Common English Mistakes Explained With Examples : Over 300 Mistakes

I bought a car yesterday. (Don’t say: I have bought a car yesterday).

I had dinner with Mary last week. (Don’t say: I have had dinner with Mary last week).

We say must/have to + Vo, (NOT must/have to + V2/V-ed).

I was very thirsty. I had to drink something. (Don’t say: I had to drank something).

I was very tired. I must get some rest. (Don’t say: I must got some rest).

We say return to, (NOT return back to).

We didn't know what to do, so we returned to our hotel. (Don’t say: We didn't know what to do, so we returned back to our hotel).

I finished reading the novel and returned it to Peter. (Don’t say: I finished reading the novel and returned it back to Peter).

We say in my opinion, (NOT according to me).

In my opinion, he is correct. (Don’t say: according to me, he is correct).

In my opinion, Lucy is old enough to know what she did was wrong. (Don’t say: according to me, Lucy is old enough to know what she did was wrong).

We say except someone, (NOT except for someone).

Nobody knows we are here except her. (Don’t say: Nobody knows we are here except for her).

Everyone arrived on time except Tom. (Don’t say: Everyone arrived on time except for Tom).

We say finish something by Friday, (NOT finish something until Friday).

I have to finish the essay by Friday. (Don’t say: I have to finish the essay until Friday).

I have to finish the homework by 7 pm. (Don’t say: I have to finish the homework until 7 pm).

We say a fast car, fast food, (NOT a quick car, quick food).

My brother has a fast car. (Don’t say: My brother has a quick car).

My son likes to eat fast food such as hamburgers, fried chicken, and pizza. (Don’t say: My son likes to eat quick food…).

We say a quick meal, (NOT a fast meal).

We had a quick meal in the restaurant. (Don’t say: We had a fast meal in the restaurant).

We had a quick meal before a movie. (Don’t say: We had a fast meal before a movie).

We say powerful engine, (NOT strong engine).

This is a new car with a powerful engine. (Don’t say: This is a new car with a strong engine).

I would like to possess a motor vehicle with a powerful engine. (Don’t say: I would like to possess a motor vehicle with a strong engine).

We say someone is injured, (NOT someone is damaged).

He was injured in the accident. (Don’t say: He was damaged in the accident).

Fortunately, nobody was injured in the car accident. (Don’t say: Fortunately, nobody was damaged in the car accident).

Tom injured his arm and stayed in hospital after the car accident. (Don’t say: Tom damaged his arm and stayed in hospital after the car accident).

We say something is damaged, (NOT something is injured).

The house was damaged by the storm. (Don’t say: The house was injured by the storm).

The building was damaged by the fire. (Don’t say: The building was injured by the fire).

Tom's house was badly damaged in the fire. (Don’t say: Tom's house was badly injured in the fire).

We say to rob someone or an organization, (NOT to steal someone or an organization).

He robbed the bank. (Don’t say: He stole the bank).

He robbed an elderly man. (Don’t say: He stole an elderly man).

We say to steal something, (NOT to rob something).

He stole money from his parents. (Don’t say: He robbed money from his parents).

He was arrested because he stole a car. (Don’t say: He was arrested because he robbed a car).

We say the latest news, (NOT the last news).

Have you heard the latest news? (Don’t say: Have you heard the last news?).

I keep up to date with the latest news via the smartphone. (Don’t say: I keep up to date with the last news via the smartphone).

We say speak a language, (NOT talk a language).

Do you speak English? (Don’t say: Do you talk English?).

I can speak English, French and Chinese. (Don’t say: I can talk English, French and Chinese).

We say reject an idea/a suggestion, (NOT refuse an idea/a suggestion).

They quickly rejected his idea. (Don’t say: They quickly refused his idea).

She rejected my suggestion as impractical. (Don’t say: She refused my suggestion as impractical).

We say refuse an invitation/offer, (NOT reject an invitation/offer).

He refused my invitation. (Don’t say: He rejected my invitation).

Mary refused his offer of working in New York for a year. (Don’t say: Mary rejected his offer of working in New York for a year).

We say very happy, (NOT absolutely happy).

He was very happy about his unexpected promotion. (Don’t say: He was absolutely happy about his unexpected promotion).

We are very happy about the birth of our new baby. (Don’t say: We are absolutely happy about the birth of our new baby).

We say be under a lot of/considerable pressure, (be under high pressure).

She has been under a lot of pressure lately. (Don’t say: She has been under high pressure lately).

He was under considerable pressure at times. (Don’t say: He was under high pressure at times).

We say someone wants to do something, (NOT someone is wanting to do something).

I’m hungry now. I want to eat something. (Don’t say: I am wanting to eat something).

I want to see you now. (Don’t say: I am wanting to see you now).

We use “anything” is used in negative sentences. (NOT everything).