Speak English With Vanessa

Free PDF Worksheet

5 Speaking Mistakes to Avoid
Dear English Learner,

Get ready to speak confidently with these tips for speaking great English. I recommend reading
the worksheet out loud and using the blank space on the last page to answer my challenge
question. Thanks so much for learning English with me!

Your teacher,
Vanessa
Mistake #1
Loose vs Lose
Solution: “Lose” means to misplace or not be able to find something
“Loose” means not tight or close fitting; or something that moves easily

Example: My son has a loose tooth. I hope he doesn’t lose it while he’s eating!
If your shoe is loose, you might lose it!

Quiz*: 1. The shirt was too big for her. It was very (loose, lose).
2. I’ll let you borrow my favorite shirt, but don’t (loose, lose) it!

*Quiz answers are on the last page.

Mistake #2
Yesterday night vs Last night
Solution: The correct term is “last night”

Example: I stayed up too late last night and I’m exhausted today.
What did you do last night?

Quiz: I went to the movie theater (yesterday night, last night).

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 Mistake #3
Remember vs Remind
Solution: “To remember” is the opposite of forgetting; to think about the past
“To remind” is always used with a pronoun (remind me, remind him, etc.)

Example: Remember that great concert we went to? This song reminded me of it.
Will you remind me when the meeting starts? I can’t remember.

Quiz: 1. (Remind, Remember) me to buy milk when I go to the store later.

2. Do you (remind, remember) when this project is due?

Mistake #4
Tell vs Say
Solution: “Tell” is often used with a pronoun directly afterwards (tell him, tell me, etc.)
“Say” is used with no pronoun or used with “to + pronoun” (say to him, etc)

Example: Tell me what you’re thinking.

What did your boss say (to you) when you asked for a raise?

Quiz: 1. (Tell, say) me the truth–does this outfit look OK?

2. I can’t remember what he (told, said) to me.

Mistake #5
There is vs There are
Solution: “There is” refers to one thing; “There are” refers to several things
***NOTE: It is 100% OK to use the contraction “there’s” for singular and plural things.

​Example: There’s so many dishes in my sink right now!

​ (conversational, grammatically incorrect, but 100% allowed)
​ There are so many dishes in my sink right now!
​ (written/formal, grammatically correct)
​

​Quiz: (There’s, There are) many reasons to learn English.

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 Quiz Answers
Mistake #1
1. The shirt was too big for her. It was very loose.
2. I’ll let you borrow my favorite shirt, but don’t lose it!

Mistake #2
I went to the movie theater last night.

Mistake #3
1. Remind me to buy milk when I go to the store later.
2. Do you remember when this project is due?

Mistake #4
1. Tell me the truth–does this outfit look OK?
2. I can’t remember what he said to me.
​
​Mistake #5
​There’s OR There are many reasons to learn English.

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 ​Vanessa’s Challenge Question

Use the space below to write a few sentences answering this question. Try to use 3
tricky words from this lesson. Tell me how you remember new vocabulary.

Sample answer: When I am learning new vocabulary, I say the word out loud, then I
write it down. I try to think of an image that will help me remember the word and what it
means. There’s so many ways to learn new vocabulary!

Enjoying my English lessons??

>>Click here to start speaking fluent English with me!<<

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