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ENG_C2.0201G
www.lingoda.com
Grammar & Structure
Common Mistakes
In English
Level C1
ENG_C2.0201G
Grammar Basics

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LESSON NAME - Outline
Content
In this lesson you will overview various common mistakes in English.
Learning Outcomes
•Learn to differentiate various mistakes and solutions
•Use mistakes in sentences to help develop familiarity
•Discuss your opinion on mistakes in English

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Exercises
Writing
How many mistakes can you find in the
paragraph below?
• People don’t take so much care when their
writing, as long as it sounds ok in there
heads.
• It could be that nobody ever bothered to
correct you. Somebody should of said
something sooner.
• Of course, its also possible that your just
lazy and don’t care.

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Vocabulary
It’s
Its
Loose
Lose
Affect
Effect
Lend
Borrow
Its’
Could of
Could have
Commonly Mistaken Words

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English Mistakes Intro
Do you remember?
English Mistakes
To the non-native speaker, English can be deceiving. There are some words that
look dangerously similar, yet have very different meanings. Then there are some
words which sound very similar, but mean something very different.
Example:
I could’ve gone on the trip if I didn’t lose my ticket!
It’s a shame that the bird left its babies alone in a tree.
The global warming effect probably won’t affect Earth for another 100
years.

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It’s Its and Its’
Remember these?
It‘s, Its and Its’
It’s
• Contraction of “It is” or “It has”
Examples:
• It’s already 5:30!!
• It’s been ages since I’ve seen her!
Its
• Used when it is not a contraction, or
in the possessive form
Examples:
• My car is new but its wheels are
used.
• The bird was blue but its wings were
white.
Its’
• Never correct
• No examples because it’s never
correct.
• Don’t use!
• Stay away!
Why?
• Possessive pronouns don’t have
apostrophes (‘)
• Their spelling already indicates a
possessive
• There is never a need to add an
apostrophe to show possession

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It’s/Its Completion
1) It_ the 3rd time that my cat ate it_ toy. Maybe I should feed it_
more.
2) It_ has it_ good points and it_ bad points. I say, buy it_!
3) It_ reduced our electricity bill by 30%!
4) I saw his garden but it_ wasn’t looking it_ best.
Example:
It’s not me, it’s you!

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Affect Vs. Effect
Please note
Affect Vs. Effect
Effect= (n) Result brought by a cause or something that gives the
impression/sense of something else
Affect= (v) to influence on or to touch/move emotions
• Your hateful words don’t affect me.
• The movie had a lot of visual effects.
• The book affected me in so many ways.
• The effects of recession weren’t as bad as economists thought.
Examples

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Exercises
Writing
Insert the correct word, affect or effect.
Example:
The speech had a positive effect on the kids.
1)You have to watch it on a big screen to get the full ______.
2)This scandal can ________ his chances of re-election.
3)This changes won’t take ________ until next week.
4) His tears can’t __________ the jury, he’s obviously guilty.
5) Every cause has an __________, it’s science!

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Time Phrase Positivity
Please note
Could Have vs. Could Of
It’s could have! Could of isn’t even usable English.
When speaking could have can sound like could of.
But it’s actually written as “Could have” or “Could‘ve”
Examples
I could have been a contender... but I
became a teacher!
She could‘ve gotten free food is she
arrived earlier
I could‘ve sworn this happened
before, it’s like deja-vu!

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Lend Vs. Borrow
Please note
Lend Vs. Borrow
To lend is to give someone something and expect that it will be returned
To borrow is to take something from someone and expecting to return it
Examples
I left my wallet at home! Can you lend me $5 for a sandwich?
I left my wallet at home! Can I borrow $5 for a sandwich?
Libraries lend and people borrow books.
Notice that this is very often mixed up by non-native
speakers. They are also opposites!

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Exercise
Speaking
Insert the correct word, lend or borrow.
Example:
He borrowed $5 from me and still hasn’t paid me back!
1. Can I ___________ your phone? I don’t have one.
2. Can you please ________ me your pen for two seconds?
3. _______ me a dollar, please!
4. 4) I will ________ you some money if you pay me back.
5. 5) You can ________ money from a bank if you return it with
interest.

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Lose Vs. Loose
Please note
Lose Vs. Loose
Examples
You have nothing to lose, it’s a win-win!
When I was younger I wore very loose fit clothes.
If I play ping-pong with my left hand I will probably lose.
The dog is loose and we can’t find it!
Notice that the pronunciation is similar but Lose has a “Z“ sound while
Loose has more of an “S” sound.

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Exercises
Writing
Insert the correct word, lose or loose.
Example:
I ride a skateboard loose so it’s easier to turn.
1. The rule of most tools is right to make it tight and left to make it _______.
2. I always _______ interest in girls when they tell me they have a child.
3. I always __________ my earrings when I’m sleeping.
4. You need to go to the dentist, that tooth is _________.
5. I don’t gamble because I almost always __________.

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Correcting Sentences
Speaking
Correct the sentences.
1. I can’t believe its not butter!
2. You will loose my keys just like you lost yours!
3. I will borrow you money and return it on Monday!
4. The special affects effected me!
5. She could of been prettier if her hair wasn‘t cut so short.

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Exercises
Writing
How often do you understand English when it
isn’t technically correct?
Example:
Since my English has gotten better and I’m not a native speaker myself,
I recognize errors that I used to make and can understand what the
people are saying. Most of the time. If their pronunciation is way off
then that’s when I can’t understand it.

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Exercises
Writing
Match the correct sentences
1. Can you lend me
2. How can you lose
3. No, you can’t borrow
4. The serial killer
escaped jail and is on
a. my toothbrush!
b. on the loose!
c. your lighter?
d. to the worst team in the
division?

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Exercises
Writing
Write 5 sentences using any of the commonly
mistaken words.
Example:
If I didn’t have to work on Sunday, I could’ve watched the
game!
1. …
2. …
3. …
4. …
5. …

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Exercises
Writing
What other common mistakes in English can
you think of/come across when you speak?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

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Exercises
Reading
Read the following text
So many mistakes we make when we learn a language. But is
that such a bad thing? I mean, the listener seems to
understand us, so that’s important right? Perhaps we place
too much of an emphasis on being correct that we don’t
focus on the first rule of communication, which is to be
understood. It reminds me of vendors in Thailand. They don’t
speak correct English. They’re grammar is non-existent for
they only use verbs, nouns and adjectives yet they can easily
be understood by anyone who knows these words in English.
It’s quite surprising how that works! Perhaps they always
focused on being understood rather than being correct.

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Exercises
Reading
Read the continuation of the text.
“I sell you. 10 dollar. Very pretty. You buy. Low price. Okay. 5
dollar. Nice. Yes.” Now of course, not only was that not even
proper English since it was riddled with mistakes but it shows
us that even with mistakes, the message is totally clear. They
will sell it to us for 10 dollars and it’s very pretty for a low
price. Now some common mistakes could involve being
completely off like the infamous “I borrow you $5 and you pay
me tomorrow” but those just take some practice to master. As
a whole, mistakes where the context is understood, aren’t too
bad of mistakes, now are they? As a Bangkok vendor might say
“You understand, Me English, Very nice, you buy, $10”

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Exercises
Speaking
Inspired by the previous reading, give your
opinion to the question:
Is it more important to be correct or just be understood?
Example:
I think it doesn‘t matter if you’re correct or not, as long
as people understand what you wanted them to
understand then you’re fine. Lots of kids in my high
school spoke like “Who that boy is?” and of course it’s
not correct but I still understood it. If you can understand
anyone with incorrect English, it’s fine to me.

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Exercises
Speaking
What do you think is the best way to fix
mistakes in English?
Example:
The best way is to write them all down in a notebook like
twenty times and after the 15th time, you’ll no longer make the
mistake. It’s all about repetition!

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Thank you
We would like to thank
the following sources for their content
Images Shutterstock – ID 155014967
Shutterstock – ID 154179290

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