40 most common mistakes in English that Russian speakers make

Everyone starts to learn a foreign language with one main goal - to learn to speak, writes Engblog.ru... In the learning process, all students make mistakes, and teachers correct, explain the rules and reinforce them in speech in order to avoid repeating these mistakes. But is it always possible to avoid? How many times have you said I am agree, It depends from, I feel myself good? Lot! And the level of language proficiency is not an indicator.

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Consider what is heard, what prevents you from speaking correctly - that is, the most common grammatical mistakes of students.

These mistakes, like parasitic words, periodically appear in the speech of students of all levels, not excluding Advanced students. Sometimes funny expressions and sentences come up, but let's start with the most common unfunny mistakes.

Almost everyone hates the rules of using prepositions. Still would! A lot needs to be memorized and memorized, so they often use the wrong preposition, skip it, or use it where it is absolutely not needed. Many are familiar with the mistakes that teachers correct in almost every lesson:

• I went to somewhere - extra to here → I went somewhere (I went somewhere).
• I phoned to him → I phoned him (I called him).
• I came to home → I came home (I came home). Easy to remember - we don't need an excuse to come home, so don't use it!
• We discussed about it → We discussed it (we discussed it). BUT We talked about it (we talked about it).
• I went to holiday → I went on holiday (I went on vacation).
• To influence on smth → To influence smth (influence something). BUT To have influence on smth (to have influence on something).
• In the weekend → At the weekend (on weekends).
• In 5 o'clock → At 5 o'clock (at 5 o'clock).
• It depends from smth → It depends on smth (it depends on something).
• In last week → Last week (last week).
• In next year → Next year (next year).
• In Monday → On Monday (Monday).

This also includes the use of the to particle: can to / should to / must to / may to - we never use the to particle after these modal verbs!

Sometimes plural forms of nouns fail. These are errors:

• childrens;
• peoples;
• mans;
• womans.

And, of course, advices - everyone knows, but they forget that the noun advice is uncountable and is used only in the singular. For example:

• He gave me a lot of useful advice. - He gave me a lot of useful advice.

Most people like to say “I am” like that where they don't need to “be”. The result is: “I am working,” “I am, agree,” “I am gone,” etc.

• I am agree is a classic of the genre! → I agree / I don't agree (I agree / disagree).
• I am work etc. -> I work (I work).
• But where the verb to be is supposed to be, it is often omitted:
• I tired → I am tired.
• I afraid (I don't afraid / scared) of → I am afraid (I am not afraid / scared) of (I'm afraid / I'm afraid).

On the subject: Three words in English that Russian speakers constantly confuse

Mistakes are also common when the “wrong” word is used, “in the wrong” sense, the order of words in a sentence is changed. Here are the most beloved ones:

• To make photos instead of To take photos.
• I very much like / I very need instead of I like it very much / I need it very much (I really like / need it).
• He said what instead of He said that (he said that ...)
• I forgot my book at work instead of I left my book at work (I forgot my book at work).
• I like read books instead of I like reading books (I like reading books).
• Hardly (barely, barely, by force) instead of hard (diligently): He works hardly → He works hard. By confusing the words hardly and hard, you called the person a lazy person, not a hard worker!
• Using because instead of that's why, for example: She is ill because she stayed at home → She is ill that's why she stayed at home (that is, not “she got sick because she stayed at home”, but “stayed at home because she got sick ").

The following grammatical mistakes are often made:

• It's depend on → It depends on (it depends on ...)
• It's often rain → It often rains. In this context, rain is a verb.
• It's mean that → It means that (this means that ...)
• Supermarket it is a place where we can buy food → Supermarket is a place where we can buy food (a supermarket is a place where we can buy food).

Some common questions have short answers with an irregular auxiliary verb: Are you ready? - Yes, I do. → Are you ready? - Yes, I am. Remember that in the short answer (Yes / No) we use the auxiliary verb with which the question began: Do you speak English? - Yes, I do; Is he a student? - No, he isn't.

He looks like young → He looks young (he looks young). But like is used if a noun / pronoun comes next. For example: He looks like his father (he looks like his father).

I haven't got a car instead of I don't have a car / I haven't got a car (I don't have a car).

And, of course, the if (when) clause, which NEVER uses the future. That is, instead of If the weather will be fine, we'll go for a walk, you need to say If the weather is fine, we'll go for a walk.

On the subject: 24 English idioms almost everyone makes mistakes

Funny mistakes

All the errors mentioned above can be called serious, but there are also funny ones. For example, the expression I feel myself fine makes you think about the actions of the speaker, because in this combination, feel translates as “touch”, “touch” and the phrase I feel myself fine sounds rather strange, doesn't it? If you want to say that you feel great, then you should say I feel fine.

For some reason, problems arise when answering simple questions "How are you?", "What is the weather today?" Let's consider some examples:

• How are you? (how are you?) - I am good (I am good). Of course, you are a good person, but you need to answer: I am well / fine (I'm fine).
• How are you doing? (how are you?) - I am doing nothing (I am doing nothing). Nobody asks what you are doing. It is expected to hear how you are doing, ie I am well / fine.
• What is the weather like today? (what is the weather today?) - Yes, I like it (yes, I like it) → The weather is fine today (the weather is fine today).

Very often you can hear how everyone loves you and needs you:

• English needs me for my job (English needs me) instead of I need English for my job (I need English for work). English will do without you. English doesn't need you!
• These new shoes like me (these new shoes love me) instead of I like these new shoes (I love these new shoes).

There are also students with high or low self-esteem:

• I am interesting (I am interesting) instead of I am interested in it (I am interested).
• I am very good instead of I am very well.
• I am boring instead of I am bored.
• I am scary instead of I am scared.

And some went there I don't know where:

• I went to the magazine (magazine - magazine) instead of I went to the shop (I went to the store).

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York.

The 40 most common mistakes (wrong -> correct):

1. Colleague [kɔˈliːg] → Colleague [ˈkɔliːg]

2. Hotel → Hotel [həuˈtɛl]

3. Also [ˈaːlsəu] → Also [ˈɔːlsəu]

4. Since [saɪns] → Since [sɪns]

5. Policeman [ˈpɔliːsmən] → Policeman [pəˈliːsmən]

6. Society [ˈsɔsɪətɪ] → Society [səˈsaɪətɪ]

7. Stopped [stopɪd], worked [wəːkɪd] → Stopped [stopt], ​​worked [wəːkt]

8. I went to somewhere → I went somewhere

9. I phoned to him → I phoned him

10. I came to home → i came home

11. I went to holiday → I went on holiday

12. To influence smth → To influence smth

13. It depends on smth → It depends on smth

14. Discuss about smth → Discuss smth

15. Last week → Last week

16. In Monday → On monday

17. In 5 o'clock → At 5 o'clock

18. In the weekend → At the weekend

19. Childrens, peoples, mans, womens → Children, people, men, women

20. A lot of advice → A lot of advice

21. I agree → I agree

22. I tired → I'm tired

23. It's mean that → It means that

24. I afraid / I don't afraid → I am afraid / I am not afraid

25. I really like it → I like it very much

26. He said what → He said that

27. I haven't a car → I don't have a car / I haven't got a car

28. If the weather will be fine, we'll go for a walk → If the weather is fine, we'll go for a walk

29. I feel fine → And feel fine

30. I forgot my book at work → I left my book at work

31. It's often rain → It often rains

32. How are you? - I am good → How are you? - I am well / fine

33. How are you doing? - I am doing nothing → How are you doing? - I am well / fine

34. What is the weather like today? - Yes, I like it → What is the weather like today? - The weather is fine today

35. English needs me for my job → I need English for my job

36. These new shoes like me → I like these new shoes

37. I'm interesting → I am interested in it

38. I'm boring → I'm bored

39. I'm scary → I am scared

40. I went to the magazine → I went to the shop

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