Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    English Grammar: Common Mistakes to Avoid Volume II
    English Grammar: Common Mistakes to Avoid Volume II
    English Grammar: Common Mistakes to Avoid Volume II
    Ebook178 pages2 hours

    English Grammar: Common Mistakes to Avoid Volume II

    By Daniel B. Smith

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    The main goal of this book is to provide an impressive and invaluable collection of common mistakes to avoid when using English language.
    This book (part II, which is also the end of the series) comprises different items and will take you on a beautiful journey towards improving your English. The following subjects have been especially crafted for you, with regard to a multitude of topics, like: Misused Forms, Incorrect Omissions, Unnecessary Words, Misplaced Words, Confused Words.
    This book is suitable for students with at least A2 English level and above. 

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDaniel B. Smith
    Release dateFeb 10, 2023
    ISBN9798215081310
    English Grammar: Common Mistakes to Avoid Volume II

    Read more from Daniel B. Smith

    Related to English Grammar

    Related ebooks

    Young Adult For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      COMMA Chameleon

      Sep 1, 2022

      COMMA Chameleon
      5 min read

    • Article

      On Cussing

      Mar 26, 2019

      On Cussing
      7 min read

    • Article

      Listen: Is It Safe to Fly?

      Jul 16, 2020

      Listen: Is It Safe to Fly?
      4 min read

    • Article

      Editing For Grammar

      Mar 20, 2019

      Although most writers and editors have received extensive training in written English, we still make mistakes—all the time. The Careful Writer, Words into Type, The Elements of Style and other sources offer voluminous instruction and examples for wr

      9 min read

    • Article

      Migrating Letters And Other Curiosities

      Feb 14, 2019

      Rebracketing occurs when an utterance is broken down and reassembled along the wrong lines, and has produced a number of English words, such as “mall.”

      2 min read

    • Article

      On Margin

      Oct 2, 2020

      On Margin
      1 min read

    • Article

      Words Worth Distinguishing – And Not

      Nov 8, 2018

      Even though inflammable is a lovely word with the authority of history on its side, we should probably give it up.

      2 min read

    • Article

      The Science Of Swearing

      Dec 12, 2023

      The Science Of Swearing
      5 min read

    • Article

      Listen: Can We Sing?

      Jun 15, 2020

      Listen: Can We Sing?
      4 min read

    • Article

      Bending Over Backward To Be Wrong

      Jun 7, 2018

      As the term 'prestige construction' hints, hypercorrection is intimately bound up with issues of social class.

      2 min read

    • Article

      Speech And Transcription

      Nov 1, 2018

      AP2 Books Ada Limón, The Carrying: Poems Minneapolis, MN: Milkweed Editions Hardcover, 120 pages, August 2018 The world asks for transcription. That has been my experience, that if I recount any small terror, I will be asked for the proof of what has

      4 min read

    • Article

      Call Of The Wild

      Nov 15, 2020

      Call Of The Wild
      11 min read

    • Article

      Talking Schmutz

      May 31, 2020

      Talking Schmutz
      5 min read

    • Article

      ASK Dr Ronx

      Oct 6, 2021

      Q WILL I BE GETTING A COVID VACCINE? WILL IT HURT? Caroline, age eight A Great question! Vaccines trick our immune system into producing antibodies, which help us fight the disease. Just over half of the population of the UK older than eighteen are

      5 min read

    • Article

      Telling It Straight

      Sep 28, 2022

      COUNTRY people usually tell it like it is. That may be a stereotype, and therefore politically incorrect, but it’s true. Country conversations tend to be short and direct. Of course, we bow to the delicacies of our townie friends and, in their compan

      2 min read

    • Article

      Call Them What They Wants

      Sep 4, 2018

      Call Them What They Wants
      8 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for English Grammar

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      English Grammar - Daniel B. Smith

      Introduction

      The main goal of this book is to provide an impressive and invaluable collection of common mistakes to avoid when using English language.

      This book (part II, which is also the end of the series) comprises different items and will take you on a beautiful journey towards improving your English. The following subjects have been especially crafted for you, with regard to a multitude of topics, like: Misused Forms, Incorrect Omissions, Unnecessary Words, Misplaced Words, Confused Words.

      This book is suitable for students with at least A2 English level and above.

      Chapter I

      1. Absorbed = very much interested.

      Wrong: The girl is absorbed at her work

      Right: The girl is absorbed in her work.

      Wrong: I was absorbed with the book.

      Right: I was absorbed in the book.

      2. Accuse = to charge someone with doing something bad.

      Wrong: He was accused for murder.

      Right: He was accused of murder.

      Wrong: Are you accusing me with cheating?

      Right: Are you accusing me of cheating?

      Note: The verb charge is followed by the preposition with. E.g. He was charged with murder.

      3. Accustomed = used.

      Wrong: They are accustomed with hot weather.

      Right: They are accustomed to hot weather.

      Wrong: I am not accustomed for getting up so early.

      Right: I am not accustomed to getting up so early.

      Note: The adjective used is also followed by to. E.g. She was used to smoking. But when used to is used as a modal, it is followed by an infinitive. E.g. I used to smoke.

      4. Afraid = full of fear; frightened.

      Wrong: Daniel was afraid from/with the dog.

      Right: Daniel was afraid of the dog.

      Wrong: He is afraid in his job.

      Right: He is afraid for his job. (= afraid that he may lose it.)

      5. Aim.

      Wrong: He aimed on/against the bird.

      Right: He aimed at the bird.

      Note: The verb shoot may also be followed by at to denote direction. E.g. He shot at the man. But shoot without at means to kill by shooting. E.g. He shot the dog. (= He shot it dead.)

      6. Angry.

      Wrong: My father was angry against me.

      Right: My father was angry with me.

      Wrong: He was angry with/for the weather.

      Right: He was angry at the weather.

      Note: We become angry with a person, but at a thing. Like angry, some other adjectives also take with and at after them. For example:

      She was annoyed with me. She was annoyed at the rain.

      I was vexed with her. I was vexed at her rudeness.

      He was indignant with he beggar. He was indignant at my delay.

      Note: In each case, with is followed by a person and at is followed by a thing.

      7. Anxious = troubled.

      Wrong: She is anxious for her health.

      Right: She is anxious about her health.

      Wrong: Parents are anxious about their children’s success.

      Right: Parents are anxious for their children’s success.

      Note: In the second example, anxious means wishing very much.

      8. Arrive = to reach a place.

      Wrong: We arrived to the airport in time.

      Right: We arrived at the airport in time.

      Wrong: I arrived to/at London on Friday.

      Right: I arrived in London on Friday.

      Note: Arrive at is followed by a small place but arrive in is followed by a country or large city.

      9. Ashamed = feeling shame or guilt.

      Wrong: Sarah is ashamed for her conduct.

      Right: Sarah is ashamed of her conduct.

      Note: The adjectives ashamed and shy are not interchangeable. Shy means nervous in the company of others. E.g. The little girl felt shy of me.

      10. Believe = to have faith.

      Wrong: Muslims believe at/to Allah.

      Right: Muslims believe in Allah.

      Wrong: I don’t believe at astrology.

      Right: I don’t believe in astrology.

      Note: The verb believe without any preposition means to consider someone or something to be true. E.g. I don’t believe you. I quite believe what you are saying. This is a stative verb and so it is not used in progressive forms. Example:

      Wrong: I am not believing you.

      Right: I don’t believe you.

      11. Benefit.

      Wrong: She got a lot of benefit with this change.

      Right: She got a lot of benefit from this change.

      Wrong: Who is likely to benefit for his death?

      Right: Who is likely to benefit from/by his death?

      Note: This word can be used both as a noun and a verb.

      12. Boast = talk with unreasonable pride.

      Wrong: He boasts for his riches.

      Right: He boasts of/about his riches.

      Wrong: She’s always boasting with her children.

      Right: She’s always boasting about her children.

      13. Careful.

      Wrong: You should be careful for your health.

      Right: You should be careful of your health.

      Note: Care can also be used as a noun. E.g. She takes care of his health.

      14. Come/Go.

      When we talk about how someone gets to a place, we use the preposition by for most methods of transport.

      Wrong: He came here with/through train.

      Right: He came here by train.

      Wrong: We went there with bus.

      Right: We went there by bus.

      Note: "By’ is also used to indicate the way. E.g.

      Wrong: We came through land/sea/air.

      Right: We came by land/sea/air.

      When we walk, we use the phrase on foot. E.g. They go to school on foot.

      When something happens while using a particular form of transport, either on or in is used. E.g.

      Wrong: I met him in the train/bus/boat.

      Right: I met him on the train/bus/boat.

      Wrong: I sat with her on the car.

      Right: I saw with her in the car.

      Wrong: We met each other by the plane.

      Right: We met each other in/on the plane.

      15. Complain = to express feelings of annoyance.

      Wrong: They always complain for this kind of bad weather.

      Right: They always complain of this kind of bad weather.

      Wrong: They complained against us with the police.

      Right: They complained about us to the police.

      16. Complaint.

      Wrong: They lodged a complaint about us to the police.

      Right: They lodged a complaint against us with the police.

      17. Composed = formed.

      Wrong: Water is composed with/from hydrogen and oxygen.

      Right: Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen.

      Wrong: The class is composed by 50 students.

      Right: The class is composed of 50 students.

      18. Confidence = a strong belief.

      Wrong: I have every confidence about your ability.

      Right: I have every confidence in your ability.

      Note: The phrase in confidence is used to mean as a secret. E.g. I am telling you this in confidence. The adjective form confident is followed by of. E.g.

      Wrong: I am confident about success.

      Right: I am confident of success.

      19. Conform = to obey.

      Wrong: You should conform with the rules.

      Right: You should conform to the rules.

      Note: The verb comply takes with after it. E.g. You must comply with your request.

      20. Congratulate.

      Wrong: We congratulate you in your success.

      Right: We congratulate you on your success.

      Wrong: I congratulated her about standing first in the exam.

      Right: I congratulated her on standing first in the exam.

      Note: The preposition for is sometimes used after congratulate. E.g. I congratulate you for your thesis.

      21. Consist = to be made up.

      Wrong: His family consists from six members.

      Right: His family consists of six members.

      Wrong: The team is consisting of six members.

      Right: The team consists of six members.

      Note: This verb is used neither in progressive forms nor in the passive voice.

      22. Cover.

      Wrong: We covered the body by a sheet.

      Right: We covered the body with a sheet.

      Wrong: The mountains were covered by snow.

      Right: The mountains were covered with snow.

      Note: The verb can be used both in the active voice and in the passive voice.

      23. Cure.

      Wrong: This medicine will cure you from your cough.

      Right: This medicine will cure you of your cough.

      Note: Cure as a noun is followed by for.

      Wrong: There is no cure of this disease.

      Right: There is no cure for this disease.

      24. Depend = rely.

      Wrong: Everything depends from you.

      Right: Everything depends on/upon you.

      Wrong: I cannot rely to you.

      Right: I cannot rely on/upon you.

      Note: The verb rely also takes the same preposition after it.

      25. Deprive = to take away.

      Wrong: He was deprived from his paternal property.

      Right: He was deprived of his paternal property.

      Wrong: This law will deprive us from our basic rights.

      Right: This law will deprive us of our basic rights.

      Note: This verb can be used both in the active voice and in the passive voice.

      26. Die.

      If an illness or disease is the cause of one’s death, usually the verb die is followed by the preposition of.

      Wrong: The man died from cholera.

      Right: The man died of cholera.

      Note: Causes like hunger and thirst are also preceded by the same preposition. E.g. Many people died of hunger during the last famine.

      This verb may also be followed by other prepositions. E.g.

      Some people died from their wounds.

      Daniel may die from overwork.

      They died by violence.

      Those soldiers died for their country.

      The poor man died on the scaffold.

      27. Different.

      Wrong: My pen is different with yours.

      Right: My pen is different from yours.

      Note: This adjective is often followed by than or to. E.g. The brothers are quite different to each other. His dress was different than mine.

      The noun difference is followed by between.

      Wrong: There is no difference in the two boys.

      Right: There is no difference between the two boys.

      28. Disappointed = unhappy.

      This adjective is followed by several prepositions. E.g. Stuart was deeply disappointed about/at losing the game. My parents will be disappointed with/in me if I fail the final exam.

      Wrong: I was disappointed by her work.

      Right: I was disappointed at/in her work.

      Wrong: We were disappointed in our hopes.

      Right: We were disappointed of our hopes.

      Note: We are disappointed of a thing when we fail to get it.

      29. Divide.

      Wrong: Divide the cake in four parts.

      Right: Divide the cake into four parts.

      Note: A thing may be divided in half or in two.

      Wrong: Daniel divided the apple into half

      Right: Daniel divided the apple in half.

      Wrong: The revenue will be equally divided into the four people.

      Right: The revenue will be equally divided between/among the four people.

      Wrong: 20 divided with 4 is 5.

      Right: 20 divided by 4 is 5.

      Wrong: A low wall divides our garden with theirs.

      Right: A low wall divides our garden from theirs.

      Note: When two people are involved, the preposition among cannot be used.

      30. Doubt.

      Wrong: I have no doubt for his honesty.

      Right: I have no doubt of/about his honesty.

      Note: The adjective doubtful also takes the preposition about after it. E.g. I am doubtful about her ability to pass the exam.

      31. Dressed.

      Wrong: The girl was dressed with black.

      Right: The girl was dressed in black.

      Note: Instead of saying She was in black dress we can also say She was in black.. Dress can also be used as a verb. E.g. She always dresses in black.

      32. Exception.

      Wrong: This is an exception of the rule.

      Right: This is an exception to the rule.

      Note: There is a phrase namely with the exception of to mean except.

      Wrong: I enjoy every subject with the exception to Chemistry.

      Right: I enjoy every subject with the exception

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1