25/08/2025
10 Sneaky Mistakes English Learners Make (And How to Outsmart Them!) by Didcatique Tutorial.
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1. *Preposition Puzzle*: Don't get tripped up by prepositions!
- Mistake: "I'm good in math."
- Fix: "I'm good at math."
- Pro Tip: Remember, it's "good at" for skills, "interested in" for hobbies, and "depend on" for reliance.
2. *The Article Slip-Up*: Don't forget those tiny words!
- Mistake: "I bought new phone."
- Fix: "I bought a new phone."
- Pro Tip: Use "a/an" for general statements and "the" for specific ones.
3. *Countable vs. Uncountable Conundrum*: Know your nouns!
- Mistake: "I have many homeworks."
- Fix: "I have a lot of homework" or "many assignments."
- Pro Tip: Some nouns like "homework," "advice," and "information" are uncountable.
4. *Verb Tense Trouble*: Get the timing right!
- Mistake: "I live here since 2018."
- Fix: "I have lived here since 2018."
- Pro Tip: Use the present perfect tense with "since" and "for."
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5. *Subject-Verb Sync*: Make sure they match!
- Mistake: "She go to work early."
- Fix: "She goes to work early."
- Pro Tip: Remember, "He/She/It" takes a verb with an "s" in the present simple tense.
6. *The "Very" Overload*: Mix it up!
- Mistake: "very very big"
- Fix: "huge" or "enormous"
- Pro Tip: Choose stronger adjectives to add flavor to your language.
7. *Say vs. Tell*: Know the difference!
- Mistake: "He said me the truth."
- Fix: "He told me the truth" or "He said, 'It's true.'"
- Pro Tip: "Tell" is for direct objects (people), while "say" is for quoted words or "that" clauses.
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8. *Stative Verb Slip*: Use them correctly!
- Mistake: "I'm not understanding."
- Fix: "I don't understand."
- Pro Tip: Stative verbs like "know," "like," and "believe" usually don't use the "-ing" form.
9. *Question Order*: Get it right!
- Mistake: "You are coming?"
- Fix: "Are you coming?"
- Pro Tip: Swap the subject and auxiliary verb in questions (Do/Does/Did/Is/Are/Have/Will).
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10. *Collocation Confusion*: Learn the right combinations!
- Mistake: "Make a photo."
- Fix: "Take a photo."
- Pro Tip: Common collocations include "do homework," "make a decision," and "take a break."
Master these tips, and you'll be well on your way to speaking English like a pro!
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