University of Algiers 2

Department of French Module: English

Level: 1st year

Common Grammar mistakes

Some grammar mistakes are more embarrassing than others. The list below starts with the ones
that you will not, ever; get away with and ends with the ones that you will probably get away
with.

"You are what you write."

 Mistakes that will damage your credibility:

1. You're or Your?
What is the difference between "you're" and "your"?
 "You're" is short form for "you are."
 "Your" shows that something belongs to "you" or is related to "you" (e.g., your
car, your father).

2. It's or Its?
What is the difference between "its" and "it's"?

"It's" is short form for "it is" or "it has." For example:
 It's amazing.
(It is amazing.)
 It's got to be a joke.
(It has got to be a joke.)
"Its" is the possessive form of "it." For example:
 I can see its eyes.

(The word "its" (without an apostrophe) is a possessive determiner.)

 3. Too or To?
What is the difference between "too" and "to"?

"Too" has two meanings:

 (1) "Too" means "as well." For example:
 Your eye is swollen. Your lip is swollen too.
 (2) "Too" conveys the idea of "in excess." For example:
 Your cat is too fat.
"To" also has two means
 (1) "To" is a preposition. For example:
 Give it to him.
 (2) "To" shows the infinitive form of a verb. For example:
 I want to run

4. Who's or Whose?
What is the difference between "who's" and "whose"?
 "Who's" is short for "who is" or "who has."
(This is a 100% rule - it has no other uses.)
 "Whose" is a bit more complicated. It sits before a noun to state (or ask) to whom
it belongs. For example:
 I know a man whose dog can say sausages.
 Whose dog is this?
 5. Than or Then?
What is the difference between "than" and "then"?
 "Than" is used to introduce a comparison. For example:
 She was smarter thanyou.
("Than" is used with a comparison.)
 "Then" relates to time or means "in that case." For example:
 I was fitter then.
(Here, "then" relates to a past time.)
 Run to the lake thenjump in.
(Here, "then" relates to a future time.)
 If you're not happy, thenleave.
(Here, "then" means "in that case.")
  Mistakes that will make you look careless:
1) “i.e.” and “e.g”
What the difference between “i.e.” and “e.g.”?
 "Eg" means "for example" (from the Latin exempli gratia).
 "Ie" means "in other words" or "that is" (from the Latin id est).
If you're unsure whether to use "eg" or "ie," use "for example" (to test for "eg") or "in other
words" (to test for "ie"), and you will naturally choose the right one. Remember that "eg"
just gives an example or some examples, but "ie" restates the point or spells out the whole list
(not just an example).

2) Advise or Advice?
What is the difference between "advise" and "advice"?
 Advise. "Advise" is a verb. The verb "to advise" means "to give advice" or "to
notify." For example:
 Please advise me. I need you to advise me.
(Please give me advice. I need you to give me advice.)
 I advised him I was leaving.
(I notified him I was leaving.)
 Advice. "Advice" is a noun. It means "help" or "a suggestion for a beneficial
course of action." For example:
 Please give me your advice. I need your advice.

3) Loose or Lose?
What is the difference between "loose" and "lose"?

"Loose" means not tight or free from constraint. For example:

 loose trousers, loose shirt, loose lips
"To lose" means:

(1) To fail to keep.

 I will lose weight but also my hair.
(2) To fail to win.
 I'm expected to lose this match.
(3) To fail to make or keep money.
 I will lose a fortune.

4) Wether, Weather, and Whether

What is the difference between "wether," "weather," and "whether"?
 Wether. A wether is a castrated ram (male sheep).
 Weather. Weather refers to the state of the atmosphere (e.g., temperature, wind,
clouds, rain).
 Whether. Whether is a conjunction with a similar meaning to "if" (e.g., I wonder
whether it will rain.)