Common English Mistakes Explained With Examples : Over 300 Mistakes

We say stop/prevent someone (from) doing something, (NOT stop/prevent someone to do something).

She couldn't stop her baby from crying. (Don’t say: She couldn't stop her baby to cry).

I stopped her from killing herself. (Don’t say: I stopped her to kill herself).

I can't prevent him from drinking. (Don’t say: I can't prevent him to kill).

She wants to prevent him from getting sick. (Don’t say: She wants to prevent him to get sick).

We say be used to + V-ing, (NOT be used to + Vo).

I am used to drinking coffee every morning. (Don’t say: I am used to drink coffee every morning).

She is used to living alone. (Don’t say: She is used to live alone).

We say be accustomed to + V-ing, (NOT be accustomed to + Vo).

She’s accustomed to sleeping in a room without air conditioning. (Don’t say: She’s accustomed to sleep in a room without air conditioning).

He is accustomed to eating this food. (Don’t say: He is accustomed to eat this food).

Lie – lay – lain means to be in a flat or horizontal position in which your body is on a surface such as a bed or a floor.

Lay – laid – laid means to put someone or something down gently or carefully.

He just wants to lie in bed all day. (Don’t say: He just wants to lay in bed all day).

She did nothing but lie in bed all day. (Don’t say: She did nothing but laid in bed all day).

Now the exams are over, so I can lie in bed all day. (Don’t say: Now the exams are over, so I can lay in bed all day).

I lay the book on the table. (Don’t say: I lie the book on the table).

I lay the folders on the desk. (Don’t say: I lie the folders on the desk).

We use the least + uncountable nouns

We use the fewest + countable nouns

She drank the least amount of milk of anyone there. (Don’t say: She drank the fewest amount of milk of anyone there).

She tries to spend the least amount of time possible in the kitchen. (Don’t say: She tries to spend the fewest amount of time possible in the kitchen).

Peter made the fewest mistakes in the English test. (Don’t say: Peter made the least mistakes in the English test).

The safest place when driving is the place with the fewest cars. (Don’t say: The safest place when driving is the place with the least cars).

We say work as a salesman, (NOT work like a salesman).

He works as a salesman. (Don’t say: He works like a salesman).

Lucy works as a nurse in the local hospital. (Don’t say: Lucy works like a nurse in the local hospital).

My father works as a teacher. (Don’t say: My father works like a teacher).

We say wait for a long time, (NOT wait long).

I waited for a long time in the rain for the bus. (Don’t say: I waited long time in the rain for the bus).

He has waited for a long time to have a chance to show his talent. (Don’t say: He has waited long time to have a chance to show his talent).

We say take a long time, (NOT take long).

It took a long time for him to write the essay. (Don’t say: It took long for him to write the essay).

The film took a long time to watch. (Don’t say: The film took long to watch).

It takes a long time to learn Chinese. (Don’t say: It takes long to learn Chinese).

We say advice, (NOT advices). Advice is an uncountable noun.

He gave me some good advice. (Don’t say: He gave me some good advices).

She asked her father for some good advice. (Don’t say: She asked her father for some good advices).

We say information, (NOT informations). Information is an uncountable noun.

I need some information. (Don’t say: I need some informations).

He has some information for me about flights to London. (Don’t say: He has some informations for me about flights to London).

We say furniture, (NOT furnitures). Furniture is an uncountable noun.

I need to buy some furniture. (Don’t say: I need to buy some furnitures).

My father used to make his own furniture. (Don’t say: My father used to make his own furnitures).

We say damage, (NOT damages). Damage is an uncountable noun.

The storm did not cause much damage. (Don’t say: The storm did not cause much damages).

Did the accident cause any damage? (Don’t say: Did the accident cause any damages?).

We say work, (NOT works). Work is an uncountable noun means a job or task need to be done.

Taking care of a baby is hard work. (Don’t say: Taking care of a baby is hard works).

I have so much work to do now. (Don’t say: I have so much works to do now).

We say fish, (NOT fishes). Damage is an uncountable noun.

There are a lot of fish in this lake. (Don’t say: There are a lot of fishes in this lake).

He ate a lot of fish. (Don’t say: He ate a lot of fishes).

We say fruit, (NOT fruits). Fruit is an uncountable noun.

Would you like some fruit for dessert? (Don’t say: Would you like some fruits for dessert?).

Oranges, bananas, pears, and apples are all types of fruit. (Don’t say: Oranges, bananas, pears, and apples are all types of fruits).

We say knowledge, (NOT knowledges). Knowledge is an uncountable noun.

She has a good knowledge of Japanese. (Don’t say: She has a good knowledges of Japanese).

My father likes reading because he likes to broaden his knowledge. (Don’t say: My father likes reading because he likes to broaden his knowledges).

We say data, (NOT datas). Data is an uncountable noun.