Don't say it!

130 common mistakes

35 basic mistakes to avoid. Check in the sections to see why
they're wrong.

don't say/write say/write see section

Look - it rains. Look - it's raining 461-464
It's often raining here. It often rains here. 461-464
When I was 20 I was smoking. When I was 20 I smoked. 422
I have seen Louis yesterday. I saw Louis yesterday. 456
We're living here since April. We've been living here since April. 460
I'll phone you when I will arrive. I'll phone you when I arrive. 212
I'm not believing him. I don't believe him. 471
I am born in Chicago. I was born in Chicago. 108
My sister has 15 years. My sister is 15 (years old). 32
I have cold in this house. I am cold in this house. 92
I can to swim. I can swim. 121
I must see the dentist yesterday. I had to see the dentist yesterday. 358
I want go home. I want to go home. 613
I came here for study English. I came here to study English. 289
I drove there without to stop. I drove there without stopping. 298
Where I can buy stamps? Where can I buy stamps? 480
Is ready my new office? Is my new office ready? 480
I'm no asleep. I'm not asleep. 382
She looked, but she didn't see ... she didn't see anything. / 370
nothing. ... she saw nothing.
Where is station? Where is the station? 62
My sister is photographer. My sister is a photographer. 62
You speak a very good English. You speak very good English. 149
The life is difficult. Life is difficult. 68
I haven't got some free time I haven't got any free time today. 547
today.
Everybody were late. Everybody was late. 548
It is more cold today. It is calder today. 137
It's too much hot in this house. It's too hot in this house. 595
The man which lives here is The man who lives here is 494
from Greece. from Greece.
The people in this town is The people in this town are 524
very friendly. very friendly.
She never listens me. She never listens to me. 449
We went at the seaside on We went to the seaside on 80
Sunday. Sunday.
I like very much skiing. I very much like skiing. / I like 611
skiing very much.
This soup isn't enough hot. This soup isn't hot enough. 187
I gave to her my address. I gave her my address. 610
I have done a mistake. I have made a mistake. 160

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35 mistakes that intermediate students often make.
Check in the sections to see why they're wrong.

don't say/write say/write see section

I promise I pay you tomorrow. I promise I'll pay you tomorrow. 217
This is the first time I'm here. · .. the first time I've been here. 591
I've been here since three days. · .. for three days. 208
If I'll have time, I'll go home. If I have time, ... 257
If I knew the price, I will tell you. · .. I would tell you. 258
He said me that he was Chinese. He told me that he was Chinese. 504
She told me she has a headache. She told me she had a headache. 275
There's the man that I work for There's the man that I work for. 494
him.
I've told you all what I know. · .. all (that) I know. 494
Although it was late, but she Although it was late, she went 511
went out. out.
You have better to see the doctor. You had better see the doctor. 230
I use to play tennis at weekends. I play tennis at weekends. 604
It can rain this evening. It may/might/could rain ... 345
My parents wanted that I study. My parents wanted me to study. 283
You must stop to smoke. · .. stop smoking. 299
I look forward to see you. I look forward to seeing you. 298
I'm boring in the lessons. I'm bored in the lessons. 409
He has much money. He has a lot of / plenty of money. 357
Most of people agree with me. Most people ... 356
I looked at me in the mirror. I looked at myself ... 493
We waited during six hours. · .. for six hours. 167
I like eating chocolate milk. · .. milk chocolate. 385
Come here and look at that paper. Come here and look at this paper. 589
We go there every Saturdays. · .. every Saturday. 193
Which is the biggest city of · .. the biggest city in the world? 139
the world?
I'm thinking to change my job. I'm thinking of changing my job. 588
Can you give me an information? · .. some information? 148
He's married with a doctor. He's married to a doctor. 449
Can you mend this until Tuesday? · .. by Tuesday? 602
There's a hotel in front of · .. opposite our house. 402
our house.
I like warm countries, as Spain. · .. warm countries, like Spain. 326
Please explain me what you want. · .. explain to me ... 198
When you come, take your bike. · .. bring your bike. 112
My brother has got a new work. ... a new job. 148
He's Dutch, or better Belgian. He's Dutch, or rather Belgian. 157

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Even advanced students make mistakes. Here are 35.
Check in the sections to see why they're wrong.

don't say/write say/write see section

I'll ask you in case I need help. I'll ask you if I need help. 271
I object to tell them my age. I object to telling them my age. 298
I like the 60s music. I like 60s music. / the music of the 60s. 69
ten thousand, a hundred and six ten thousand, one hundred . . . 389
'Who's that?' ~ 'He's John.' · .. 'It's John.' 428
I don't like to be shouted. I don't like to be shouted at. 416
It's ages since she's arrived. It's ages since she arrived. 522
The police is looking for him. The police are looking. . . 524
Prices are surely rising fast. Prices are certainly rising fast. 573
I have big respect for her ideas. · .. great respect. . . 106
I don't like nowadays fashions. · .. today's/modern fashions. 388
She passed her exam, what · .. which surprised everybody. 494
surprised everybody.
I've good knowledge of German. . .. a good knowledge of German. 149
Finally! Where have you been? At last! . . . 204
I'll be home since 3 0' clock. · .. from 3 0' clock. 308
We waited one and a half hour. · .. one and a half hours. 231
It's time they go home. It's time they went home. 306
I'll see you a few days later. · .. in a few days. 315
All along the centuries, there All through the centuries . . . 45
have been wars.
I want a completely other colour. . .. a completely different colour. 54
Let's go and have coffee · .. at Marcel's. 80
to Marcel's.
That's mine - I saw it at first! · .. I saw it first! 84
Switzerland is among Germany, ... between Germany, France, 105
France, Austria and Italy. Austria and Italy.
According to me, it's a bad film. In my opinion / I think. . . 8
It was a too good party to miss. · . . too good a party . . . 14
Whole Paris was celebrating. The whole of Paris . . . 40
I nearly wish I'd stayed at home. I almost wish . . . 43
One speaks Italian in my town. We/They speak. . . 396
The girl wants an own room. · .. her own room. 405
Couldn't you help me, please? Could you ... ? / You couldn't ... , 368
could you?
I'll try to know when it starts. I'll try to find out when it starts. 313
I love this so beautiful country. · .. this country - it's so beautiful. 538
It's getting winter. It's getting to be winter. 223
Our flat is decorated this week. · .. is being decorated. . . 412
The Mont Blanc is 4808m high. Mont Blanc is . . . 70

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Even very advanced students can make mistakes - nobody's
perfect! Here are 25. Do you know why they're wrong?
Check in the sections.

don't say/write say/write see section

No doubt the world is There is no doubt that the 377
getting warmer. world is getting warmer.
I can't think of anybody whom I can't think of anybody to invite. 498
to invite.
My father, whom we hope will My father, who we hope. . . 498
be out of hospital soon, ...
Would you follow me wherever · .. wherever I went? 580
I would go?
We all have to live in the society. · .. in society. 68
The number of the unemployed The number of unemployed. . . 70
is going up.
She was showing tiredness signs. · .. signs of tiredness. 382
She works the hardest when She works hardest. . . 141
she's working for her family.
I'm thankful for your help. I'm grateful. . . 582
We talked about if it was ready. · .. about whether it was ready. 453
What live in those little holes? What lives . . . 532
Some people are interested, · .. the majority don't care. 526
but the majority doesn't care.
It mustn't be the postman at It can't be the postman. . . 359
the door. It's only 7 0' clock.
A third of the students is · .. are from abroad. 389
from abroad.
ExceptAngie, everybody was there. Except for Angie . . . 194
I wish you felt / would feel I hope you feel . . . 630
better tomorrow.
The train may be late, as it · .. as happened yesterday. 581
happened yesterday.
When I wrote my letters, I did When I had written . . . 424
some gardening.
When I had opened the door, When I opened. . . 424
the children ran in.
Stefan can never return back to · .. return to his country. / ... go back to 87
his country. his country.
Will you go and see me when I'm · .. come and see me . . . 134
in hospital?
May you go camping this Do you think you'll go . . . 339
summer?
My cousin works for the NATO. · .. for NATO. 2
My wife will be angry unless I'm · .. if I'm not home. . . 601
home by 7.00.
We were poured water on. We had water poured on us. / 416
Water was poured on us.
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