Common Mistakes/Errors

TASK ONE:

8. James had ________ with his friend today. 

1. I am very ________ about going to Mexico.
   the lunch
   excited
   lunch
   exciting
   on lunch
   excitable
9. My brother ________ know how to ski. 
2. One of my teeth is ________.
   not
   lose
   don't
   loose
   doesn't
   loss
10. ________ Polish people eat meat.
3. I always get ________ when I have to speak in
front of a large crowd.    Most

   embarrassed    Almost

   ashamed    The most

   shame TASK TWO:

4. I am an ________ person. I don't like to rely on 1. This is such an ________ time for me.
others.
   exciting
   independence
   excited
   independent
   excitable
   dependent
2. I'd rather ________ a book than surfing the web.
5. This news might ________ the outcome of the
election.     reading

   inflict    be reading

   effect    read

   affect 3. She is very rich. She has ________ money.

6. I was very ________, but I pretended that I was    a lot of

interested.
   much
   boredom
   lots
   boring
4. Sorry, I can't visit you on Saturday. ________
   bored dinner with some friends.

7. Can you ________ me one of your pens?    I'll have

   lend    I have

   borrowed    I'm having

   borrow
5. One of my two sisters is coming to visit tomorrow.
________ is staying at home.  1. Which sentence sounds more natural?

   Another one    In former times, Poland was a

communist country.
   The other one
   Poland used to be a communist country.
   Other one

2. Which sentence is more correct?

6. P1: What language do you speak at home? P2: I
________ Korean at home.    He's a good friend of mine.

   am speaking    He's a good colleague of mine.

   do speak
3. Which sentence sounds more natural?
   speak
   Tom signed the reverse of the check.

7. When did she get married ________ him?     Tom signed the back of the check.

   to
4. Which sentence is correct?
   with
   The American hymn is called "The Star
Spangled Banner."
   on

   The American national anthem is called

8. I'm reading ________. 
"The Star Spangled Banner."
   the Los Angeles Times
5. Which sentence is correct?
   Los Angeles Times
   Don't drive in the passing lane!
   a Los Angeles Times
   Don't drive in the passing line!
9. Why ________ tell me? 
6. Which sentence is correct?
   you not
   This is a two-lanes highway.
   didn't you
   This is a two-lane highway.
   you didn't
7. Do people still often use "it's raining cats
10. You must ________ the book that you borrowed and dogs" to mean "it's raining heavily"? 
from the library.
   Not really. It's an antiquated
   return back expression.

   return again    Yes, it is still used very often.

   return 8. Which sentence is correct? 

   I am 37 years old.

TASK THREE:    I am 37 years.

These exercises will help you eliminate some of the 9. Which sentence is correct? 
common mistakes made by people who study English
as a second language. Do these practice tests and    I have 37 years.
pretty soon you too will sound like a native speaker.
   I'm 37.
For each of the questions below, choose the most
natural-sounding option: 
 10. Which sentence is correct?
   We talked about a lot of topics.
   Mary is a single again.
   We discussed about a lot of topics.
   Mary is single again.

TASK FOUR:

1. Which sentence sounds more natural? TASK FIVE:

   The flight to Bangkok takes 12 hours.

Two words or one?
   The flight to Bangkok lasts 12 hours.
1. They used to live together, but now they live
____________.
2. Which sentence is correct?

   a part
   This movie takes 3 hours.

   apart
   This movie lasts 3 hours.

2. I gave him ____________ of my inheritance.

3. Which sentence sounds more natural?

   a part
   I will come for you at 7.

   apart
   I'll pick you up at 7.

3. That is an ____________ different problem.

4. Which sentence is correct?

   all together
   Atlanta is not as big as New York City.

   altogether
   Atlanta is not so big as New York City.

4. They were sitting ____________ in the living

5. Which sentence is correct?
room.
   My bank is near the park.
   altogether
   My bank is nearby the park.
   all together
6. Which sentence is correct?
5. I would be able to single out ____________ song
   I like looking at films. of theirs that I like best.

   I like watching films.    any one

   anyone
7. Which is better? 

   My boyfriend is very handsome. 6. I don't see ____________ here that I know.

   My boyfriend is very pretty.    any one

   anyone
8. Which sentence is correct? 

   I am born in Taipei. 7. He spoke to me in ____________ that made me

feel very special. 
   I was born in Taipei.
   a way
9. Which sentence is correct? 
   away
   We're making a party this Saturday.
8. He will be ____________ for the next two weeks.
   We're having a party this Saturday.
   away
10. Which sentence is correct?
   a way    Maybe

9. I'm ____________ tired.     May be

   all ready 9. ____________ go to the beach. 

   already    Lets

10. I'm ____________ to go.    Let's

   already 10. He always ____________ me borrow his books.

   all ready    let's

TASK SIX:    lets

Two words or one?

1. We have to ____________ our equipment.

   setup

   set up

2. The ____________ that you have here is quite

nice.

   setup

   set up

3. Let's get together ____________.

   some day

   someday

4. Let's get together ____________ this week.

   someday

   some day

5. ____________ your books.

   Pick up

   Pickup

6. I'll come get you in my ____________. ( = truck)

   pick up

   pickup

7. He ____________ the best student in class. 

   may be

   maybe

8. ____________ he doesn't understand us.