This document provides examples of common errors in English grammar and vocabulary usage, along with corrections. It addresses issues such as incorrect prepositions, articles, collocations, word order, tense, false cognates, and how to properly describe something to another person. The document serves as a reference for learners of English to check their language usage and avoid typical mistakes.

1. Error Correction 3
Idioma Modern II
2012

2. 1. Prepositions
• The monument is near of my home.
• The monument is near to my home.
near to
far from

3. 2. Prepositions
• I am impressed for your idea.
• I am impressed by your idea.
be impressed by something

4. 3. Prepositions / Verb Forms
• The matches could be useful for light a
fire.
• The matches could be useful to light a
fire.
• The matches could be useful for
lighting a fire.
be + adjective + to (verb)
be + adjective + for (verb –ing)

5. 4. Articles
• I am very interested in the history.
• I am very interested in history.
history (general) takes no article
a specific period can take an article e.g. The
history of ancient Egypt is fascinating.

6. 5. Collocations
• I will talk about how to survive
changing your home.
• I will talk about how to survive moving
house.
move house = go to live in a different house
change (things in) your house =
redecorate / renovate e.g. I’m redecorating,
I’m going to completely change my
apartment!

7. 6. Recommend…
• I recommend pay attention to this
advice.
• I recommend that you pay attention to
this advice.
• I recommend paying attention to this
advice.
recommend that + subject + verb
recommend + verb -ing

8. 7. False friends
• Something rare happened to me...
• Something strange happened to me…
– rare = scarce / precious / unknown e.g.
She suffers from a rare disease, doctors
don’t know what to do. Diamonds are not
the rarest stone there is.
– strange = surprising / odd / unusual e.g.
Snow in July? That’s strange!

9. 8. Time expressions
• I bought a house for ten years.
• I bought a house ten years ago.
• I was househunting for ten years, it
was so hard to find the perfect place!
ago = a specific time e.g. Ten years ago it
was the year 2002.
for (ten years) = period of time

10. 9. False friends / vocabulary
• The sheet of plastic would be
interesting.
• The sheet of plastic would be useful.
interesting refers to something you want to
study / learn about / watch / listen to e.g.
That’s an interesting movie, I highly
recommend it.
useful refers to something practical e.g. The
sheet of plastic would be useful to protect
us from the rain.

11. 10. Collocation / false friends
• Insect bites could be an important
problem.
• Insect bites could be a major
problem.
important = something positive / necessary
e.g. Penicillen was an important
discovery. It’s important to eat healthily.
problem = something negative. You can say
a big problem / a major problem / a
significant problem

12. 11. Word order / tense
• Do you know to which place I refer?
• Do you know which place I am
referring to?
at the moment, present continuous (e.g.
talking in a story in LangBlog)

13. 12. Describe
• I’m going to describe you a special
place.
• I’m going to describe a special place
to / for you.
– describe a person = give a description of
that person e.g. I would describe you as
a very patient person.
– describe something to someone = give a
description of that thing e.g. I described
the Pyramids to / for my classmates.