Common mistakes in English

(by Spanish speakers)

1.
2. 3. 4.

Direct translations
False Cognates Common grammar mistakes Pronunciation

Direct translations

Which of these is NOT correct?

a)
b)

Now Im living in Colombia

In this moment Im trying to organize a trip to Italy I am currently studying modern languages. I am going to the store right now.

c)

d)

In this moment
This makes sense in Spanish as en este momento, but in English we say

AT the moment
e.g. Sorry, Im busy at the moment At the moment Im trying to organize a trip to Italy Other ways to say en este momento: I am currently studying modern languages. I am going to the store right now.

In some occasions
O The correct way to say this is

ON some occasions

Related with/Married with

O The correct prepositions are:

Related to

Married to

We can realize
O We can realize or We could realize
O When using realize in the past in English,

we do not use it with can.

We realized

Do you know New York?

"Well yeah I know ABOUT New York, I know WHERE it is, I have HEARD of it..." Since we don't have conocer, to "know" something translates here as "saber". When talking about places, you should say "have you been to___?" to ask if a person has visited a place. Have you been to New York? Have you been to that new restaurant?

Which of these is NOT correct?

a)
b) c) d)

The party will be really fun.

Lets make a fun party! I had fun in Parque Tayrona. Did you have fun last night?

Make fun
One does not "make fun".

You say "to have fun" e.g. "we had fun" or some thing can "be fun" e.g. It was fun Do/make/have are often confused. We made a party is not correct.

Which of these is NOT correct?

a)
b) c)

We decided to go to the movies.

We settled on a decision. We made the decision to move out of the house. You two must arrive at a decision before we leave.

d)

Make a question
One does not make a question, but rather ask a question. The teacher would like the students to ask a question.

Arrive at a decision
We say Make a decision Decide

Story vs. History

Story is a tale that you relate. History is the academic study of the events in a countrys timeline.
"I am studying History at University" "Britain has a very interesting history" "Sophie just told me a funny story"

I am agree
A common example occurs when learners use I am agree instead of I agree because they have too literally translated the sentence estoy de acuerdo from Spanish.
I thought the test the teacher gave us was too hard. I agree.

The TV doesnt function

We normally say something doesnt work rather than it doesnt function!

False Cognates

In my career
In English, your career is an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life, usually with opportunities for progress. It's confusing because of the word carrera in Spanish. For what we study, we say 'degree' or 'major' (US).
"He had a great career as a journalist" "I am enjoying my degree in English At college my major was Spanish

Common false cognates

Spanish false cognates quiz

Grammatical mistakes

Which of these is not correct?

a)
b)

People say that she is very intelligent.

The people thinks that it rains every day in Bogota. Everybody says that Andres DC is the best club in town.

c)

d)

Nobody wants to go to the soccer match with me.

People thinks
People counts as a 3rd person PLURAL, not singular. Everybody, Everyone, Nobody, No-one etc. count as 3rd person SINGULAR.

People think
e.g. People say that hes an idiot Everybody says that he is an idiot Nobody is saying that youre an idiot

My fathers
This should be "my parents unless you have two dads. My brothers" should be "my siblings, unless they are all boys. Im going to visit my grandparents

You have reason

This is not "You are right!
"This does not have sense" - "This does not MAKE sense "I have X years old" - "I am X years old"

"I have hungry I am hungry

A man which
O When referring to a person, we do not say

a man which a girl which

O When referring to a person the word WHO

is used a man who a woman who

Which of these is NOT correct?

If you didnt hear properly/ didnt understand
a) b) c) d) e)

Sorry, what? Excuse me? Tell me? What? Pardon?

Explain me
O Explain this TO me O Explain this

Tell me?
If you didnt hear properly/ didnt understand, the normal response would be: O What? O Sorry? O Excuse me? O Pardon?

Which of these is NOT correct?

a)
b) c) d)

I ate way too much food.

My mother loves me so much. I love my boyfriend too much. We have too much work to do.

Too much
My mother loves me too much. I like Hollywood films too much. Too much/ Too many is negative, meaning overly much.
There is too much traffic in Bogota I like Hollywood films a lot My mum really loves me

Childrens
The plural of child is children
Other unlikely plurals: sheep, fish, thesis/theses, data

He/She, His/hers
It's important to remember this! Equally, "hers"/"his. For Spanish speakers there can be some confusion due to the use of su. In English you must identify the gender.
Did you go to Carolines party? Yes, I went to her party. It was fun! The teacher said that he wants us to arrive on time.

For that reason

When you have just finished writing about something, it should be "because of THIS"... Equally, you can use thus:
Numbers of school attendees have dropped; thus the government has launched an initiative

Are you boring?

A boring person makes those around them bored. "I am bored" - means that I feel bored "Are you bored?" "Am I boring you?" - Am I making you bored?
This lesson is boring. I am bored.

English class is very funny

Funny means you are laughing at it! It should be "English class is very fun". "The teacher is really funny".

We went to a party, which was really fun. Hugo was there and he was telling funny stories!

Pronunciation
Phil/feel, beach/bitch

If the base verb ends in one of these sounds:

/t/ /d/ __________ /p/ /f/ /s/ /S/ /tS/ /k/ _____________ Other sounds

example base verb*:

Want wanted

Pronunciation: /id/

End ended ____________________________ _________________ ___ /t/ Hope hoped Laugh Fax Wash Watch laughed faxed washed watched

Like liked _________________ ____________________________ /d/ _ Play Played Allow Beg Allowed Begged

Sounds
O Sh/Ch

Sheep, cheap, shore, chore

O T/Th

Tree, three, mat, math

O Z sound ending

Boys, girls, bees, please