboxes by some foreign stamps. / Say: He exchanged his collection of matchboxes for some foreign stamps. Note 1 In exchange for H e gave them his old car in exchange for a new one. 32 Fail in, not from. Don't say: Steven failed from maths last year. / Say: Steven failed in maths last year. 33 Full of, not with or from. Don't say: The jar was full with (or from) oil. / Say: The jar was full of oil. Note 1 Fill takes with Jane filled the glass with wate r 6 Misused forms 34 Get rid of, not from. Don't say: I'll be glad to get rid from him. / Say: I'll be glad to get rid of him. 35 Glad about, not from or with. Don't say: Francis was glad from (or with) receiving your letter. / Say: Francis was glad about receiving your letter. 36 Good at, not in. Don't say: My sister's good in maths. / Say: My sister's good at maths. Note 1 : Bad at, clever at, quick at, slow at, etc. However, weak in: He's weak in grammar. Note 2: He's good in class means that his conduct is good. 37 Guard against, not from. Don't soy: You must guard from bad habits. / Say; You must guard against bad habits. 38 Guilty of, not for. Don't say: He was found guilty for murder. / Say: He was found guilty of murder 39 Independent of, not from. Don't say: Clare's independent from her parents. / Say: Clare's independent of her parents. Note: W e say dependent on: A child is dependent on its parents. 40 Indifferent to, not for. Don't say: They're indifferent for politics. / Say;They're indifferent to politics. 7 Part 1 41 Insist on, not to. Don't say: He always insisted to his opinion. / Say: He always insisted on his opinion. No'.e Persist take;, in He persisted in his silly ideas 42 Interested in, not for. Don't say: She's not interested for her work. / Say: She's not interested in her work. Note Also take an interest in She takes a great interest in music 43 Jealous of, not from. Don't say: He's very jealous from his brother. / Say: He's very jealous of his brother. 44 Leave for a place, not to a place. Don't say:They're leaving to England soon. / Say: They're leaving for England soon. 45 Live on, not from. Don't say: He lives from his brother's money. / Say: He lives on his brother's money. .Note Feed on 1 Some birds feed on insects 46 Look at, not to. Don't say: Look to this beautiful picture. / Say: Look at this beautiful picture. Note 1 Also gaze at, stare at, etc Bui. look after (= take care of); look for (= tr, to find), look over (= examine); look into (= examine closely), look on or upon (= consider), look down on (= have a low opinion of), look up to != retpe c rj.; | 0 0 k o u t f o r ;= expect); look forward to (= expect with p'easure), look to (= rely on) Misused forms 47 Pfe-rded to, not with. Dcrfi say: Angela was married with a rich man. ' f Say: Angela was married to a rich manNote Also engaged to Sally was engaged to Peter for a year be'cre tney go; married. 48 Opposite to, not from Don't say:Their house is opposite from ours. -/ Say: Their house is opposite to ours. Not e Opposite ours is also correct 49 Pass by a place, not from a place. Don't say: Will you pass from the post-office? / Say: Will you pass by the post-office? Note Also pass the post-office is correct. 50 Play for a team, not with a team. Don't say: He plays regularly with that team. / Say: He plays regularly for that team. 51 Pleased with, not from. Don't say:The teacher is pleased from me. / Say: The teacher is pleased with me. Note. W e say pleased at or pleased with if an abstract noun or a clause follows ; They were pleased at (or with) what he said; They were pleased et (or with) her results 52 Popular with, not among. Don't say: John's popular .among his friends. / Say: John's popular with his friends. 53 Prefer to, not from. Don't say: I prefer a blue pen from a red one. J Say: I prefer a blue pen to a red one. Note A'so preferable to This car is preferable to niy old one. Q Part 1 54 Preside at or over, not in. Don't say: Who presided in the last meeting? / 5ay:Who presided at (or over) the last meeting? 55 Proud of, not for. Don't say: He's very proud for his promotion. / Say: He's very proud of his promotion. Note W e say take \ai pride in A craftsman takes a pride in his work 56 Rejoice at or in, not for. Don't say: We rejoiced for her success. / Say: We rejoiced at (or in) her success. 57 Related to, not with. Don't say: Are you related with Simon in any way? •/ Say Are you related to Simon in any way? Note Also relation to. Is he any relation to you? 58 Repent of, not from. Don't say: He repented from his crime. / Say: He repented of his crime. Note Repentance ^akes for. He feels repentance lor his sin 59 Satisfied with, not from. Don't say: Are you satisfied from your marks? / Say: Are you satisfied with your marks? Noty Also content with, delighted with, unhappy with, happy with, displeased with, dissatisfied with, disgusted with. 60 Similar to, not with. Don't say: Your house is similar with mine. / Say: Your house is similar to mine. 10 Misused forms 61 Sit at a desk etc., not on a desk etc. Don't say: The bank manager was sitting on his desk. / Say: The bank manager was sitting at his desk. Not e Also sit at a table. But on a chair, on a bench, on a sofa, etc ; in an arm-chair, in a tree or up a tree. A bird sometime s perches (= sitsl on a tree 62 Spend on, not for. Don't say: \ spend a lot of time for my computer. / Say: I spend a lot of time on my computer. 63 Succeed in, not at. Don't say: 1 hope he'll succeed at his work. / Say: I hope he'll succeed in his work. Note . A person succeeds to a property, a title, or an office: Queen Elizabeth I! succeeded to the throne in 1952 Also one person C3n succeed another. 64 Superior to, not from or than. Don't say: This is superior from (or than) that. / 5«y.This is superior to that. Note Also inferior to, junior to, senior to, subsequent to, prior to. 65 Sure of, not for. Don't say: I'm quite sure for her honesty. / Say: I'm quite sure of her honesty. Note: Also certain of I em quite certain of >t 66 Surprised at or by, not for. Don't say: Harold was surprised for the loud bang. / Say: Harold was surprised at/by the loud bang. Note. Also astonished at/by, amazed at/by, alarmed at/by, pu2zled at/by, shocked at/by
Useful lists and summaries Have another look at...
Prepositions after certain words 14
Use of the gerund 19
Use of certain tenses 27
Negatives 37
Third-person singular, simple present 50
Indefinite article 53
Verb TO BE 55
Definite article 68
Questions 79
The correct order of words 82
Use of certain prepositions 88
Use of will and shall 106
Singular and plural 130
Irregular verbs in everyday use bear to He 198-199
light to write 200-201
Part 1 Misused forms Using the wrong preposition 1
Misuse of the infinitive 13
Use of the wrong tense 18
Miscellaneous examples 28
Un-English expressions 40
Using the wrong preposition Mistakes are often made by using the wrong preposition after certain words. The following list includes the words which most often give trouble:
1 Absorbed (- very much interested) in, not at. Don't say: The man was absorbed at his work. / Say: The man was absorbed in his work.
2 Accuse of, not for. Don't say: She accused the man for stealing. / Say: She accused the man of stealing. Note: Charge takes with 1 The man was charged with murder.
3 Accustomed to, not with. Don't say: I'm accustomed with hot weather. / Say: I'm accustomed to hot weather. Note: Also used to: He is used to the heat.
4 Afraid of, not from. Don't say: Laura is afraid from the dog. / Say: Laura is afraid of the dog.
5 Aim at, not on or against. Don't say: She aimed on {or against) the target. / Say: She aimed at the target, Mote Use the preposition at to denot e direction, throw at, shout at, fire at, shoot at. Shoot (without the at) means to kill He shot a bird (= he hit and killed it) 6 Angry with, not against. Don't say: The teacher was angry against him. / Say: The teacher was angry with him. not e I W e get angry with a person but at a thing He was angry at The weather 'not with the weather ) Mote 2 Also annoyed with, vexed with, indignant with a person, but at a thing. 7 Anxious (= troubled) about, not for. Don't say.'They're anxious for his health. •/ Say: They're anxious about his health. Noi e Anxious meaning wishing very much lakes for Parents are anxious for their children's success. 8 Arrive at, not to. Don't say: We arrived to the village at night. / Say:: We arrived at the village at night. Note Use arrive in with countries an d large cities. Mr Smith has arrived in London (or New York. India, etc ) 9 Ashamed of, not from. Don't say: He's now ashamed from his conduct. / Say: He's now ashamed of his conduct. Note it isn't correct to use ashamed of meaning shy Ashamed means feeling shame or guilt about something. Shy means feeling nervous with someone Instead of saying 1 I'm ashamed (or shamed) of my teacher, say I'm shy of my teacher 2 Misused forms 10 Believe in, not to. Don't say: We believe to God. / Say: We believe in God. Note : To believe in means to have faith in. To believe (without the in) means to regard something as true: / believe everything he says. 11 Boast of or about, not for. Don't say: James boasted for his strength. / Say: James boasted of (or about) his strength. 12 Careful of, with or about, not for. Don't say: Elke's very careful for her health. / Say: Elke's very careful of/about her health. Or: You should be more careful with your money. Not e Take care of' He takes care of his money. 13 Travel by train, etc., not with the train, etc. Don't say: He travelled with the train yesterday. / Say: He travelled by train yesterday. Note : W e say: by train, by boat, by plane, by bike; also, by land, by sea, by air, by bus; in a bus or on a bus; by car or in a car, by taxi or in a taxi; on horse-back, on a donkey, on a bicycle; on foot. 14 Complain about, not for. Don't say: Annette complained for the weather. / Say: Annette complained about the weather. Not e Whe n talking about illness w e use complain of. W e say She complained of a sore throat. 15 Composed of, not from. Don't soy: Our class is composed from thirty students. / Say: Our class is composed of thirty students. 3 Part Misused forms 23 Deprive of, not from. Don't say: Nelson Mandela was deprived from his freedom. / Soy: Nelson Mandela was deprived of his freedom. 24 Die of an illness, not from an illness. Don't say: Many people have died.from malaria. / Say: Many people have died of malaria. Not e People die of illness, of hunger , of thirst, of or from wounds ; from overwork ; b y violence, fay the sword, by pestilence; in battle; for their country, for a cause, through neglect; on the scaffold; at the stake. 25 Different from, not than. Don't say: My book is different than yours. / Say: My book is different from yours. 26 Disappointed by, about or at, not from. (a) by/at/about: Don't say: Phillipa was disappointed from the low mark she got in the test. / Say: Phillipa was disappointed by/about/at the low mark she got in the test. (b) with/in: Don't say: Jane was disappointed from her son. / Say: Jane was disappointed with/in her son. Mote 1 Before a person w e use with or in, before a thing w e use at, about or b y and before a gerund w e use at: Keith is very disappointed at not winning the prize. W e use that (optional before a ne w clause)' / wa s disappointed (that) I didn't get an invitation. 27 Divide into parts, not in parts. Don't say: I divided the cake in four parts. / Say: I divided the cake into four parts. Note A thing ma y be divided in half or in two Paul divided the apple in half (or in two). 5 Part 1 28 No doubt (n) of or about, not for. Don't say: I've no doubt for his ability. / Say: I've no doubt of (or about) his ability. Note- Doubtful of: / am doubtful of his ability to pass 29 Dressed in, not with. Don't say: The woman was dressed with black. / Say:The woman was dressed in black. Note 1 The woman ivas in black is also correct 30 Exception to, not of. Don't say: This is an exception of the rule. / Say: This is an exception to the rule. Note: W e say with the exception of: She liked all her subjects with the exception of physics 31 Exchange for, not by. Don't say: He exchanged his collection of matchboxes by some foreign stamps. / Say: He exchanged his collection of matchboxes for some foreign stamps. Note 1 In exchange for H e gave them his old car in exchange for a new one. 32 Fail in, not from. Don't say: Steven failed from maths last year. / Say: Steven failed in maths last year. 33 Full of, not with or from. Don't say: The jar was full with (or from) oil. / Say: The jar was full of oil. Note 1 Fill takes with Jane filled the glass with wate r 6 Misused forms 34 Get rid of, not from. Don't say: I'll be glad to get rid from him. / Say: I'll be glad to get rid of him. 35 Glad about, not from or with. Don't say: Francis was glad from (or with) receiving your letter. / Say: Francis was glad about receiving your letter. 36 Good at, not in. Don't say: My sister's good in maths. / Say: My sister's good at maths. Note 1 : Bad at, clever at, quick at, slow at, etc. However, weak in: He's weak in grammar. Note 2: He's good in class means that his conduct is good. 37 Guard against, not from. Don't soy: You must guard from bad habits. / Say; You must guard against bad habits. 38 Guilty of, not for. Don't say: He was found guilty for murder. / Say: He was found guilty of murder 39 Independent of, not from. Don't say: Clare's independent from her parents. / Say: Clare's independent of her parents. Note: W e say dependent on: A child is dependent on its parents. 40 Indifferent to, not for. Don't say: They're indifferent for politics. / Say;They're indifferent to politics. 7 Part 1 41 Insist on, not to. Don't say: He always insisted to his opinion. / Say: He always insisted on his opinion. No'.e Persist take;, in He persisted in his silly ideas 42 Interested in, not for. Don't say: She's not interested for her work. / Say: She's not interested in her work. Note Also take an interest in She takes a great interest in music 43 Jealous of, not from. Don't say: He's very jealous from his brother. / Say: He's very jealous of his brother. 44 Leave for a place, not to a place. Don't say:They're leaving to England soon. / Say: They're leaving for England soon. 45 Live on, not from. Don't say: He lives from his brother's money. / Say: He lives on his brother's money. .Note Feed on 1 Some birds feed on insects 46 Look at, not to. Don't say: Look to this beautiful picture. / Say: Look at this beautiful picture. Note 1 Also gaze at, stare at, etc Bui. look after (= take care of); look for (= tr, to find), look over (= examine); look into (= examine closely), look on or upon (= consider), look down on (= have a low opinion of), look up to != retpe c rj.; | 0 0 k o u t f o r ;= expect); look forward to (= expect with p'easure), look to (= rely on) Misused forms 47 Pfe-rded to, not with. Dcrfi say: Angela was married with a rich man. ' f Say: Angela was married to a rich manNote Also engaged to Sally was engaged to Peter for a year be'cre tney go; married. 48 Opposite to, not from Don't say:Their house is opposite from ours. -/ Say: Their house is opposite to ours. Not e Opposite ours is also correct 49 Pass by a place, not from a place. Don't say: Will you pass from the post-office? / Say: Will you pass by the post-office? Note Also pass the post-office is correct. 50 Play for a team, not with a team. Don't say: He plays regularly with that team. / Say: He plays regularly for that team. 51 Pleased with, not from. Don't say:The teacher is pleased from me. / Say: The teacher is pleased with me. Note. W e say pleased at or pleased with if an abstract noun or a clause follows ; They were pleased at (or with) what he said; They were pleased et (or with) her results 52 Popular with, not among. Don't say: John's popular .among his friends. / Say: John's popular with his friends. 53 Prefer to, not from. Don't say: I prefer a blue pen from a red one. J Say: I prefer a blue pen to a red one. Note A'so preferable to This car is preferable to niy old one. Q Part 1 54 Preside at or over, not in. Don't say: Who presided in the last meeting? / 5ay:Who presided at (or over) the last meeting? 55 Proud of, not for. Don't say: He's very proud for his promotion. / Say: He's very proud of his promotion. Note W e say take \ai pride in A craftsman takes a pride in his work 56 Rejoice at or in, not for. Don't say: We rejoiced for her success. / Say: We rejoiced at (or in) her success. 57 Related to, not with. Don't say: Are you related with Simon in any way? •/ Say Are you related to Simon in any way? Note Also relation to. Is he any relation to you? 58 Repent of, not from. Don't say: He repented from his crime. / Say: He repented of his crime. Note Repentance ^akes for. He feels repentance lor his sin 59 Satisfied with, not from. Don't say: Are you satisfied from your marks? / Say: Are you satisfied with your marks? Noty Also content with, delighted with, unhappy with, happy with, displeased with, dissatisfied with, disgusted with. 60 Similar to, not with. Don't say: Your house is similar with mine. / Say: Your house is similar to mine. 10 Misused forms 61 Sit at a desk etc., not on a desk etc. Don't say: The bank manager was sitting on his desk. / Say: The bank manager was sitting at his desk. Not e Also sit at a table. But on a chair, on a bench, on a sofa, etc ; in an arm-chair, in a tree or up a tree. A bird sometime s perches (= sitsl on a tree 62 Spend on, not for. Don't say: \ spend a lot of time for my computer. / Say: I spend a lot of time on my computer. 63 Succeed in, not at. Don't say: 1 hope he'll succeed at his work. / Say: I hope he'll succeed in his work. Note . A person succeeds to a property, a title, or an office: Queen Elizabeth I! succeeded to the throne in 1952 Also one person C3n succeed another. 64 Superior to, not from or than. Don't say: This is superior from (or than) that. / 5«y.This is superior to that. Note Also inferior to, junior to, senior to, subsequent to, prior to. 65 Sure of, not for. Don't say: I'm quite sure for her honesty. / Say: I'm quite sure of her honesty. Note: Also certain of I em quite certain of >t 66 Surprised at or by, not for. Don't say: Harold was surprised for the loud bang. / Say: Harold was surprised at/by the loud bang. Note. Also astonished at/by, amazed at/by, alarmed at/by, pu2zled at/by, shocked at/by
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