Word / Mistake / Correction
accuse / She accused me that I stole her book. / She accused me of having stolen her book.
a.m., p.m. / It’s 6 o’clock a.m./p.m.. / It’s 6 a.m./ 6 p.m..
according to / According to the headmasters opinion/view / In the headmasters opinion/view
accustomed / I never got accustomed to shake hands every morning. / I never got accustomed to shaking hands every morning.
acoustics / The acoustics in this room is not very good. / The acoustics in this room are not very good.
actual / Actual events in the USA / Current events in the USA
admire / She was very brave. I am admiring her a lot now. / She was very brave. I admire her a lot now.
admit / He admitted his friend his mistake. / He admitted his mistake to a friend.
adore / I absolutely adore to go to the theatre / I absolutely adoregoing to the theatre.
advantage / What is the advantageto pay now? / What is the advantageof/inpaying now?
advise / I adviseto go by car / I advisegoing by car.
afraid / I’m afraidyes. (+ I’m afraid no.) / I’m afraid so. +I’m afraid not
after / In a question we put the subject behind the auxiliary verb. / In a question we put the subject after the auxiliary verb.
against / They can’t do anything against this. / They can’t do anything about this.
age / But she would never speak like somebody in her age. / But she would never speak like somebody of her age.
age / Whichage are you? / Whatage are you?
aim / We are planning the programme with the aim to attract as many young people as possible. / We are planning the programme with the aim of attracting as many young people as possible.
alike / You always wear alike clothes. / You always wear similar clothes.
alive / Does she still live? / Is she still alive?
all / You question yourself if all will be alright. / You question yourself if everything will be alright.
all / She has read the books all. / She has read all the books.
allow / He allowed/permittedthat we smoked. / He allowed/permitted usto smoke.
almost-nearly / I almost/nearlydon’t know her. / I hardly know her.
already / They spend much time with both of them if they already live at home. / They spend much time with both of them if they still live at home.
already / Already on my fourteenth birthday I knew what I want to do with my life. / On my fourteenth birthday I already knew what I want to do with my life.
also / …there was a sense of horror in his face, but Mr.X also smiled and…. / …there was a sense of horror in his face, but Mr.X nevertheless smiled and….
also / Also animals don’t like it. / Even animals don’t like it.
although / Althoughrefusing politely, the reporter insisted on taking the woman’s photo. / Although the woman refused politely, the reporter insisted on taking her photo.
amount / A littleamount of water was left. / A smallamount of water was left.
announce / The teacher didn’t announce the class the exact date. / The teacher didn’t announce the exact date to the class.
annoyed / He had an annoyed customer this afternoon. / He had an angry/a dissatisfied customer this afternoon.
any / I’ve got any good records. / I’ve got some good records.
any / I’ve to come by bus: I haven’t got any car. / I’ve to come by bus: I haven’t got a car.
any / Have you met anyone of his friends? / Have you met any of his friends?
anyone / Has anyone of you seen Dennis? / Has one of you seen Dennis?
anything / Is there anything of the wine left? / Is there any of the wine left?
appear / He appears unhappily. / He appears unhappy.
appreciate / I appriciate to have such helpful neighbours. / I appreciate having such helpful neighbours.
approach / We were approachingto the border. / We were approaching the border.
as / My sister is smaller as me. / My sister is smaller than me.
as usual / The train is late, asusually. / The train is late, as usual.
ask / A lot of questions were asked us. / A lot of questions were asked.
assistance / What sort of assistances does your organization offer? / What sort of assistance does your organization offer?
assume / Are they coming? I assumeit. / Are they coming? I assumeso.
assure / He assured that. / He assuredus that.
average / The average of working hours is 36.8 a week. / The average number of working hours is 36.8 a week.
back / You can see the back side of the cinema building from here. / You can see the back of the cinema building from here.
be able to / Seats are able to be booked by phoning 372001. / Seats can be booked by phoning 372001.  be able to can’t be used in passive sentences!
be reduced to / He had no money left and was reduced to beg in the streets. / He had no money left and was reduced to begging in the streets.
be right / You wererightwith the time. It did start at 7.30 and not at 8. / You were right about the time. It did start at 7.30 and not at 8.
become / It’s better for them to become a good grade. / It’s better for them to get a good grade.
bed / I’ll bring the children to bed this evening. / I’ll put the children to bed this evening.
before / I locked the office up, but before I checked that all the windows were shut. / I locked the office up, but first I checked that all the windows were shut.
behaviour / That’s a very bad behaviour. / That’s very bad behaviour.
believe / I ambelieving you, but many wouldn’t. / I believe you, but many wouldn’t.
belong / Hey, that is belonging to me now. / Hey, that belongs to me now.
bet / I am betting Jim won’t come. / I bet Jim won’t come
better / He is a psychologist – or better, a psychoanalyst. / He is a psychologist – or rather, a psychoanalyst.
better / When people choose wallpaper and curtains they’d better do it in daylight because of the colours. / When people choose wallpaper and curtains, it’s better to do it in daylight because of the colours.
bike / I came by abike. / I came by bike.
birth / At thebirth the baby weighed seven pounds. / At birth the baby weighed seven pounds.
boast / The new hotel building isboasting several unusual attractions. / The new hotel building boasts several unusual attractions,
border / It’s a town near the borderto Poland. / It’s a town near the borderwith Poland.
boring / I didn't enjoy the party because I was boring. / I didn't enjoy the party because I was bored.
born / I amborn in 1977. / I wasborn in 1977.
both / The children wanted both an ice-cream. / The children both wanted an ice-cream.
bread / I went to the baker’s and bought a bread. / I went to the baker’s and bought a loaf of bread.
break / The break at this school is after the 3rd lesson. / Break at this school is after the 3rd lesson.
bureau / I work in a bureau every day of the week until 6 o’clock. / I work in an office every day of the week until 6 o’clock.
burn / Quick, the building is burning! / Quick, the building’s on fire!
bus / I came with the last bus. / I came on the last bus.
business / Businesses are very bad – it’s the recession. / Business is very bad – it’s the recession. business is uncountable in the abstract meaning!
but: There are lot of small businesses in this town.
by / I've always been terribly frightened by dying. / I've always been terribly frightened of dying.
by / She grew up in a small village by Exeter. / She grew up in a small village near Exeter.
can / I can speak Russian fluently in 6 months’ time. / I’ll be able to speak Russian fluently in 6 months’ time.
 can is not possible if the necessary conditions are not given yet!
carry / The bridge is carried by six pillars. / The bridge is supported by six pillars.
carry / He carries a toupee and a hearing aid. / He wears a toupee and a hearing aid.
cattle / The cattle is waiting for the transport to the slaughterhouse. / The cattle are waiting for the transport to the slaughterhouse.
caution / We have to pay three months’ rent as caution. / We have to pay three months’ rent as a deposit.
celebrate / We celebrate a party. / We’re having a party.
change / I had to change the train in London. / I had to change trains in London.
chaos / We left in a hurry and left achaos behind us. / We left in a hurry and left chaos behind us.  not countable
check / I gave her a check for $100. / I gave her a cheque for $100. BE: cheque, AE: check
chef / The chef came into our office and told us what to do next. / The boss came into our office and told us what to do next.
 chef means chief cook in a restaurant
chef / The chef came into our office. / The boss came into our office.
chips / He often sits in front of the TV with a packet of chips. / He often sits in front of the TV with a packet of crisps.
chips / He sits in front of the TV with chips. / He sits in front of the TV with crisps / (AE:) potato chips.
city / Let’s go into the city. / Let’s go in the city centre.
class / When I was in the 7th class,… / When I was in the 7th grade
closet / I went to the closet(toilet). / She put her dress in the closet.
colour / The colour is still wet. / The paint is still wet.
come / …people to come in this prison because… / …people to come to this prison because…
come / When we go to see you next time... / When we come to see you next time…
comment / This newspaper article is a comment from Enid Castle. / This newspaper article is a comment by Enid Castle.
common / It is commonthat British people... / It is common for British people to…
complain to/about of s.th. / He is always complaining of his boss. / He is always complaining about his boss.
complement / Blue and yellow are compliment colours. / Blue and yellow are complement colours.
comprehensible / It’s difficult to make it comprehensive for you. / It’s difficult to make it comprehensible for you.
concentrate / We are concentrating to find a solution. / We are concentrating on finding a solution.
concept / We haven’t got a concept for tonight. / We haven’t got a plan for tonight.
concurrence / The concurrence is weak. / The competition is weak.
condition / She has an incredible condition. / She is incredible fit.
confession / All confessions can come to this church. / All denominations can come to this church.
control / Nobody came to control our tickets. / Nobody came to check our tickets.
cost(s), to cost / We must avoid this at all cost. / We must avoid this at all costs.
costume / The dancers were all dressed with national costume. / The dancers were all dressed in national costume.
country / This area is a fruit-growing country. / This area is fruit-growing country.
countryside / What a peaceful countryside. / What peaceful countryside.
court / I was for court last week, as a witness. / I was in court last week, as a witness.
credit / We will give you an interest-free credit for 12 months. / We will give you interest-free credit for 12 months.
crime / The professor’s research was concerned with the links between family background and crime. / The professor’s research was concerned with the links between family background and criminality.
culture / That man has no culture, just look at the way he eats. / That man is uncultured, just look at the way he eats.
customs / The customs are over there. / Customs is over there.
danger / There’s danger of icy roads this evening. / There’s a danger of icy roads this evening.
dates / My birthday is on seventeen June. / My birthday is on seventeenth of June or ... on June the seventeenth.
deal: a good/great deal / There’s a good deal of jobs that we still have to do. / There’s a good deal of work that we still have to do.
democracy / Thedemocracy is not valued in many countries. / Democracy is not valued in many countries.
dependent / Young adults living at home are dependent from their parents. / Young adults living at home are dependent on their parents.
did (questions) / Did you went climbing last week? / Did you go climbing last week?
difference-distinction / Can you tell the distinction? / Can you tell the difference?
difficult, difficulty / I had difficulty to start the car this morning. / I had difficulty (in) starting the car this morning.
divided / This part of the novel can be divided in several parts. / This part of the novel can be divided into several parts.
elect / She was voted President. / She was elected President.
evening / He works from morning to evening. / He works from morning to night.
eventually / Eventually he comes tomorrow. / He may come tomorrow.
everybody / Everybodyknow his name. / Everybodyknows his name.
everywhere / everywhere in London/ England/ the world / all over London/ England/ the world
exact, exactly / Exactly now I am very tired. / Just at the moment I am very tired.
example / There is one example for the weak version. / There is one example of the weak version.
example / I’ll name you an examplefor what I mean. / I’ll give you an example of what I mean.
excuse / Excuse, please. / Excuse me, please.
excuse / Excuse me that I ask you. / Excuse my asking.
exercise / I make some exercises. / I do some exercises.
exited / I am exitedto go to the USA next year. / I am exitedabout going to the USA next year.
experience / From theexperience I know… / From experience I know…
express / to express it simply / to put it simply
extra / I’ll pay for the wine extra. / I’ll pay for the wine separately.
extreme / That’s an extreme improvement. / That’s a great improvement.
fall / Yesterday we fall the decision. / The decision was made yesterday.
familiar / He is very familiar. / He is familiar with the business customs in this country.
family / The family Thomson lives next-door. / The Thomson family lives next-door.
fascinate / Many people are fascinated of someone. / Many people are fascinated by someone.
fascinating/ fascinated / What she told us was very fascinated. / What she told us was very fascinating.
favour / I favour ask Jim if he can help us. / I favour asking Jim if he can help us.
few / Some few hotels still offer this service. / Only afew hotels still offer this service.
fine / How are you? - Veryfine, thanks. / How are you? – Justfine, thanks.
foolishly / Foolishly the last train leaves at 7:30. / Unfortunately the train leaves at 7:30.
forbid / Why should they forbid to plant a tree? / Why should they forbidplanting a tree?
forget / We mustn’t forget the umbrella in the car. / We mustn’t leave the umbrella in the car.
forgive / I forgave her that she forget my birthday. / I forgave her for forgetting my birthday.
friendly / That’s very friendlyfrom you. / That’s very kind of you.
furniture / We’ll need two or tree new furnitures. / We’ll need two or three new pieces of furniture.
give / Mr. Smith gives us English. / Mr. Smith takes us for English.
good / The good finally triumphs at the end of the film. / Good finally triumphs at the end of the film.
great / How do you manage to speak to her with so great patience? / How do you manage to speak to her with such patience?
greet / He doesn’t greet. / He doesn’t greet us.
grill / We grilled last night. / We had a barbecue last night.
guess / I am guessing you’re feeling tired. / I guess you’re feeling tired.
guilty / feel guilty of something / feel guilty about something
handwriting / He has got a terrible handwriting. / He has got terrible handwriting.
happen / There happened something quite wonderful. / Something quite wonderful happened.
hardly / The garden party had hardly started than it began to rain. / The garden party had hardly started when it began to rain.
hate / I hate to stand here with this placard. / I hatestanding here with this placard.
have / What colour has it? / What colour is it?
he- him / I am a friend of him. / I am a friend of his.
health / He always had a very good health. / He always had very good health.
heavy / a heavy conflict / a serious conflict
help / I’ll give you a help. / I’ll give you a bit of help.
her / She was talking to her. (one person) / She was talking to herself. but: She took her dog with her.
hole / I can’t believe I ate the hole cake. / I can’t believe I ate the whole cake.
hundred / I want to live for hundred years. / I want to live for a/onehundred years.
never use hundred, thousand, million alone but always with a or one
hundred / She had at least four hundreds of lovers. / She had at least four hundred lovers.
but: I have seen it hundreds of time
in front/ahead / With 10 minutes of the match left, Manchester is two goals above. / With 10 minutes of the match left, Manchester is two goals in front/ ahead.
interesting / I was very interesting in the lesson. / I was very interested in the lesson.
like / People say my sister looks like I. / People say my sister looks likeme.
look / I look the news on TV. / I watch the news on TV.
may / Where may she have put the money? / Where can she have put the money?  question for possibility in the past always with can
me / I cut me shaving this morning. / I cut myself shaving this morning.
means / Are there any means to find out their address? / Are there any means of finding out their address?
member / How long have you been a member in this club? / How long have you been a member of this club?
mention / Did he mention you tomorrow’s concert? / Did he mention tomorrow’s concert to you?
milk / Is this cow milk? / Is this cow’s milk?
mind / What have you got in your mind? / What have you got in mind?