One r

ule
a day

HANDBOOK

MINUS 365 MISTAKES

PER YEAR
Get rid of annoying mistakes in English in just
a few minutes per day
 GRAMMAR MISTAKES

1 Remember about the strict word order in English sentences.

The strict word order: subject + predicate + object. The sequence
of words is critical when communicating in English because it can
impact the meaning of what you're trying to say. If the word order
is not correct, there can be misunderstanding between the subject
and the object. Being Master Yoda is cool, but he is the only one
who is allowed to use inverted sentences — we are not.

Find a mistake:
An important project finished we.

2 Remember the golden rule in English — every sentence you use

needs to contain a verb.
Without a verb, there is no sentence. In some languages, for
example in Russian, you can drop the verb, but in English it should
always be there.

I Mary, I 25 years old.

I am Mary, I am 25 years old.

Find a mistake:
My older brother really handsome and clever, however, I a better
student than he is.
3 Avoid using a double negative in a sentence.
A double negative is when two negative words such as "not" and
"nobody," (or nowhere, no one, never or other negative words) are
used within a single clause. Sentences with double negatives are
not grammatically correct and they’re confusing. That’s because
double negatives cancel each other out and make a positive.

I don’t have nobody to help me out.

I don’t have anybody to help me out.

I have nobody to help me out.

Find a mistake:
She doesn’t need nothing to survive in the wilderness. She also
can’t never get lost in the woods.

4 Other than with living objects that have a distinguishable sex,

English does not have grammatical gender.
That is, objects such as boats, plants, food, etc., is neither male of
female. There is no "le" or "la" as in French. In English we just say
"the." If you don’t know the gender of a person or talk about
someone in general, use the pronoun “they”.

A true teacher is always patient. He never gets angry with

his students.
A true teacher is always patient. They never get angry with
their students.

Find a mistake:
A doctor shouldn’t be nervous while working, otherwise he can
affect his patients in a negative way.
5 Don’t write “I” with a small “i”.
An English pronoun "I" always is written with a capital letter no
matter wherever in the sentence it is located.
My friend and i are going on a ski trip.

My friend and I are going on a ski trip.

Find a mistake:
My favorite meal ever is pasta and i can eat it literally every day.

6 Don’t put “I” on a first place.

When you talk about a group which includes yourself, in English
you leave yourself for last — Tom, Mary, and I went to the store.

I and my boyfriend decided to adopt a puppy.

My boyfriend and I decided to adopt a puppy.

Find a mistake:
Did you know that I and my friends are meeting next Sunday?

7 Don’t put the second subject in a sentence.

When we talk about others, we want to say: «My boss Jared, he
is such a pain in the ass». In some languages, for example, in
Russian or Spanish, it is grammatically correct. But not in English.
Putting the second subject before the verb in a sentence — is a
mistake.
«My boss Jared is such a pain in the ass».
Find a mistake:
My mom, she is so anxious when I stay late at the university.
8 If you like something, don’t translate it directly from your
language.
Don’t say: «I very like your dress». If you want to emphasize
that you really like something, the sentence should be
structured like this:

I like your dress a lot.

I like your dress very much.

Find a mistake:
Oh my, Lana, I very much adore your new car!

9 Don’t use in the same sentence words that have the same
meaning.
Avoid tautologies. Many students don’t pay attention to them
even at an advanced level of English: «The weather is very
rainy today». We don’t need the word “weather” because we
already have the word “rainy.” It is clear that when we say
"rainy" we are talking about the weather. It's better to say:
«It’s very rainy today».

«The color of the chair is black» — “black” is already a color, so

there's no need to mention the word “color” in this sentence. It's
better to say: «The chair is black.»

Find a mistake:
Modern economy relies on new inventions.
10 Don't use adjectives instead of adverbs.
Adjectives describe nouns such as objects or people and
answer the question "what?”. Adverbs describe verbs,
adjectives and other adverbs and answer the question "how?"
When you want to characterize a verb, you should use an
adverb. Most often it is formed from an adjective with the suffix
-ly (beautiful + ly = beautifully). But there are also exceptions.
The adverb from the adjective “good” is “well”.

Mick always talks so quiet.

Mick always talks so quietly.

Find a mistake:
Greg can’t walk slow, he always rushes somewhere.

11 Don't use adverbs after linking verbs.

What a strange English language: we have just figured out that we
can't use adjectives with verbs and here... Linking verbs are the
verbs that are not used in a sentence by themselves and form part
of a nominal predicate. These are the verbs “to be”, “to appear”,
“to feel”, “to look”, “to remain”, “to seem”, “to smell”, “to stay”,
“to taste”, "to become", "to get", "to grow", "to turn" and a couple
of others. We use adjectives after them.

Mike remained calmly.

Mike remained calm.

Find a mistake:
You seem quite happily today, did something good happen?
12 Don’t use "in" when you talk about time.
If you want to tell someone: "Let's meet at two o'clock," use the
preposition "at" before the time.

Let’s meet in 2 p.m.

Let’s meet at 2 p.m.

Find a mistake:
My train arrives in 9 AM.

13 "Your" and "you’re".

You've probably seen a lot of memes about such typos from the
natives themselves:

Memorize this in order to show

how smart you are in the same
situation: "your" is a possessive
adjective. “Your English is so
good, I bet you don’t make any
mistakes”. "You’re" is short for
"you + are". "You’re doing such
a good job!" Just like "its" is a
possessive adjective or pronoun
of "it", and "it’s" is an abbreviation
for "it + is".

Find a mistake:
You’re stunning look will amaze everyone at the party.
14 Don't use the reflexive pronoun "myself", "yourself" after the
verb "feel".
Maybe it is right in your language, but not in English. Instead say: "I
feel good / bad / sad".

I feel myself sad today.

I feel sad today.

I feel myself (Я чувствую себя круто и уверенно).

Find a mistake:
She was not feeling herself good enough to go to school that day.

15 Be careful with reflexive pronouns after "behave".

If we want to request that the person behaves well, we say:
"Behave yourself". Note that this only works in imperative
sentences. But we can’t ask “Did you behave well?”, we have
to come up with other options. Let's say: "Were you a good
boy / girl?" But "behaving badly" is "misbehave".

Find a mistake:
My children often don’t behave themselves well.
16 «If you have something to do, don’t say "I need to go do
some actions"
There is no universal word but you can say:

I need to run some errands.

I’ve got things to do.

I’ve got business to do.

Find a mistake:
Do you have any actions to do today?

17 Remember that the first part of a reflexive pronoun changes

depending on the person of the noun to which it refers.

It is important that YOU love YOURself.

Lucie has some self worth issues. SHE doesn’t like HERself.

Find a mistake:
Mike didn’t make yourself clear. I misunderstood him.
18 If you are doing something alone, say "by yourself" or "on your
own"
Don’t say — «by your own» or «on myself» — these are not
correct.

Nick is now all grown up and goes to school by his own /

on himself.
Nick is now all grown up and goes to school on his own /
by himself.

Find a mistake:
— Are you able to open this can by your own?
— Sure, I always open cans by myself.

19 Don’t use ’s to indicate belonging in inanimate nouns.

"My car's windshield is broken" — that won't work. "Machine" is
an inanimate noun, and 's we use to indicate that someone
owns something. The car cannot own the windshield, so change
“My car’s windshield” to “The windshield of my car” or
“My car windshield” (here “car” becomes an adjective).

Find a mistake:
My house’s door was painted red yesterday.
20 Don’t overuse "of" for the possession of animate nouns.
The previous mistake has its right pair: often students forget
about 's and always use "of". "The boyfriend of my sister is
coming for dinner today". "Sister" is an animated noun, it is
much preferable to use 's with it to indicate that this is the
sister's boyfriend. “My sister’s boyfriend is coming for
dinner today”.

Find a mistake:
I think I saw a boss of my wife.

21 "My" and "mine" are not the same.

"My" is a possessive adjective. Since it is an adjective, it is
always noun-friendly and is not used on its own. "This is my
seat, I'm sorry." "Mine" is a possessive pronoun, which means
that it is independent, and no nouns are put after it. Most often,
possessive pronouns replace the previously mentioned
combination "possessive adjective + noun".

My children can’t do this online school anymore.

Mine (my children) are fine with it. They like staying at home.

Find a mistake:
— I am sorry but there’s someone’s bag over there.
— Oh, it’s my.
22 Don’t add ’s to plural nouns that end in -s.
Almost all plural nouns end in -s. It is enough to add ' to show
the relationship of ownership.

All students’s notes were messy.

All students’ notes were messy.

Find a mistake:
My parents’s house will always be dear to my heart.

23 Don't add ’s to the first word in compound nouns.

What if you want to say that your father-in-law has a cool
company and you want to work there? Add ’s at the very end in
the word “father-in-law” and you’ll succeed.

My father’s-in-law company is so cool, I want to work there.

My father-in-law’s company is so cool, I want to work there.

Find a mistake:
It’s my editor’s-in-chief advice that I value the most.
24 Don't add ’s to all nouns if you mention multiple people.
If something belongs not to one person, but to several, we add
’s to the last word in the group, and not to every one.

Lucie’s and Bob’s wedding is on Thursday. This option is suitable if

they both have weddings, and these are different events. Then we
add the ending -s to the word "wedding".
Lucie and Bob’s wedding is on Thursday.

Find a mistake:
Mark’s and Jennifer’s new apartment is in Brooklyn.

25 Don't use articles if nouns already have qualifiers.

Possessive adjectives (“my”, “her”), numerals, demonstrative
adjectives (“this”, “that”) are determinants in themselves. If you
use them before nouns, no article is needed.
I have the four sisters.

I have four sisters.

Sometimes the definite article "the" can be used before
numerals, but only in those cases when it fulfills its clear
function — it indicates something specific.

The four students that were caught cheating were expelled.

Find a mistake:
I brought the my own equipment so I don't have to rent one.
26 Do not use the indefinite article "a" in front of words that
begin with vowels.
Before words that begin with a vowel (adjective or noun), we use
the indefinite article "an".

Have a amazing day!

Have an amazing day!

The choice of the form of the indefinite article not only depends
on the initial letter, but on the initial sound. Therefore, if the
word begins with the letter "h", which is not readable, we use
the article "an". We met an hour ago.
Find a mistake:
A open door is a prospect for new opportunities.

27 If the abbreviation begins with a consonant, the choice

between "a" and "an" still depends on the first sound of
reading the abbreviation.
"MP" (Member of Parliament) starts with a consonant, but this
abbreviation is pronounced [ˌemˈpiː], which means we choose
the form "an” — the article "an”

A MP is a position in the Parliament which you can get if voters

choose you.
An MP is a position in the Parliament which you can get if voters
choose you.

Find a mistake:
If you need cash, there is a ATM just across the corner.
28 Don't use the indefinite article with uncountable and plural
nouns.
We need indefinite articles "a" and "an" to describe countable
nouns in the singular ("a person", "a cat", "a pen", "a house").
For others, there is "zero article" (not using any article), the
definite article "the", and the words "some" and "any".

A moment of etymology that will help us clarify everything: the

indefinite article comes from the word "one", so we use it only
with what we can count, and with what is used in the singular.
"We've got an hour to complete this task." In this case,
"hour" is a countable noun (as opposed to the word "time"),
which is used in the singular ("an hour - one hour"). But to say:
“I don’t have a time to do it” is impossible to use in this case,
since “time” is not discrete.

Find a mistake:
My grandparents are full of a love.
29 Don't use the indefinite article with uncountable and plural
nouns.
“I am a student at Harvard”, “My husband is a doctor” — in
these clauses we describe ourselves as a representative of a
group (one of many) and therefore use the indefinite article.

I am student.

I am the student.

I am a student.

Find a mistake:
My husband is the accountant.

30 Do not forget about the article before the combination

"adjective + noun».
We quickly learn that a noun in English often cannot exist without
an article. However, as soon as we put an adjective in front of a
noun, we immediately forget about the articles. "My friend is __
amazing cook". The adjective does not replace the article, so the
correct option would be: «My friend is an amazing cook».

Find a mistake:
There is cool new thrift store just across the street.
31 Do not use the article before the name of the language.
If you name a language without the word "language", no article
is needed.
English is essential for building an international career.
As soon as you add the word "language", the article is needed.
«The Chinese language uses characters as their form of writing».
Find a mistake:
I've been struggling a lot with French language.

32 Don’t say: «I broke a leg».

In English, it is customary to always identify who owns a part of
the body if we are talking about a specific leg, arm or head.
A head hurts.
My head hurts.

Find a mistake:
An arm is swollen and I can't move it.

33 "Breakfast" and "a breakfast".

Use an article or not? If we talk about breakfast, lunch and
dinner as events
“We’ll go for a walk after breakfast”, then neither articles
nor other qualifiers (“my”, “that”) are needed. And if we mean
the food itself, we need a qualifier:
“I like my breakfast to be light and fast”.

Find a mistake:
Let's meet after a lunch, shall we?
34 Don’t say: "eat breakfast" or "take breakfast".
It is best to use the verb “have” with meals.
I usually watch YouTube when I eat my breakfast.

I usually watch YouTube when I have my breakfast.

Find a mistake:
You really shouldn't read or watch anything while eating your
dinner.

35 If a noun ends in -fe, it is not enough to just add the ending -s

to form the plural.
In the word "life" you need to change the letter "f" to "v", and
then you get "lives". It’s the same with "knife" — "knives".

Find a mistake:
Koalas love eating green eucalyptus leafs.

36 The plural for "crisis" is not "crisises" but "crises".

As odd as it may seem, this is how the English plural form of
nouns ending in -is is formed.

analysis — analyses

ellipsis — ellipses
37 Nouns ending in -non also don’t have the plural form with -s.
In such words -on becomes -a.
phenomenon — phenomena

criterion — criteria

38 "Money", "hair", "news" are uncountable singular nouns.

With these words we use the third person singular in verbs and
don’t add to a noun the letter -s to make the plural form. A
common mistake is “Jessica has such nice hairs”. Correct —
“Jessica has such nice hair. Her hair is silky". On the other
hand, the word «hair» becomes countable when you find a hair in
your soup and complain to the waiter: «There is a hair in my
soup. Do something about it or I’ll call the manager».

Find a mistake:
The good news are that there are no bad news.

39 "Police" is a plural noun.

So use the verb for the plural form.
The police is looking for a potential assassin of the president.

The police are looking for a potential assassin of the president.

Find a mistake:
Don't worry, the police is on its way.
40 There is no plural form for "knowledge"
In English the word "knowledge" is an uncountable singular noun.

Find a mistake:
These knowledges are invaluable.

41 Don’t say: "like getting knowledge"

This is a word-for-word translation. Better to say: "I like
learning something new" или "I like studying".

42 "An experience" and "experience"

"Experience" is an uncountable noun, so you cannot use the
indefinite article with this word. “I've got an experience in
marketing” doesn't sound right. However, when we mean an
event as an experience (. "Our trip to Paris was such an
unforgettable experience"), the word “experience” becomes
countable.

The same can be said about time. If the word “time” is used to
mean “time as a certain dimension”, then it is uncountable:
“What time is it?”. And if we use the word “time” in the
meaning of “one time, some period of time”, it becomes
countable: “We’re having such a good time”.

Find a mistake:
How many years of a teaching experience do you have?
43 School subjects ending in -s are not plural.
Despite the -s ending, the words "physics", "civics", "maths",
"gymnastics" and "economics" are all used in the singular.

Maths are a number one hated subject by students all around

the world.
Maths is a number one hated subject by students all around
the world.

Find a mistake:
I used to love economics when I was at school. Economics are so
much fun.

44 Your favorite "series" is a singular and a plural noun.

When describing your favorite series, feel free to say: «I love
this new series “Emily in Paris”. It’s so light and fun».

My favorite serie is Friends.

My favorite series is Friends.

Find a mistake:
I’ve just binge-watched a new serie "The Queen's Gambit".
45 Don't use plural verbs after weight, distance, time and money.
When we say a certain period of time or distance, we use the
name of the measure (“kilometers”, “dollars”, “hours”) in the
plural. However, the verb should be in the singular.

2 weeks are too long to fulfill this order.

2 weeks is too long to fulfill this order.

Find a mistake:
What?! 700 bucks are a rip-off for this skirt.

46 Do not add the letter -s to the words "hundred", "thousand",

"million" when you name them as part of numbers.

There are seven thousands languages in the world.

There are seven thousand languages in the world.

Find a mistake:
Elon Musk’s net worth is estimated to be 27 billions dollars.
47 The plural of "person" is "people", not "persons".
The form “persons” exists, but it refers to the formal version of
English, so it can be found in official documents: “Any
person or persons found in possession of drugs will be
arrested”. Please note that we do not add the ending -s to the
word "people", meaning a group of people as a whole:
"There were a lot of people at the party". The form
"peoples" means "indigenous tribes": "Peoples of Canada —
indigenous tribes of Canada".

Find a mistake:
There were over 300 persons at his party. It was huge!

48 Don't use "much" for countable nouns and "many" for

uncountable nouns.

There are quite much people in class today.

There are quite many people in class today.

This thing makes so many noise.

This thing makes so much noise.

Find a mistake:
If you are going to Vegas, be ready to see much bizarre things
there.
49 Don't use "some" in questions and negative sentences.
Use "any" instead. “Some” is “several”, but “any” is “some”.

Do we have some money to pay the rent?

Do we have any money to pay the rent?

There is one exception to this rule, and we will discuss it a little

later.

Find a mistake:
Do you have some tips on how to improve my English?

50 Don't be afraid to use "some" in interrogative request

sentences.
We know that in questions we have to use "any". However, if you
want to offer something politely (“Would you like some tea?”) or
ask (“Can I have some tea?”), use “some”.

Would you like any tea?

Would you like some tea?

Find a mistake:
Could you please give me any water? I am so thirsty.
51 Don't be afraid to use "any" in affirmative sentences when
what you are saying is true of all people or things of that type.

«Any help will do»

«I like any music»

Find a mistake:
We’ve run out of product ideas so now some thoughts
are welcome!

52 Don't use "no" in negative sentences.

To emphasize the complete absence of something, we can use
"no" instead of "any": "There will be no problems with this
matter". Note that we are using an affirmative sentence here,
not a negative one.

There aren’t no cars parked near my house.

There are no cars parked near my house.

Find a mistake:
I don't have no clue where my car keys are.
53 "Other", "the other" and "another"
We can use all these words as an adjective in the meaning of “one
more”.
"Another" as an adjective is used with countable nouns in the
singular. See the indefinite article "an" at the beginning of a word?
"Another" — "one more, similar". We use “another” when we have
several similar items: “Can you please give me another pen?
This seems to be not working".
With plural nouns, in the same situation we use “other”: “There
are other dresses you can choose from”.
Also, "other" is used with uncountable nouns: "Other
information on this topic can be found in this paper".
“The other” can be used with any noun, but pay attention to its
meaning: “the other” is “the second of two”. "Jack lives on the
other side of the river".

Find a mistake:
My car is parked on another side of the road.
54 Don’t use the plural form of "other" in these sentences:

"There are some otherS bags in the hallway".

In this sentence, "other" is not a pronoun, but an adjective. This

means that we cannot change it. We don't need to add any
ending, much less -s, which is typical for nouns.

Find a mistake:
Others girls at my school don’t dress like that anymore.

55 Don't use "whole" with plurals.

Whole means "inseparable". It can only be used with singular
and countable nouns.

Lucie always spends whole money that I give her.

Lucie always spends all the money that I give her.

The only exception is the phrase “the whole time”:

«Lucie cries the whole time».

Find a mistake:
Whole people were shocked by such outrageous behavior.
56 Do not put an article or other qualifier ("this", "my") after
"whole".
"Whole" works like an adjective, so a qualifier is placed
before it.

I could eat whole a watermelon.

I could eat a whole watermelon.

But with "all" it is different. Any determinant must be placed

after it: «We spent all the time staying in».

Find a mistake:
The all days that I spent studying were so tedious and boring.

57 Do not use the forms "I", "we", "he", "she" after "all of".
If you want to use the word “all” with a pronoun, do not forget
about “of”, and also use pronouns in the object case: “me”,
“you”, “her”, “him”, “them”, “us”.

All we are excited to be here.

All of us are excited to be here.

Find a mistake:
All you are punished for misbehaving.
58 In the construction "all + noun + of + noun", both nouns that
follow "all" are plural.

"All sorts of things" , "All kinds of specialists", "All kinds of

people".

Find a mistake:
When I was a kid, I used to make up all sort of stories.

59 Don't use the plural verb with "each", "every", "everyone" and
"everybody".
“Everyone know that he’s a liar” is a mistake, as it is not the
pronoun “all” which requires a plural. This is each person
individually, albeit in some kind of general group. We need a
single number here: "Everyone knows that he’s a liar".
It's the same with the words "each" and "every".
"Each morning here are beautiful". → “Each morning here
is beautiful”.

Find a mistake:
Everybody were worried about Mr. Jefferson’s decision to retire.
60 Don't use the singular verb after "all" and "both".

All / Both of us is excited.

All / Both of us are excited.

Find a mistake:
Both Jack and Suzie has started saving up for a new house.

61 Don't use "both" in negative sentences.

For this there is "neither." In this case, although the meaning is
negative, the structure of the sentence will be as in the affirmative.

Both of these students haven’t handed in their works yet.

Neither of these students have handed in their works yet.

Find a mistake:
Both Jack and Jane won't be coming to the party.
62 If the sentence contains the verb "to be", "both" comes after it.

We both are excited to have you here with us!

We are both excited to have you here with us!

Find a mistake:
My parents both are hard-working and goal-oriented people.

63 If you are using a collective noun for plural ("a bag of chips",
"a bouquet of flowers"), use the singular verb.
In this case, the subject is a collective noun itself — "a bag",
"a bouquet". Therefore, we use the singular verb.

There are a bunch of strange people outside.

There is a bunch of strange people outside.

Find a mistake:
There are a dozen of problems we’re working on at the moment.
64 Do not forget that, if there are two subjects in a sentence that
are connected by the conjunction "and", and one verb belongs
to them, this verb is in the plural
It would be a mistake to put the verb in the singular, as if only
the second subject in the pair is performing some action. In this
case, there are two subjects and they are doing teamwork. :-)

Mike and Hannah does homework.

Mike and Hannah do homework.

My mother and I fights often.

My mother and I fight often.

Find a mistake:
University and work requires a lot of time and attention.

65 If, between the subjects of the singular, there is a conjunction

"or", or there is "either" / "neither", use the verb in the
singular.

Neither Suzan nor Jack know what to do.

Neither Suzan nor Jack knows what to do.

66 If one of the subjects in the phrase with "either" / "neither" is
in the singular, and the second in the plural, the verb is
determined by the subject closest to it.

Neither my parents not my brother are home.

Neither my parents nor my brother is home.

Find a mistake:
Neither I nor my brother know what to do after graduation.

67 If after "a lot of", "some", "a majority" (words and phrases
that denote a portion, part of something), the noun is in the
singular, use the verb in the singular and vice versa.

A lot of effort are needed for this project.

A lot of effort is needed for this project.

A lot of people is participating in this project.

A lot of people are participating in this project.

Find a mistake:
A great number of students has failed this exam.
68 Do not put countable nouns in the singular after collective
phrases ("all of", "one of", "half of").

One of the student is missing.

One of the students is missing.

Find a mistake:
One of the subject I am taking this semester is Maths.

69 Do not combine "neither" with "or".

You should use "nor".

Neither he or his brother likes fried eggs.

Neither he nor his brother likes fried eggs.

Find a mistake:
Neither my friend or I know what’s going on.
70 Don't use "and" in negative sentences.
If you want to say that there is no sugar or flour, you should use
"or" instead of "and".

There is no sugar and flour.

There is no sugar or flour.

If you use “and” in a negative sentence, it will be perceived as if

you do not have the exact combination of flour and sugar, but
separately you do have it.

Find a mistake:
Unfortunately, we don't have pens and pencils.

71 Don't use the indefinite article with the superlative degree.

When we emphasize that some girl is the coolest at the
university, and the new film is the most interesting in recent
years, we emphasize their uniqueness. What do we use with
something unique? The definite article "the".

I’ve just read a most gripping book ever.

I’ve just read the most gripping book ever.

Find a mistake:
What is a most stupid thing that you have ever done?
72 Don't use the article before "most + noun".
“Most” can be used before nouns to mean “the majority”:
“Most American people are quite outspoken”, not “The
most American people are outspoken”.

Find a mistake:
The most language learners are afraid to speak because of their
accent.

73 "Most" and "most of".

When you are describing something or someone in general, just
use "most": "Most people are not pleased with their
salaries." But if you are referring to a particular group, use
"most of": "Most of the workers at our company believe that
they deserve to be paid more."

Find a mistake:
Most of the people nowadays live in cities.
74 Do not use the article in the phrases "by bus", "by car", "by
train" and "by plane".
In such phrases, we will not use anything at all, even if you
know that you are driving a particular car.

We went to the beach by the car.

We went to the beach by car.

Find a mistake:
I prefer traveling by the plane. It’s faster.

75 Do not use "the" with city names.

City names in English are used without articles, like most
common nouns. However, there is one exception — The Hague
(a city in The Netherlands).

I think that the Moscow is the most amazing city in the world.

I think that Moscow is the most amazing city in the world.

Find a mistake:
Have you ever been to the LA?
76 Do not use "the" with country names which consist of only one
word.
Countries, like cities, are unique. However, we do not use the
article “the” with names of countries that consist of one word
(Italy, Spain, America). But we do have exceptions, and one of
them is again The Netherlands. The name of this country is
used with the article. In British English we also have the
Lebanon, the Sudan and the Vatican City.

Find a mistake:
My family lives in Netherlands so I sometimes go there
to see them.

77 Don't use "USA" without "the".

We figured out that we use one-word-names of countries
without an article. But what if the words “state”, “kingdom”,
“republic”, “islands”, “emirates” or “federation” appear in the
title? You need to use the article.

Joshua is a citizen of USA.

Joshua is a citizen of the USA.

Find a mistake:
UK consists of 4 countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and
Northern Ireland.
78 Remember to use the definite article when talking about
mountain ranges.

We’ve booked a chalet at the resort in the Alps.

My dad has climbed Everest 4 times.

Find a mistake:
I’d like to go to Himalayas one day.

79 Remember to use the definite article with island groups, but

don't use it with an individual island.

We’re going to the Canary Islands.

Hawaii is a popular tourist destination in the USA.

Find a mistake:
The Easter Island has one of the most peculiar human creations.
80 Don't say "I go to the school".
When we say that "we are at / we go to school" as students, which
means we recieve an education there, we do not need any article.
But if we go to school as visitors — we need to pick up a sister or
attend a parent meeting — then we add the article "the". The
same rule applies to the words "college", "university", "bed",
"church", "court", "hospital" and "prison".

I went to hospital to check how my grandmother was doing.

I went to the hospital to check how my grandmother was doing.

Find a mistake:
My kids don't go to the school every day because they are
partially homeschooled.

81 Do not use the indefinite article with the names of the seasons.
With seasons, we use either the definite article or nothing. When
we specify “in the winter of 2020”, “in the winter when we met,”
then a definite article is needed.

My favorite season is a winter.

My favorite season is winter.

My favorite vacation was in the winter of 2019.

Find a mistake:
Did you know that a summer in Australia actually starts
in December?
82 Do not forget about the construction "there is" / "there are".
How many times in their lives do English teachers hear
something like this: "In this room are enough chairs"? This is a
word-to-word translation from Russian to English, but it is
wrong. In English, when we want to advise about the existence
of something / someone, we use the construction "there is" /
"there are".

In the room are enough chairs.

There are enough chairs in the room.

In my class are 25 people.

There are 25 people in my class.

Find a mistake:
In the fridge are a lot of spoiled products.

83 Don't use "there is" with a plural noun.

“There is a lot of things to do” is not completely wrong. In
informal speech, you often come across the use of the
construction "there is" with nouns of any number. But
remember that from the academic point of view, this is a
mistake. This option is only suitable for informal communication.

Find a mistake:
There is a lot of people who need help.
84 Don't use "there are" with singular nouns when listing items.
“There is“ / “there are“ is a good fit for enumeration. What do
you put before the phrase "an undergraduate student from the
USA and 3 postgraduate students from Europe in my university
group"? There are a lot of people, so you want to put “there
are”. But right after the construction "there + be" there is a
singular noun ("an undergraduate student"), so we start the
sentence with "there is".

There are an undergraduate student from the USA and

3 postgraduate students from Europe in my university group.
There is an undergraduate student from the USA and
3 postgraduate students from Europe in my university group.

Find a mistake:
There are a Harry Potter lover, a Star Wars aficionado, and a Star
Trek geek in our group of friends.

85 Don't shorten "there are" to "there’re".

There is no such abbreviation. “There is” turns into “there’s”,
but “there are” does not.

Find a mistake:
There’re so many cars today. Where the heck is everyone going?
86 Don't use the definite article after "there is" / "there are"
when talking about something for the first time.
One of the functions of the "there is" / "there are" construction
is to introduce something new, previously unknown: "There
is a cute boy in my class". We are talking about him for the first
time, which means we are using the indefinite article. When we
refer to him later, we will use the definite article "the" or
demonstrative pronouns: "There’s that cute boy that I’ve
been talking about”.

Find a mistake:
There’s the girl at my university who is originally from Iceland.

87 Do not forget about the verb "to be" in Present Continuous,

Past Continuous and Future Continuous tenses. And don't
forget the -ing ending for verbs.
Imagine that you need to check two boxes in the Continuous
tenses checklist: “put the verb “to be” in the correct form” and
“add the ending -ing to the main verb”. If you do so, you will
avoid the options: "I working now" or "I am work now".

I am working now.

Find a mistake:
Kids are play outside as the weather is great today.
88 Do not put adverbs before the verb "to be".

Mark always is on time.

Mark is always on time.

Find a mistake:
You always are late! That’s so annoying!

89 Don't forget about auxiliary verbs when asking questions or

forming negatives.
Each English tense has its own auxiliary verb. In some, it is also
used in an affirmative sentence (all Continuous or Perfect
tenses), while in others (Present Simple and Past Simple) the
auxiliary verb is used only in questions and negations. Simply
putting "not" before a main verb in Present Simple or Past
Simple is not enough. You need to remember "do" / "does" or
"did" and add "not" to it.

I not really like this sort of music.

I don’t really like this sort of music.

Find a mistake:
Mike not knew that we were coming.
90 Sometimes you can overdo it with auxiliary verbs.
When asking a question in the Future Continuous or Future
Perfect tenses, remember that the auxiliary verb is only "will",
so we only move "will", not "will + be" or "will + have".

What will be you doing tonight?

What will you be doing?

Will have you finished before I come back home?

Will you have finished before I come back home?

Find a mistake:
Where will be you spending your summer holidays?

91 Don't add an auxiliary verb to the subject in questions.

Subject questions are affirmative sentences with interrogative
intonation.

Who did steal my last piece of cake?

Who stole my last piece of cake?

Find a mistake:
What did stop you from handing in your work on time?
92 Do not forget that in negations and questions in Present Simple
and Past Simple we put a main verb in the infinitive form.

Jared doesn’t does business with huge corporations.

Jared doesn’t do business with huge corporations.

Find a mistake:
Did Lucie called before coming by?

93 Don't use state verbs with Continuous tenses.

If you do so, those verbs will change their meaning. If we say "He
appears nice", it means "He looks like a nice person". But if we
say, "He's appearing", the meaning will change to "He performs".

Find a mistake:
I am not understanding what you’re talking about.
94 Do not get confused about the meanings of some state verbs,
which change their meaning and then can be used in tenses of
the Continuous form. For example, "I think about buying an
apartment" → "I am thinking about buying an apartment".
”Think” in the Continuous form usually doesn’t mean “I think =
I have an opinion”, but “I am thinking about something”,
“thinking about doing something”. “I'm thinking about
buying an apartment”.

Find a mistake:
I think of buying a new car. Is it worth it?

95 If you agree, you do not need the verb "to be".

A common mistake that Russian-speaking people have is adding the
verb “to be” to the verb “agree”: “I am agree with you”.
The verb "to be" is not needed here, since "agree" is the same
independent verb as all other verbs in English.

I agree with you.

Find a mistake:
I am afraid, Mike won't be agree with us.
96 Don't use "has" instead of "have" in Future Perfect.
Just starting to learn English, we clearly remember: “I / you / we
/ they have”, “he / she / it has”. But there is no need to conjugate
the verb "have" when we use it after a modal verb or in future
tenses.

Jessica will has completed the report before tomorrow.

Jessica will have completed the report before tomorrow.

Find a mistake:
My brother will has graduated the university before I do.

97 Do not abbreviate the verb "have" in Present Simple and Past

Simple.
We know that in Present Perfect we easily turn “I have done” into
“I’ve done” or “She has finished” into “She’s finished”. But here
"have" is an auxiliary, not a semantic verb like in Present Simple,
Past Simple or Future Simple. “We have some food in the fridge”
cannot be shortened to “We’ve some food ...”.
However, there is one "but" here. If you are learning British
English, when you describe possession of something, you use
“have got”, not just “have”. In this case, you can safely abbreviate
“have” to ’ve and “has” to ’s: “We’ve got some food in the
fridge”. In Past Simple, “had” cannot be abbreviated to ’d:

«We’d a nice evening».

«We had a nice evening».

 Find a mistake:
I’d a great time. Thank you for having me!

98 Do not form negatives and questions with the verb "have"

meaning "to own".
This is an important message for learners of American English,
as well as anyone who does not use the "I have got ..."
construction. In the sentences "I have a lot of cool friends" or
"We had a blast last night" "have" is not an auxiliary verb, but a
semantic one. To form negative or interrogative sentences, we
need the auxiliary verb "do" in the right form.

I haven’t a lot of cool friends.

I don’t have a lot of cool friends.

We hadn’t a blast last night.

We didn’t have a blast last night.

Find a mistake:
Jessica hasn’t much choice so she’ll have to agree.
99 If you traveled to Paris two times, it is not "I’ve been in Paris
twice"
That is "I’ve been to Paris twice”. When we say that we went
somewhere, we use the preposition "to". But if you are
somewhere for a certain period of time, than use “in”: "I’ve
been in London for 2 weeks now, and I’m in love with the city".

Find a mistake:
Lucie has been in NYC 5 times already and now she's thinking of
moving there.

100 Do not use Present Perfect + "yesterday" or "last week".

If you are describing a past action and know exactly when it
happened (yesterday, three days ago), use Past Simple.

I’ve got a new phone 2 weeks ago.

I got a new phone 2 weeks ago.

Find a mistake:
We’ve bought a new car last week. It’s way faster than our old one.
101 Don't use "already" in interrogative sentences.
We use "already" in affirmative sentences and "yet" in
interrogative sentences.

Have you already packed your stuff?

Have you packed your stuff yet?

Find a mistake:
Has Nick already left?

102 Don't put "yet" in front of the main verb.

We put "yet" at the end of the sentence.

I haven’t yet finished packing.

I haven’t finished packing yet.

Find a mistake:
Jared hasn’t yet started preparing for TOEFL.
103 Don't say "I live here since my childhood".
We are talking about something permanent, why then we don’t
use Present Simple? Since we indicate here that the action began
in the past (settled in childhood) and continues now, we need to
use Present Perfect or Present Perfect Continuous — for actions
that began in the past and continue to this day.

I live / am living here since my childhood.

I have lived / have been living here since my childhood.

Find a mistake:
It will be so sad to leave this place behind one day. I live in this
town since my teens.

104 Do not confuse Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous.

These tenses are often confused as they can be used to describe
an action that began in the past and continues to this day.
However, Present Perfect is used to emphasize some kind of
quantitative result: “I’ve called you 30 times”. And Present
Perfect Continuous is suitable to emphasize the duration of the
action: "I've been calling you for an hour". You cannot say the
other way around: ”I’ve called you for an hour” or ”I’ve
been calling you 30 times”. The exception is the verbs "live" and
"work", which can be used in both tenses in the same meaning.

Find a mistake:
I’ve tried to reach you for 2 hours! Where the heck are you?
105 Don't say "Earlier we hung out a lot with my friends".
When talking about your past habits or things you don't do
anymore, remember the magic ”used to” construction. It helps us
describe habits or lifestyles that we no longer do. It used to be,
but now it is not.
Earlier we hung out a lot with my friends.

We used to hang out a lot with my friends.

Find a mistake:
Earlier people spent more time in the libraries.

106 Do not add specific dates or words and phrases like

“yesterday”, “last week”, etc. to the construction “used to”.

I used to drive to work yesterday.

I drove to work yesterday.

Find a mistake:
Mike used to get fired from work last month.
107 Do not confuse the constructs "be used to", "get used to" and
"used to".
"Be used to" is for describing a state: "I am used to studying a
lot". "Get used to" is for an action: "You need to get used to
living alone". "Used to" is for a habits or things you don't do
anymore: "Sam used to smoke".

Find a mistake:
I still can’t be used to the hustle and bustle of this noisy city

108 Don't forget the -ing ending after "be used to" and "get used to".
Unlike "used to", when we talk about a state ("be used to") or an
action ("get used to"), we need to add the ending -ing to the
semantic verb.

I am used to study a lot.

I am used to studying a lot.

Find a mistake:
It will take you some time to get used to be around so
many people.
109 "Would" may not always replace "used to".
Sometimes "would" is used as a substitute for "used to" to refer
to some past habits. But if we want to construct a sentence with a
state verb, for example, "to be", we cannot use "would" in that
sense.

I would be excited when my parents gave me

Christmas presents.
I used to be excited when my parents gave me
Christmas presents.
Find a mistake:
Sarah would think it is impossible to study abroad for free till she
received her own scholarship from Yale.

110 Don't be afraid to use "get used to" in Present, Past or Future
Continuous.
When you want to emphasize that you are in the process of
getting used to ("I recently moved and now I am getting used to
living on my own"), you need to use Present Continuous.

I recently moved and now I get used to living on my own.

I recently moved and now I am getting used to living on my own.

Find a mistake:
— How are you doing?
— Well, kinda fine. I still get used to cooking and cleaning on my
own but overall, everything is going great.
111 Remember that we cannot use "will" / "would" after "if" in
conditional clauses. The same rule applies to proposals in the
future tense.
If we want to say when some future action will take place (“I'll call
you when I get home”) instead of “will” in the dependent part of
the sentence, we use Present Simple. The dependent part of the
sentence can begin not only with "when", but also with "as soon
as", "while", "as", "until", "till" and "as long as".

I will call you when I come home.

Find a mistake:
I will be listening to some podcasts while I will be driving home.

112 Don't use Future Perfect without the right context and signal
words.
Future Perfect is used to describe actions that will be performed
at a specific point in the future.

Okay, I will have done it.

Okay, I will have done it by Friday.

Find a mistake:
— Will, can you please take care of the dishes?
— Sure. I will have done them later.
113 Do not use the "while" conjunction with short actions.
"While" is a conjunction that helps us emphasize the duration of the
action: "Jess was talking on the phone with her crush while I was
watching YouTube." With short actions (“when I entered the room”,
“when Josh called”, “when you were 13”), we use “when”.
While I entered the room, I saw that something was missing.

When I entered the room, I saw that something was missing.

Find a mistake:
Lucie was searching for her keys while Nick called her.

114 Do not confuse "for" with "during".

“During” helps us in situations when one action happens, has
happened or will happen during some other event: “You can go
studying abroad during your university years”, “You can ask
any questions during the lecture”. At some point, for example, in
the fourth year of your studies at university, you can go to study
abroad for an exchange. Or you can ask any question at some point
in a lecture. “During” is “at some point in a period of time“. “For”
is used to emphasize the duration of an action: “I’ve been
studying abroad for 3 years now”.

Mike has been concentrating on his studies during the past

couple of weeks.
Mike has been concentrating on his studies for the past couple
of weeks.

Find a mistake:
My parents have been happily married during 10 years.
115 "While" and "during".
The meaning of these words is the same — "at some point in a
period of time". But "during" is a preposition, which means that
only a noun can follow it. "During my studies at university I
was a straight A student". "While" is a conjunction, and after it we
use the second part of the sentence. "While I studied at
university, I was a straight A student".

Some of these things I’ve learned during studying at university.

Some of these things I’ve learned while studying at university.

Find a mistake:
While my work at Google, I’ve learned a lot of useful things about
the corporate world.

116 "Since" and "for".

These two words are often confused. If you want to say that
something has lasted from some point in the past, use "since":
"I've been learning English since childhood". But "for" means
that the action has lasted for a period of time, and the starting
point is not important to us at all: "I've been learning English
for 5 years".

Find a mistake:
For her early teens Meghan has been quite good at manipulating
people.
117 "By" and "until".
These prepositions are about the same thing — something
happens up to a certain point. However, there are nuances in
their use. "Until" — the action takes place until some time and
not after this point. I work until midnight. (and after midnight I
no longer work).
"By" — the action takes place at some point, no later than the set
time. My boss told me to finish the report by Friday. (that is,
no later than the end of the working week).

Find a mistake:
All shops will be closed by further notice.

118 Don't use "through" or "after" instead of "in" as a preposition

for time.
If you want to say that something will happen in a few minutes,
weeks or months, use the preposition "in".

Mike will come back through a couple of minutes.

Mike will come back after a couple of minutes.
Mike will come back in a couple of minutes.

Find a mistake:
You can call me back through a couple of hours. I’ll have all the
info you need.
119 Don't say "In this moment" if you mean "now".
This is not a synonym for the word "now" like the phrase "at this /
the moment" is. "In this moment" can be used in such a
sentence: «In this moment of sadness we all need to be
together».

Find a mistake:
In this moment I am quite busy.

120 Don’t say "We met two years after"

Instead of "after" in this case, use the word "later".

We met 2 years after.

We met 2 years later.

Note, however, that if we mean “Two years after some event” (We
met two years after our graduation), then we will use the adverb
“after”.

Find a mistake:
3 years later our wedding we decided to renew our vows.
121 Don't use "after" as an introductory word.
For example, there are two events: “I will get my Master’s
degree” and “I will go traveling.” You want to combine them
into a single story. You cannot say “I will get my Master’s
degree. After I will go traveling.” In this case, "after" should
be replaced with "afterwards" or "after that".

I will get my Master’s degree. After I will go traveling.

I will get my Master’s degree. After that / Afterwards I will
go travelling.

Find a mistake:
Lucie said yes to Jack. After she learnt he had cheated on her.

122 "Afterwards" and "later".

Both words are translated as "after", but their meaning is
different. "Afterwards" implies that the events take place right
after each other, and "later" suggests that there is some time
interval between the events.

I completed my studies when I was 24. Afterwards when I was 27

I applied for a PhD program.
I completed my studies when I was 24. Later when I was 27
I applied for a PhD program.

Find a mistake:
Mike left the house. Later he got into his car and drove away.
123 "Ago" and "before".
“Before” — earlier than a particular event or action:
"I’ve never been here before",
"Before I came back home, I had gone to the grocery shop".
"Ago" is used to show how far back in the past something
happened. "Ago" is not used on its own.

I met him 2 days before.

I met him 2 days ago.

Find a mistake:
Today is our wedding anniversary, kids. Your mum and I met
15 years before.

124 Don’t forget about Sequence of Tenses.

In English it is important to remember the rules of indirect
speech — we take a step back in time.

Mike said that he will call you later.

Mike said that he would call you later.

Find a mistake:
Nickie told me that they are chipping in for Sam’s birthday.
125 When putting questions into indirect speech, remember the
direct word order.
After the introductory phrases "Mike asks", "Lucie wondered",
you need to turn the question into an ordinary affirmative
sentence. Direct word order (subject + predicate) is required,
without auxiliary verbs that appear in questions.

Lucie wondered if were you okay with looking after the kids.
Lucie wondered if you were okay with looking after the kids.

Find a mistake:
Can you please tell me where is the nearest grocery store?

126 If you take a step back in tenses in indirect speech, do not

forget to take a step back in tense expressions.

Jack told me he had seen Nickie last week.

Jack told me he had seen Nickie the week before /

the previous week.

Find a mistake:
Jackie asked if she could drop in tomorrow.
127 Do not change the verb "must" to "had to" in indirect speech if
you use it when you convey confidence in something.
Let's say you want to say, "Kate must be devastated because of
the break up with Mike". By conveying this sentence in the form
of indirect speech, we leave the "must" unchanged, since here
we express our confidence, and not Kate’s obligation.

Kurt said that Kate had to be devastated because of the breakup

with Mike.
Kurt said that Kate must be devastated because of the breakup
with Mike.

Find a mistake:
Marcus said that it had to take us a lot of effort to pull off such
a trick.

128 Do not get confused with the subjunctive mood.

“My dad ask that I do homework”
“My dad asked / asks that I do homework”
Those who have already studied the subjunctive mood know that
the verb remains in infinitive form. However, often the verb that is
in the first part of the sentence is also put into infinitive. This is
how we transmit who asked for something, ordered something,
etc. But this is not necessary, before the word "that" we put the
verb in any tense we need.

Find a mistake:
Our teacher demand that we hand in our papers in a written form.
129 Don't mix up "would rather" and "had better".
Students often confuse these constructs and write: “I had
rather wait for you outside” or “She would better take a little
rest”. That is not correct, since "would rather" and "had better"
are stable constructs. Correct would be: "I would rather wait
for you outside." and "She had better take a little rest".

Find a mistake:
My friends would better go skiing than lie on the beach.

130 Don't put "to" after "had better" and "would rather".

We’d better to spend less money on eating out.

We’d better spend less money on eating out.

Find a mistake:
I’d better to save up a little more and buy an iPad instead of
new clothes.
131 Do not put "not" before "better" in the construction "had
better".
If we need to use a negative construction with “had better”, “not”
will appear immediately after the word “better”.
You’d not better get in his way.
You’d better not get in his way.

Find a mistake:
You’d not better mull it over for too long. It might be too late.

132 Do not use the present or future tense after "would rather".
In the construction "would rather", where we say that we would
like someone to do something, the main verb will be in the past
form.

I’d rather my son goes to university.

I’d rather my son went to university.

Find a mistake:
I would rather my husband will stop playing computer games
and help me with the chores.
133 Don't use the present tense after "it's time that".
As in the case with the construction "would rather", which
expresses our desire in relation to someone else, in the
construction "it’s time someone did something" the verb will be
in the past form.

It’s time that you start studying.

It’s time that you started studying.

Find a mistake:
I think it's time that you get over your ex-boyfriend.

134 Do not use "what" as a conjunctive conjunction for two parts of

a sentence.
“Mike told me ___ he was excited to see me” — to connect the
two parts of this sentence, we'll use “that” rather than “what”.
"What" is used only as an interrogative word, not as a
conjunction for compound sentences.

Mike told me that he was excited to see me.

Find a mistake:
Lucie let the cat out of the bag and told me what Mickey was
going to propose to her.
135 Don't use "which" with animate nouns.
When we want to describe some animate noun in more detail,
we need to use the word "who" / "that" (a more informal
version). For example, “My classmate is majoring in Computer
Science”, “He will apply for an internship at Apple”. How do you
combine these two sentences? "My classmate, who is
majoring in Computer Science, will apply for an internship at
Apple." Here you cannot replace "who" with "which".

Find a mistake:
My friend which is obsessed with organizing everything also
likes to stock up on groceries and home goods.

136 Do not replace common nouns with "that".

We already know that in more informal speech "who" can be
replaced with "that", but with one condition — our subject should
be expressed by a common noun, not a proper one.

Mr. Jefferson, that is my science teacher, lectures at Harvard.

Mr. Jefferson, who is my science teacher, lectures at Harvard.

Find a mistake:
Kamala Harris, that is a vice president-elect of the USA, is a
member of the Democratic party.
137 Do not omit relative pronouns ("who", "which" and "that") if
they play the role of the subject in the sentence.
We saw such examples in previous errors: “Mr. Jefferson, who is
my science teacher, lectures at Harvard". In this case, it would
be a mistake to omit the pronoun "who", since it is the subject —
"who is my science teacher". And a relative pronoun can also
play the role of an addition: "The girl that / who I met
yesterday lives in my dorm". In this case, you can safely omit
"that" / "who" without losing the meaning.

Find a mistake:
Wow, that quiet kid Mickey, lives next door, turned out to be a
drug dealer.

138 Do not separate all clauses with "who", "which", "that", "whose"
and "where" with commas.
This punctuation error came to English from Russian. In Russian,
you should always separate the clauses with commas. But in
English, subordinate clauses are divided into "identifying clause"
and "non-identifying clause".
"Identifying clause" — subordinate clauses that carry important
information for understanding. Without it, the sentence will hardly
make sense: "Students who don’t sign up for classes until
Friday won’t be able to get necessary credits." Without the
information “students won’t be able to get necessary credits” the
sentence is meaningless. We do not isolate such subordinate
clauses.
In the sentence “Mr. Jefferson, who is my science teacher,
lectures at Harvard ”, we have a “non-identifying clause”, since
without it it’s clear who is lecturing at Harvard. This part of the
sentence can be omitted, so we separate it with commas.
 Find a mistake:
The bookstore, that is located in Downtown LA, is called the
Last Bookstore.

139 Don't use "that" in a "non-identifying clause" or after

prepositions.

The Louis Vitton bag, that I gave you, is quite expensive.

The Louis Vitton bag, which I gave you, is quite expensive.
The company at that Jess used to work is now bankrupt.
The company at which Jess used to work is now bankrupt.

Find a mistake:
The bank in that I keep money just went bankrupt.
140 Do not add the preposition "of" after "despite".
Remember: "in spite of", but "despite" without "of".

Despite of her happy marriage, Helga is miserable.

Despite her happy marriage, Helga is miserable.

Find a mistake:
Despite of the bad weather, people still went out on rallies.

141 Don’t use an infinitive after "despite" or "in spite of".

These two conjunctions require either a noun or a verb with the
ending -ing after them.

Despite to be depressed, Nicki has overcome her problems.

Despite her depression, Nicki has overcome her problems.
Despite being depressed, Nicki has overcome her problems.

Find a mistake:
In spite of act up all the time, Jess is still the favorite child.
142 Don't forget about "the fact that" if you want to say a whole
sentence after "despite" or "in spite of".

Despite / In spite of Mark isn’t experienced, he was still hired.

Despite / In spite of the fact that Mark isn’t experienced,
he was still hired.

Find a mistake:
Despite Mike and Sarah have broken up, they are still going out
together.

143 Don't use "to" after modal verbs.

Modal verbs are always used with infinitives, with the exception
of the verbs "ought to", "have to" and "be to". → He can’t to
be there on time.

I can help you later tonight.

Our company ought to change our policy.

Find a mistake:
We must to cooperate if we want to win.
144 Don't say "Divide on groups".
The right preposition is "into":

“To divide something into groups”.

Find a mistake:
Okay, kids, divide on groups and start working.

145 Don't say "Wait somebody" without "for".

In English, prepositions show connections, since case endings
do not exist in English.

Find a mistake:
Can you please wait me in the car? I’ll be ready in a moment.
146 Don't forget the preposition "to" in "listen to music".
The same situation goes for "wait for somebody". "To listen to
music" — "listen (what?) music." The preposition "to" helps to
show us this connection, since you can't show anything in
English with endings.

Find a mistake:
My favorite way to chill is to drive alone at night and listen music.

147 Do not use the verb "can" in affirmative sentences meaning

"maybe".
If you want to say that you will be late due to traffic jams, use the
modal verbs "may", "might" and "could".

I can be late because of the traffic.

I could / might / may be late because of the traffic.

Find a mistake:
The government can introduce new laws next week.
148 Do not use "may" in questions that mean "maybe".
Let's say you want to ask: "Maybe it's Jack?" We know that the
verbs "may," "might," and "could" can be used to indicate a
possibility or a suggestion. But if you want to ask a question,
then it is better to use "might", "could" or "can". "May" in
questions is used to ask permission for something.

May this be Jack?

Might / Could / Can this be Jack?

Find a mistake:
May this be helpful to you?

149 Don't use "could" and "might" to give permission to someone.

We can use "may", "might", "could", or "can" to ask permission.
To give permission to someone, you need to use "can" or "may".

— Could I hand in my paper tomorrow?

— Yes, you may / you can.

Find a mistake:
— Can I invite some friends for a sleepover?
— Yes, you could.
150 Don't use "might not" and "could not" if you don't allow
someone to do something.
The modal verbs “may not”, “can not” and “must not” are
suitable for this.

— Could I open the window?

— No, you can’t / may not (формальн.) / mustn’t.

Find a mistake:
— Could I come in?
— No, you couldn't.

151 Do not use "could" to mean "managed to / could do

something".
If you successfully passed the TOEFL or finally got your license,
then use the construct "were able to" / "were able to".

I could pass TOEFL yesterday.

I was able to pass TOEFL yesterday.

Find a mistake:
I could finally sell my old furniture that was cluttering my place.
152 Do not use "could" to mean "was allowed" for a specific
situation.
Let's say you want to say that you were allowed to go to a party
with a friend. To say “I could go to my friend’s party” would be
a mistake. When you have a specific party, and the permission
applies only to that, you need to use the "be allowed to"
construct. “I was allowed to go to my friend’s party”. If you
mean some kind of permission in general (let's say, take dad's
car whenever you want), then you can use both "be allowed to"
and "could".

Find a mistake:
I didn't forbid my kids to go to your party. They could come over
but apparently, they didn't want to.

153 Don't say: "I want to get him smiled".

This mistake is constantly encountered among students who are
learning the construct "get something done". They try to use it
as a substitute for the modal verb "make someone do
something". This is not entirely grammatically correct. If you
want to use the verb “get”, you can say: “I want to get him to
smile” (to get someone to do something). But the native would
say simply: "I want to make him smile" or "I want him to
smile".

Find a mistake:
I just want to get you listened to me, that's it.
154 Don't use "to" after "let" and "to make" as "to force".
Let's reveal the secret — these are also modal verbs, so you
don't need to use "to" after them.

Let me to go!
Let me go!
I made her to apologize.
I made her apologize.

Find a mistake:
Jack’s boss made him to work till late at night.

155 When talking about the passive voice, do not confuse "by"
and "with"

I am sorry but I was made reveal your secret.

I am sorry but I was made to reveal your secret.

Find a mistake:
I was made confess! They tortured me!
156 When talking about the passive voice, do not confuse "by" and
"with»
"By" is a preposition we often use in the passive voice to denote
who did the act. This report was written by Jack. "With"
denotes the material from which something is made. This
cake is made with gluten-free flour.

Find a mistake:
«The Little Prince» was written with Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

157 "Make from", "make of", "make out of" and "make with".
All of these prepositions help us tell what something is made of.
Let's figure out how to choose the right one.
"Make from" — we take one or several materials and change
their shape, and then we can no longer clearly see the source
material: for example, when melting. Paper is made from
wood. Gas is made from oil. This combination is often used
when we are talking about some kind of production.
"Make of" — the item is made of some material, and it is obvious
to us what kind of material it is. This table is made out of oak.
This necklace is made of gold and silver.
"Make out of" — the item has been remade from another item.
My mom makes vases out of old wine bottles.
"Make with" is used when we are listing the ingredients of a food
or drink. This cake is made with eggs and flour.

Find a mistake:
This dessert is made out of gluten-free flour.
158 Don't say "depend from".
In English it is "to depend on". Our future depends on your
help.
Find a mistake:
When you grow up, you'll have to learn not to depend
from anyone.

159 After the verb "believe" we do not always use "in"

If we believe in someone, we need the preposition "in":
"I believe in you". And if we believe or don't believe anything,
no preposition is needed: "I don’t believe any word that you
say!"

Find a mistake:
My manager didn't believe in my story and told me to stop making
up all sorts of excuses.

160 Do not use any prepositions after the verb "call".

It's simple — "to call someone".

I called to my friend but she didn’t answer.

I called my friend but she didn’t answer.

Find a mistake:
Try calling to the bank. They might tell you what to do in case your
card gets stuck.
161 Don't say "arrive to".
With "arrive", there are two options: "arrive in" and "arrive at".
"Arrive at" is used with public places: hotel, station, shop.
"Arrive in" is used with cities and countries.

Mike arrived at / to London.

Mike arrived in London.
Mike arrived in the train station.
Mike arrived at the train station.

Find a mistake:
We will be arriving to London in 30 minutes.

162 Don't say "arrive at home" or "arrive to home".

No preposition is needed.

Jessica arrived to / at home late at night.

Jessica arrived home late at night.

Find a mistake:
I’ll call you as soon as I arrive at home.
163 Don't say "compare with".
The correct preposition is "to".

Stop comparing me with my friends.

Stop comparing me to my friends.

Find a mistake:
Young people can be quite under a lot of pressure because of
constant comparison with their peers.

164 Don't forget about the preposition "of" after the verb
"approve".

Your parents will disapprove such behavior.

Your parents will disapprove of such behavior.

Find a mistake:
Most schools disapprove the lack of uniform.
165 Don't get confused in prepositions with the verb and the noun
"influence".
If we use a verb, no preposition is needed.
Mike’s decision will influence the whole situation in a bad way.
But if this is a noun, we put the preposition "on".
Mike’s bad influence on our son is terrifying.

Find a mistake:
Popular bloggers can easily influence on mass opinion.
That’s why they are called influencers.

166 Don't say "marry with" or "marry for".

If you are marrying someone, you don’t need a preposition after
“marry” at all.
Will you marry me?
And if we do not use the verb itself, but the adjective "married"
in the constructs "get married" or "be married", then we need
the preposition "to".
Nick’s been married to Vicky for more than 30 years now.

Find a mistake:
My daughter is just 7 but she is already dreaming of
marrying with a wealthy guy.
167 Don't forget about the preposition "to" after the verb "explain".
If you are explaining something to someone, you must use the
preposition "to".

Mike explained his problem me.

Mike explained his problem to me.

Find a mistake:
You shouldn’t get angry at your parents that it takes time to explain
them some new technologies.

168 Do not use the preposition "about" or "of" after the word
"advertisement."
If you want to say, “I saw advertisements for these courses on
the Internet,” use the preposition “for”.

I’ve seen an ad about these courses on the Internet.

I’ve seen an ad for these courses on the Internet.

Find a mistake:
— How did you learn about our school?
— Oh, I’ve seen an ad about your photography classes and it got
me interested.
169 Don't forget the definite article "the" before perfect adjectives.
A superlative form indicates that an object or person becomes
the most, and, therefore, unique. That is why you add the article
"the".

Mike is smartest student in the whole school.

Mike is the smartest student in the whole school.

Find a mistake:
If you don't have a car, metro is fastest way to get around the city.

170 The comparative form of "good" is not "gooder", and from

"bad" is not "badder"
These adjectives form the comparative and superior form in a
special way, just like "far", "little" and "many" / "much". So just
remember that the comparative of the adjective “good” and the
adverb “well” is “better”, and the superlative is “best”. For
the adjective “bad” and the adverb “badly” the equivalents are
“worse” and “worst”.

Find a mistake:
— What is the baddest decision that you’ve ever made?
— Not learning English.
171 No "more cheaper".
We can add a word or phrase before the comparative form of an
adjective or adverb to reinforce its meaning. For example, "much
cheaper" or "a little faster." And if you want to emphasize that
some object is much stronger, weaker or smaller than another,
use the word "much", not "more". "More" is a comparative form
in itself, so you shouldn't combine it with others.

This car is more cheaper than yours.

This car is much cheaper than yours.

Find a mistake:
It is more simpler to hire a professional that to try fixing the leak
yourself.

172 Don't try to compare the incomparable.

This applies not only to English, but also to all languages of the
world. In fact, this is a rule of logic. :-) We can only compare
qualitative adjectives — those that express the assessment:
"cool", "bad", "fast". Relative adjectives denote material, time,
place, purpose, etc. They cannot be compared. There are no
more wooden tables or less red lipsticks.

However, in some cases, when it comes to colors and shades,

you can use such a construction as "not as ... as". → This
lipstick is not as red as the one by Dior.
 Find a mistake:
My laptop case is less black than yours.

173 Do not add the endings -er and -est to adjectives that end in -
ing and -ed in the comparative and superlative degrees.
According to the rule, the endings -er and -est should be added
to short adjectives (consist of one or two syllables) in
comparative and superlative degrees. "Boring" and "bored" fit
this rule. But with all adjectives ending in -ing and -ed, we form
comparative and superlatives only with the words "more" and
"most".

Jack is the boringest guy that I’ve ever met.

Jack is the most boring guy that I’ve ever met.

Find a mistake:
Finding your soulmate is probably one of the most amazingest
things that can happen to you.
174 Do not add the definite article "the" in front of the excellent
adverb form.
Articles are not used with adverbs. There are only a few
exceptions, and they will be discussed below.

James works the hardest in our company.

James works hardest in our company.

Find a mistake:
Sarah works the most attentively when it comes to small details.

175 Excellent adverb form requires the definite article "the" after
the amplifiers "by far", "easily", "much".

This computer performs by far best.

This computer performs by far the best.

Find a mistake:
Employees work by far most efficiently with the Agile system.
176 Use the forms "elder" and "the eldest" only in front of nouns
and when you are talking about members of the same family.
The adjective "old" has two variants of the comparative and
superior forms: "older" / "oldest" and "elder" / "eldest". Older /
oldest is a versatile option that can be used in any situation. But
"elder" / "eldest" is used only in combination with a noun to
describe members of the same family. For example:
"I am 34. My brother James is 36. He is my elder brother".

My brother is elder than me.

My brother is older than me.
Our eldest manager is really experienced.
Our oldest manager is really experienced.

Find a mistake:
My older cousin Jack is coming over for Christmas.

177 No "I am older than you for 2 years".

The preposition in this phrase is required only in Russian, but in
English it will be different:
"I am 5 years older / younger than you".

Find a mistake:
I am the youngest sibling in my family. My brother is older than
me for 3 years and my sister is older than me for 5 years.
178 “In the age of 15”.
The right preposition is "at".

In the age of 15 Mark has already finished school and started his
bachelor’s degree.
At the age of 15 Mark has already finished school and started his
bachelor's degree.

Find a mistake:
My close friend opened his first coffee shop in the age of 23.

179 Why “You’re my age” but “People of my age are boring?”.

These phrases are exceptions. So just remember:
“You’re my age”, and “People of my age”.

Find a mistake:
It is scary that people my age are now getting married and
having kids.
180 "Farther" / "farthest" and "further" / "furthest".
Both of these comparative and excellent forms of the adjective
and adverb "far" can be used when talking about distance.
How much farther / further? But the word "further" also has
a figurative meaning — "additional, next, further". “Please
call 903 for further (= additional) information” or “His plans
for further education remain unclear”. You cannot use "farther"
figuratively.

Find a mistake:
If such inappropriate behavior doesn't stop, we’ll have to take
farther legal actions.

181 Do not use the comparative form after comparisons "twice", "3
times" and similar.

This apartment is twice more expensive than our old one.

This apartment is twice as expensive as our old one.

Find a mistake:
I know that this house is three times farther from the city center
than our old one but look how stunning it is.
182 Personal pronouns “I”, “we”, etc. cannot be used after “than”.
When comparing people or objects, after “than” you need to use
either object pronouns (“me”, “you”, “her”, “him”) or “than I am /
do / did” (the auxiliary verb depends on the verb in the main
sentence).

Jack runs faster than I.

Jack runs faster than me.
Jack runs faster than I do.

Find a mistake:
My younger brother is more talented than I.

183 Don't put the article before "quite".

"Quite" is an adjective and adverb amplifier, just like "very".
Quite translates to pretty. However, unlike "very" in the
combination "quite + adjective" we put the article after the word
"quite", and not before it.

Jack is a quite witty guy.

Jack is quite a witty guy.

Find a mistake:
My mom is quite wise woman and she always gives the
best advice.
184 Do not use "quite" in comparative terms.
If you want to reinforce the comparative form of an adjective or
adverb, you shouldn't use the adverb "quite". Replace it with
"rather".

This place is quite more spacious than our old apartment.

This place is rather more spacious than our old apartment.

Find a mistake:
I used to have quite better benefits at my previous job.

185 Saying "Tom is tall like me" is wrong.

We know how to show that some quality is more or less
expressed, but how to show equality? To say “Tom is as tall as
me”, we need the construction “as + adjective + as”.

Tom is tall like me.

Tom is as tall as me.
Tom is as tall as I am.

Find a mistake:
This paper is not difficult like you think.
186 Do not omit the definite article "the" before the comparative
form of adjectives and adverbs in sentences such as "Than ...,
so ...”.
This is a common mistake. If you want to show that the sooner
you buy your tickets, the cheaper they will be, don't forget the
article. Also, pay attention to the unusual (inverted) word order
in this case.

Earlier we buy tickets, cheaper they will be.

The earlier we buy tickets, the cheaper they will be.

Find a mistake:
Faster you send your assignment, better grade you will get.

187 "The coolest / smartest / most handsome of all my friends" is

not "from my friends".
Many students rely on the translation from their own language
and mistakenly use "from". But in English, when we want to
emphasize that someone has the most pronounced quality from
a group of people, we should use "of" or "in". If we are talking
about places, we use "in".

Josh is the most talented from our class.

Josh is the most talented of our class.

Find a mistake:
Peach is the tiniest kitten from the litter but also the fastest one.
188 Use superlative comparisons with "ever", "in the world", etc.
Often, students omit these words, thinking that everything is
clear without them. However, it is still correct to pronounce the
entire phrase. For example: “You’re the best man ever” or
“This is the most beautiful place in the world”. But don't
confuse them. Saying “This is a beautiful place in the world”
or “You’re the good man ever” is wrong.

Find a mistake:
Studying abroad has been my big dream ever.

189 Don't confuse "a few" and "a little".

"A few" is used with countable plural nouns ("a few people", "a
few apples"), and "a little" is used with uncountable nouns ("a
little milk", "a little money").

There are a little sweets left. You can take some if you want.
There are a few sweets left. You can take some if you want.

Find a mistake:
We still have a little places open so you can book one if you want.
190 Don't confuse "a few" and "few", "a little" and "little".
Another common mistake associated with these words is
misuse of the article. In this case, we use the indefinite article
"a", even when we are talking about uncountable nouns, but its
presence or absence can change the meaning of the sentence.
"A few" / "a little" — something / someone is not many, but is
making no suggestion about whether it is enough. "Few" /
"little" — little and not enough.

Find a mistake:
Only a few people showed up. It wasn't enough to organize a
proper event.

191 "Such as" and "like" are not interchangeable.

If we mean something not specifically, for example, creative
professions in general (an artist or photographer), then we use
"like". Jobs like a photographer or an artist are highly
respected in modern society. If we mean specifically these
professions (namely the artist and the photographer), then we
use "such as". Jobs such as a photographer or an artist are
highly respected in modern society. "Like" is used for
similarity, and "such as" for inclusion.

Find a mistake:
Places such as the Sahara desert can be deadly to anyone who
comes there unprepared.
192 There is a difference between "at the end" and "in the end".
It all depends on what you say next. If you want to say “in the
end”, feel free to choose the option “in the end”. Everything
turned out great in the end. If you want to say "at the end of the
day / week / month" then the option "at the end" is needed.
At the end of the day all humans are the same. In addition,
“at the end of the day” is a good expression that native speakers
often use to mean “in the end, in the end”.

Find a mistake:
At the end, Mike didn't even show up.

193 Do not use the construction "too + adjective + noun".

"Too" is only used with adjectives or adverbs.

It’s a too perfect morning.

This morning is too perfect.

Find a mistake:
It’s a too good day to spend it doing chores.
194 Don't use "so" with "adjective + noun"
We use "so" simply with adjectives or with adverbs to reinforce
them. For nouns with or without an adjective we use "such".

It is so wonderful place.
This place is so wonderful!
It is such a wonderful place!

Find a mistake:
Josh can be so nice guy sometimes.

195 Don't forget the indefinite article after "such" before an

adjective in conjunction with a countable noun in the singular.

They had such romantic date.

They had such a romantic date.

Find a mistake:
Nicky has such fantastic style. I wonder where she gets
inspiration for all of her outfit ideas.
196 Do not use "will" and "would" in the conditional part of a
conditional sentence.
It is not entirely correct to formulate this error as "do not use
"will" and "would" after "if", because it is possible, but not in
conditional clauses. And in place of "if" there can be "when", "as
long as" and "unless". Therefore, remember: do not use the
verbs "will" and "would" in the main sentence (where we denote
a condition). Instead of "will" and "would" we use Present
Simple / Continuous, Past Simple / Continuous, Past Perfect
Simple / Continuous tenses.

If you won’t turn down the music, I will take away your phone!
If you don’t turn down the music, I will take away your phone!

Find a mistake:
If people would follow sanitary requirements, there would be
fewer COVID cases.

197 Don't be afraid to use "will" and "would" after "if", but only in
two cases.
"If" can serve as a union. I don’t know if he will come.
If we want to express a polite request with a conditional
sentence. If you will wait for Mr. Peterson just a little bit, he
will answer all of your questions.

Find a mistake:
I will be super grateful if you help me out with this task.
198 "Unless" is negation.
Often, students add negative conjunctions after “unless”,
forgetting that the word “unless” itself makes the sentence
negative. The result is a double negation, which sounds strange.

Unless we don’t do something about it, we will lose our company.

Unless we do something about it, we will lose our company.

Find a mistake:
Unless more people do not start living sustainably, our planet will
suffer from severe ecological consequences.

199 Do not use "do" and "don’t" in tag questions in imperative

sentences. It is wrong to say: "Stay here, don’t you?".
In the tag question, for polite requests, we do not use “don’t
you” or “are you”, we use “will you”? This translates as "Okay?"
So the correct option for the sentence above is "Stay here,
will you?" More examples: "Think about it, will you?", "Do me a
favor, will you?"

Find a mistake:
Get in the car, don't you?
200 Do not use the form "amn't I" or "am I not" in tag questions.
If we want to make the tag negative in a sentence with the subject
"I" and the verb "am", we’d say "aren’t I".

I am cool, amn’t I?
I am cool, aren’t I?

Find a mistake:
I am really good at it, amn’t I?

201 If there is a negation in the sentence, but there is no "not", the

sentence is still negative.
Therefore, an affirmative tag is needed.

You have never been to Paris, haven’t you?

You have never been to Paris, have you?

Find a mistake:
There was nothing on the table, wasn't there?
202 Therefore, an affirmative tag is needed.
In the short answers "So am I", "Neither am I", "So do I" and
"Neither do I" there is inversion — just like in interrogative
sentences. The auxiliary verb comes first, followed by the
pronoun.

— I am a student.
— So am I.
— I checked the door already.
— So did I.

203 Don't confuse "So am / do I" and "Neither am / do I".

We use "So am / do I" to agree with an affirmative proposal.

— I love pickles.
— So do I!

But if the sentence is negative, then we need "Neither am / do I".

— I’m not the best student.

— Neither am I. But that’s kinda okay.

Find a mistake:
— My husband never helps me out with kids.
— So does mine.
204 Do not forget about the prepositions in the questions.
Imagine, you need to ask a question for this sentence: "Titanic
was directed by James Cameron". To ask about the director of
this movie, you need to put the preposition "by" at the end of the
sentence, not before the "who".

By who was Titanic directed?

Who was Titanic directed?
Who was Titanic directed by?

Find a mistake:
For what are you doing it?

205 Don't use the infinitive after the verb "mind".

“Do you mind to help me?” is wrong. After this verb you need
a gerund: “Do you mind helping me?”

Find a mistake:
Would you mind to switch seats with me?
206 Don't use the infinitive after "look forward to".
Here again the gerund is needed:

I’m looking forward to hear from you.

I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

Find a mistake:
We’re looking forward to host you in our luxurious hotel.

207 Do not use a preposition before the word "abroad".

"Abroad" is an adverb, so the preposition "to" is not needed
in front of it.

Nick is going to abroad to study.

Nick is going abroad to study.

Find a mistake:
Have you ever been to abroad?
208 Don't always use the infinitive after the verb "advise".
Let's say there is a general piece of advice that is not
directed at a specific person: "Doctors advise exercising 3
times a week". You can't use an infinitive here, you need a
gerund. But if you want to give advice to a friend, then you
need an infinitive: “I advise you to start learning English
now.”

Doctors advise to exercise 3 times a week.

Doctors advise exercising 3 times a week.
I advise you starting learning English now.
I advise you to start learning English now.

Find a mistake:
Our English teacher advises us reviewing new vocabulary
every 2 days.

209 Don't use a gerund after the verb "afford".

I cannot afford going traveling abroad.

I cannot afford to go traveling abroad.

Find a mistake:
Unfortunately, we cannot afford buying you a new iPhone at
the moment.
210 "Be happy" and "get happy".
Everything is simple here, but errors also occur. "Be happy / sad /
nervous etc." is a state, but "get happy" or "become happy" is a
process.

I was nervous when my husband stopped returning my calls.

I was getting nervous when my husband stopped returning

my calls.

Find a mistake:
I got extremely excited to learn that I had been accepted
to university.

211 Don't use "very" with strong adjectives or adverbs.

“This movie is very terrifying” doesn't sound right because
“terrifying” is already “very scary”. "Very" as an amplifier can be
used with more neutral adjectives and adverbs: "good", "bad",
"scary", "fast". With strong adjectives, you can use a word such
as, for example, "extremely".

Find a mistake:
Nuclear weapons are very hazardous.
212 Don't say, "How does she look like?"
When it comes to a person's appearance, we use the
interrogative word “what”.

How does she look like?

What does she look like?

As an alternative, you could say

"How does she look?"

213 Don't say: "How is it called in English?" when you want to

know the name of a thing.
The same mistake. If you ask a native speaker: “How do you call this
thing?”, he jokingly answers: “Loudly”, because for him the question
word “how” is associated with a way of action. The correct option
would be: "What is it called in English?"

214 Don't overuse "how".

"How is your mood?" is wrong. To ask about someone's

condition in English, you can use the phrases "How are you?",
"How are you doing?" и "How’s it going?".
215 "I am normal, thanks" is not "It's okay, thanks"
That would be a great answer to the question "Are you crazy?»
If we want to say that everything is okay with us, it would be:
"I’m fine, thanks", "I’m alright", "I’m good",
"I’m okay".

Find a mistake:
— How is your mood today?
— Everything is normal, what about you?

216 Don't say: "I think no"

If you want to disagree with someone, it is better to express this
thought through the phrases. "I don’t think so", "I wouldn’t
say so" or "I don’t think it’s possible".

Find a mistake:
— You should move to another place if you don't like where
you live now.
— I think no. I believe you should really move to a new country
if you know what to do there.
217 "Excuse me" is a bad way to ask for forgiveness.
If you really want to ask someone for forgiveness for a
wrongdoing, use the expression “I am really / deeply sorry for
what I’ve done”. "Excuse me" is only good for getting someone's
attention or asking someone to repeat what s/he is saying.

218 Do not use "please" when you are replying to someone’s

gratitude.
Say "no problem", "sure", "you’re welcome", "no worries"
или "happy to help".

Find a mistake:
— Thank you so much for helping me out with bags!
— Please, my dear.

219 No plural in "no problem".

The word "problem" is in the singular.

No problems

No problem.
220 Do not use the verb "do" with "mistakes".
There are two verbs in English that mean "to do": "do" and
"make". The difference between them is that "make" means "to
produce something", and "do" means "to perform an action or
activity". We produce mistakes, so use the verb “make”.

Find a mistake:
I really think you should be more attentive when doing your
homework. You’ve been doing so many mistakes lately.

221 Don't say "make photos" or "do photos".

With photographs, we only use the verb "take".

I like making pictures.

I like taking pictures.

Find a mistake:
Film photography is my biggest passion. I enjoy making
vintage photos of my friends and family.
222 Don't say “I was late for the train”.
For this there is the verb "miss".

I was late for the train.

I missed the train.

"Be late for" is an expression that means that a person was late,
but still got to class, plane or train.

Find a mistake:
I am sorry, professor. I was late for the bus and had to catch
another one.

223 "Cure of" and "cure for".

One of these words is a verb and the other is a noun. We
cannot cure this patient of cancer. Here we have a verb, and
therefore we use the preposition "of". There’s no cure for
cancer. This one is a noun, so we need the preposition "for".

Find a mistake:
The best cure of exhaustion is a good night sleep.
224 "Be afraid to do" and "be afraid of doing".
The expressions are similar, but using the infinitive or the
preposition + gerund changes a lot. "Be afraid to do" — not
willing to do something because of the fear of the consequences.
I am afraid to ask my crush out. What if he turns down my
idea? "Be afraid of doing" — to worry about something that might
happen. I am afraid of missing the plane because I left the
house too late.

Find a mistake:
I am afraid of confessing to my parents that I’ve got a tattoo.
I think they won't like it.

225 Don't confuse the -ed and -ing endings for adjectives.
"Bored" and "boring" are like two sides of the same coin.
"Something boring makes you bored." When we add the ending -
ing to the verb, we get an adjective that describes the
characteristic of something / someone. This movie is boring.
And the ending -ed in the adjective describes the state and
emotions: "I am bored".

Jess, why are you so boring? What do you want to do?

Jess, why are you so bored? What do you want to do?

Find a mistake:
Jeremy looked so surprising when our whole gang showed up
at his house for his birthday.
226 Do not use the verb "forget" to mean "to forget to take
something."
If you left your homework at home, tell the teacher “I left my
copybook at home”, not “I forgot it at home”.

Find a mistake:
Mike forgot his keys on the table and got locked out of his
apartment.

227 I study at school.

When you say that you are a student, it means that studying at
school is now your occupation. And then you need to use the verb
"go":
I don’t work, I go to school.
Note that with the words "school" (= university), "university" and
"college", you can use both "go" and "study". You can also just
say “I’m in school / college / university” to say that you are
studying there.

Find a mistake:
I’ve been studying at school for 10 years already and I still
don’t understand math.
228 "On time" and "in time".
We use "in time" when we say that we have come somewhere or
have done something at the right moment:

You called me in time.

We use "on time" when we say that something happens on

schedule, at the scheduled time:

The plane took off on time.

Find a mistake:
You got home just on time — we’re going to have dinner.

229 "Quiet" and "quite".

"Quiet" is an adjective that translates as "calm." It was a nice
quiet summer evening. "Quite" is an adverb that translates as
"enough." He was quite rude to me yesterday.

Find a mistake:
Her voice was soft and quite so I fell asleep.
230 "Achieve" and "accomplish".
"Accomplish" is “to succeed in doing something”, for example,
doing a task. But "achieve" is "to successfully complete
something or get a good result". If you play video games, you
probably know what achievements are. You went somewhere and
completed the quest — this is "to accomplish", but getting a
reward of five hundred gold coins for this is "to achieve".

Find a mistake:
How could you achieve this task in such little time? That's
virtually impossible!

231 "Amount" and "number".

"Amount" is used with uncountable nouns, and "number" is used
with countable nouns. The amount of money spent on this
problem is shocking. A big number of people applied for
financial support. It must be admitted that native speakers
themselves are often mistaken and use the word "amount" with
countable nouns.

Find a mistake:
The big amount of tourists greatly affects the city's landscape
and its culture.
232 "Audience" and "spectators".
Both words refer to people who are watching an event. Only
"audience" is used in relation to cultural events: cinema, theater,
concert. "Spectators" is used with all other words, especially in
relation to sporting events.

Find a mistake:
The kiss cam is a super popular thing at sports events in the
states. It scans the audience and selects a couple, showing
them on the big screen so they would kiss.

233 A piece of paper on which a doctor writes what medicine a sick

person should have is not "recipe" and not "receipt"
If you find yourself in the hospital, you will hear the following
phrase from the doctor: "I will give you a prescription for
antibiotics". "Prescription" is the right word.

Find a mistake:
I am sorry but I can't sell you this drug without a recipe.
234 Mom's pancake do not have "receipt"
She is cooking it according to a recipe. «Sure, I’ll share the
recipe with you».

Find a mistake:
I have a secret receipt for my brownies. It’s delicious.

235 What you get in a store is not a "cheque".

"Cheque" (British version of "check") is a bank check, which is
issued in order to transfer money to someone or pay for some
product / service. In American English, this is also called a
restaurant bill. A list with all your purchases is a “receipt”.

— Do you need a receipt?

— No, thank you.

Find a mistake:
If you want to return your purchase, please bring in the
cheque you were given.
236 "Than" and "then".
“Then” — at a particular time in the past or future. “Than” is used
when comparing two things.
Mike called Sarah and then left the room.
He couldn’t stay longer than an hour.

Find a mistake:
My parents met back in the 90s. My dad was in the military than.

237 "Bad" and "badly".

And now let's begin to analyze a series of words that have the
same root, but the adjectives and adverbs formed from them
have different meanings. "Bad" — not good or morally wrong. But
"badly" often means "very strongly".

I want this so badly!

Find a mistake:
This work is done really badly. You should fix it asap.
238 "Late" and "lately".
“Late” — after the usual time or the time that was arranged. But
“lately” means “recently”. It is often used in Present Perfect
Continuous.

Find a mistake:
Why did you come home so lately again?

239 "Hard" and "hardly".

“Hard” means “firm and stiff” or “difficult to do or understand”.
But “hardly” means “almost not, or only a very small amount”
and is used to emphasize that you think something is not likely,
true or possible.

I hardly can say that he’s friendly.

Find a mistake:
Mike works 12 hours a day. He hard sees his friends and family.
240 "Deep" and "deeply".
“Deep” means “having a long distance from the top to the
bottom”. "Deeply" = "very much".

She was deeply touched by his actions.

Find a mistake:
Your parents are deep respected people in town. You
can't disgrace them like that.

241 "High" and "highly".

"High" means "having a large distance from the bottom to the
top", but "highly" means "very" or "to a large degree".

I highly recommend this movie.

Find a mistake:
Let’s check who can jump more highly.

242 "Free" and "freely".

The adjective "free" means "able to live, happen, or exist without
being controlled by anyone or anything". Adverb "freely" means
"without being controlled or limited".

Find a mistake:
Freedom of speech is one of the basic democracy values that
allows people to free express their thoughts and opinions.
243 "Near" and "nearly".
“Near” is “not far away in distance”, while “nearly” is “almost”.

Find a mistake:
Is there a restaurant nearly us?

244 The verb from a noun "weight" is not "to weight".

Often students think that since there is a "t" in the word "weight",
it is needed in the verb as well. No, it is not needed: "My bag
is so heavy, it weighs like a hundred pounds".

Find a mistake:
Before performing the surgery the vet needed to weight the puppy.

245 "Staff" and "stuff".

"Stuff" is a slang version for "thing". "I’ve got a lot of stuff
to do". = "I’ve got a lot of things to do". "Staff" is the employees
in the company.
Most of the staff were fired because of the crisis.

Find a mistake:
The room was cluttered with so much random staff. It took us 3
days to completely clear it out.
246 "Realize" is not "to make something happen".
"To realize something" = "to understand something".
I realized we were in big trouble. "To make something
happen" is "to carry something out".

Find a mistake:
I will be able to realize my plan.

247 Don't use the word "birth" to mean "give birth".

In English there are expressions "to give birth to someone" and
"to have a baby."

Nick, how can you be so rude to me? I birthed you!

Nick, how can you be so rude to me? I gave birth to you!
Lucie birthed just a couple of days ago.
Lucie had her baby just a couple of days ago.

Find a mistake:
Birthing a child is a miraculous experience.

248 "Bear a child" and "have a child".

"Bear a child" is the more formal version of having a child. It is not
used in everyday life and informal communication.
249 "Through" and "Though".
"Through" — "from one end or side of something to the other".
We’ll go through this together. "Though" is used to introduce
a fact or opinion that makes the other part of the sentence seem
surprising. I don’t know though.

Find a mistake:
This house is really old and needs renovation. It’s really cheap
through.

250 "Enough" and "too".

"Enough" and "too" are amplifiers of adjectives and adverbs.
"Enough" is a positive amplifier.
You are old enough to go on a date.

You are too young to go on a date.

Pay attention to the positioning of these adverbs: "Enough" is

placed after the adjective or adverb, and "too" — before.

I am enough old to decide what I want.

I am old enough to decide what I want.
You are young too to stay up so late.
You are too young to stay up so late.

Find a mistake:
I like the fabric. I think it’s enough good to be used for our clothes.
251 "Each" and "every".
These words mean the same — "every one in a group." But there
is a slight difference in meaning. “Every” is used to describe a
group of people / objects taken together: “Every student who
wishes to enter our university has to take exams”. In this case,
"every student" is all students. “Each” describes each one
separately: “Each student will take their speaking practice
separately”. Sometimes "each" and "every" are used
interchangeably: "Every / each room in this house has been
renovated". When we are dealing with two items / group
members, it is preferable to use "each":

Cars can be parked on each side of the road.

And if there are more items / group members, then “every”

sounds better:

Every street was filled with cars.

Find a mistake:
We can offer you five different options and you can test out every
of them.
252 Do not write "each other" together
The expression "each other" is written separately, because it is
not one word.

253 "Because" and "that's why".

These words are often confused. "Because" is used to give a
reason for something. I stayed home because I was feeling
down. “That’s why” = “therefore”. It introduces the effect of
something. I was feeling down, that’s why I stayed home.

Find a mistake:
I didn't tell you anything that’s why I was scared that you would be
angry at me.

254 "Because" and "therefore".

These two words express a different causal relationship.
"Because" is needed to give a reason. But “therefore” is used for
the consequence.

Find a mistake:
The fund didn't raise enough money. Because it had to be shut
down.
255 Don’t confuse "reason why" and "because".

There are some reasons because we can’t be together.

There are some reasons why we can’t be together.
Find a mistake:
I hope you have a reason because you’re being so creepy today.

256 "Literally" и "Figuratively".

"Literally" means "using the real or original meaning of a word or
phrase" .
«I literally can’t stand him!»
"Figuratively" means "in a way that uses words and phrases with a
more imaginative meaning than usual".
«Figuratively speaking, we all carry on our shoulders a certain
burden».
Find a mistake:
I hope you have a reason because you’re being so creepy today.

257 "To" and "so as to".

The construction "so as to" is much more formal than a simple
"to" when we want to express why something was or will be done.

«I will do my best so as to make your life easier» — very

formal and more suitable for business correspondence.

«I will do my best to make your life easier» — much more

suitable for everyday speech!
 Find a mistake:
Mommy, I want a new dress so as to wear to my birthday party! (this
is the speech of a small child).

258 Use "about" as an introductory word in the meaning of "used to

make a suggestion" only in informal communication.
In the official language, this is considered a mistake, so in more
formal sentences, you can use the phrases "with regard to", "as
for" or "regarding".
About the book that you’ve wanted to read, I think it’s
quite gripping.
As for the book that you’ve wanted to read, I think it’s
quite gripping.

Find a mistake:
About our conversation yesterday, I didn’t mean to offend you.

259 What is the difference between "get up" and "wake up"?
"Wake up" means "to wake up from sleep", but "get up" — "to get
out of bed / off the floor".

Find a mistake:
It takes me so much time to wake up from bed. I’d better do
something about it.
260 Dealing with "public schools" and "private schools".
Get ready for a little brain blast. British English: "public school"
is "private school" and "state school" is "public school". In the
rest of the world, a "public school" is a school that is free to
attend because the government provides the money for it. And
"private school" is a school that you pay to attend.
The term "public school" is best avoided in the UK as it just
causes confusion.

Find a mistake:
If you live in the UK and your kids go to a free school, then it’s a
public school.

261 The eternal problem with "tell" and "say".

When we share with someone a joke, news story, or story, it is
best to use the verb "tell". My friend told me such a funny
joke. When we speak and utter some words, it is best to use
“say”. My friend said to me that he had never been abroad.
The most important thing: after "tell" you need to mention the
object — to whom you say something, without pretexts. After
“say” you can just mention what exactly we are saying: “Jack
said something funny”. And if you want to mention to whom you
are saying this, do not forget about the preposition “to” after
“say”: “Jack said something funny to me”. You can't do that
with "tell", so you can't say "Jack told that he was excited to
go abroad".

Find a mistake:
Lucie told that she had a new crush from school.
262 "Speak" and "talk".
These verbs are similar in their meaning "to pronounce words, to
speak", but they have slight differences in their use. "Speak" is
more formal. I want to speak to the manager. We are not very
familiar with him, and the situation itself is official. If we
communicate with someone we know or with someone in an
informal setting, it is better to use "talk".

I want to talk to you about our date.

“Speak” usually focuses on who is saying something rather than

dialogue. We use this verb when one person makes a speech or
speaks some language.

Jess can speak 5 languages.

Mr. Nickolson will speak about cognitive psychology and its

importance in modern psychological studies».

But "talk" is a verb that is used specifically in relation to a

conversation between several people, a dialogue.

Let’s talk about your plans tomorrow.

Find a mistake:
The part of your assignment is a presentation of your individual
projects. You will have to talk about a historic event that, in your
opinion, had the biggest impact on the society.
263 "Comfortable" and "convenient".
These words have similar meanings. However, it would be a
mistake to say: "It’s quite comfortable that my dorm isn’t far
from university." "Comfortable" is something that makes you
feel relaxed and does not cause any pain. "Convenient" is easy to
use or suiting your plans well.

Find a mistake:
Our shop has very comfortable opening hours.

264 Understanding what "class" and "lesson" are.

"Lesson" is:
• a period of time when a teacher teaches people.
I’ve got six lessons today from 9 to 5.
• an experience that teaches you how to behave better in a
similar situation in
This will teach him a lesson.

"Class" is:
• an area of knowledge studied in school or university.
My physics class is so difficult. I will have to retake it.
• a group of students who have lessons together.
Mr. Jefferson gave our class such a difficult task.

Find a mistake:
Jack and I are in the same English lesson at school.
265 "Take exams" or "pass exams?".
When you have an exam or you are already sitting and answering
questions, you can say: "This is the most difficult exam that
I’ve ever taken." And only when you really pass it (do not fail the
exam and get at least a satisfactory grade), then you can say:
"Finally, I’ve passed this exam".

Find a mistake:
What exams do I need to pass to study for a psychologist?

266 "Study", "learn" and "teach".

"Study" is the learning process, which consists of reading books,
memorizing information and passing tests. I like studying
because it makes me feel energized. Jess studies art at
Harvard.
"Learn" means "to get knowledge or skill in a new subject or
activity." I’ve been learning English since I was a kid. "Learn",
unlike "study", cannot be used without an object. You can't say:
“I like learning”.
"Teach" means "to give lessons in a particular subject at a
school, university." I've been teaching English to immigrants
for 5 years now.

Find a mistake:
What do you learn at university?
267 "Job" and "work".
"Job" refers to a particular employment role or position, such
as cook, teacher or banker.
You should apply for this job.

"Work" refers in a more general way to activities that you do.

We’ve got a lot of work to do.

Find a mistake:
My work is not something extraordinary. I am an accountant.

268 "Have you heard the last news?"

In English, "last" is "really the last", there will be no continuation

of anything. And "latest" is "the most recent, up-to-date."

"Have you heard the latest news?"

Find a mistake:
Have you heard the last news? Jess is pregnant!
269 "Above" and "over".
Both of these words are used when we say that one thing is
greater than another. However, the difference in them will be
in how this excess occurs.
"Above" stands for vertical movement.
The temperature rises above 30 degrees Celsius.
His skills are way above average.

But "over" means movement in the horizontal plane.

The plane is flying over New York.

The preposition "over" is also needed to describe an object

that is above another, if these objects touch or if one object is
used to cover or cover another.
He put his coat over the shirt.

Find a mistake:
I want to hang a mirror over the wardrobe. What do you think?
270 "Below" and "under".
"Below" is used when we measure something with a vertical scale.
Her intelligence is below average.
The temperature is 20 degrees below zero.

But "under" means "below the surface of something".

The boxes are under the table.
The cat sat under the sofa.

However, "under" can also mean "less».

Teenagers under 16 can’t watch this movie.

Find a mistake:
A manager usually has 3 to 5 people working under them.
271 "Variant" and "option".
We use "Option" when it comes to personal choice: "What are
my options?" "This option is better".
But "variant" is something slightly different from something
standard. There is more focus here on the fact that there is
variation, but we are not talking about personal choice: The
South African variant of English has quite a peculiar phonetic
system.

Find a mistake:
You are not giving me any variants to choose from!

272 "Personal" and "personnel".

One word is an adjective and the other is a noun. “Personal”
means “relating to or belonging to a particular person” and
“personnel” means “employees”.

Find a mistake:
Please, do not leave any personnel belongings in this room.

273 Don't say: "I congratulate you on your birthday / New Year /
Independence Day".
"To congratulate on something" is used when we are happy
because someone has achieved something good or something
good has happened to them. "Congratulations on your new
position!" A new position is an achievement, but a holiday or
birthday is not. In this case, it is better to use phrases such as:
“Happy birthday!”, “Happy New Year!”, “Happy 4th of
July!”
274 You need to spend time ON something, not FOR something.
We cannot say “I like spending time for studying”. The only
correct option would be to say “spend / waste time on
something” or “spend / waste time doing something”.

Find a mistake:
We believe our students must spend 4-5 hours every day for
practicing music.

275 When you are looking for an answer, do not use the verb "to
decide".
"To decide" — "to choose something after thinking about several
possibilities". But "to find the answer to something" is "to solve".

We need to decide this problem.

We need to solve this problem.

Find a mistake:
Problem deciding is one of the most crucial soft skills we’re
looking for in our employees.
276 We walk on our feet.

"to go by foot"
"to go on foot"
"to go by foot"
"to go on foot"

Find a mistake:
When you arrive at the customs, you can drive through but
passengers will have to go by foot.

277 Do not overuse the verb "adore".

"Adore" expresses a strong feeling of admiration, so it is better to
use the verbs "like", "love" and "enjoy" to describe a hobby.

Find a mistake:
I adore knitting in my free time. It helps me relax.

278 Don't overuse the word "argue".

"Argue" is "to speak angrily to someone, telling them that you
disagree with them" . But “to have a discussion about
something” is: “to have a debate about something”.

Find a mistake:
Jess is so bad at arguing. She can hardly ever find good points to
prove her opinion.
279 Don't overuse the word "boss".
"Boss" sounds impressive, but it's an informal word. Instead, it
is better to use the words "CEO", "manager" and "head".

Find a mistake:
— What do you do for a living?
— I am a boss of a banking company.

280 "Alive" and "lively".

"Alive" = not dead.
I am so happy and relieved that Nick is alive.
"Lively" means full of energy and interest.
Nick is such a lively child. He never gets bored.
Find a mistake:
You used to be so energetic and alive. What happened?

281 "Alone" and "lonely".

"Alone" means "without other people." This word has no negative
connotation. “I’ll go there alone”. But "lonely" is "unhappy
because you are not with other people", there is already a
negative meaning here. “I feel lonely without my friends”.

Find a mistake:
I am afraid to leave my kids lonely. What if they set the house
on fire or hurt themselves?
282 "Amusing" and "interesting".
Sometimes students think "amusing" is "entertaining" or
"interesting." In fact, "amusing" is "something funny that makes
you smile or laugh." Therefore, "amusing" is not synonymous with
"interesting" or "entertaining".

Find a mistake:
Our hotel offers a wide range of amusing activities for your and
your kids to enjoy.

283 "Affect" and "effect".

"Affect" is a verb that means "to influence someone or something,

or cause them to change." Mark’s decision will affect my
future too. "Effect" is a noun and means "a change, reaction, or
result that is caused by something". This medication might
have some side effects.
"Effect" can sometimes be a verb, but it's not often used as one.
You could talk about "to effect a change" which means to bring
about a change.

Find a mistake:
Are there any side affects to this drug?
284 "Appropriate" and "suitable".
These are synonyms, but there is a slight difference: "Suitable" —
"acceptable or right for someone or something". "Appropriate" —
"suitable or right for a particular situation or person".

This car isn’t appropriate for our family. It’s too small.
This car isn’t suitable for our family. It’s too small.

Find a mistake:
Your behavior is totally unsuitable!
 BE CAREFUL WITH
THE MEANING

285 "Artist".
An "artist" is someone who creates art, especially paintings and
drawings. Someone whose job is to perform in plays and films is
called a "performer" or "actor".

Find a mistake:
Broadway is a paradise for bohemians but a hell for artists.

286 "Smoking".
"Smoking" is a gerund, and this word is associated only with the
smoking process. The black or white suit that a man wears on a
very formal occasion — "tux" or "tuxedo".

Find a mistake:
You will look absolutely charming in this black fitted smoking.
287 "Accurate".
This word means "correct" or "exact". His report was quite
accurate. If you want to emphasize that you are tidy person then
say: I am such a neat person. If you drive calmly, then "You
are a careful driver".

Find a mistake:
My mom wishes I were an accurate person but my room has
always been a mess.

288 "Caucasian".
In English this is what a representative of the Europid race is
called, and not just a representative of the Caucasian nationality.

289 Don’t say: "You are so sympathetic".

"Sympathy" is the feeling that you understand and care about
someone's problems. That is why "sympathetic" is an adjective
describing a person who shows that s/he understands and cares
about another. If you want to say that someone is pleasant or
attractive, use the adjectives "charming", "stunning", "cute",
"good-looking".

Find a mistake:
My family is a close-knit one. We have deep sympathy and
fondness for each other.
290 If you have a cool startup, will you go to Silicon Valley or
Silicone Valley?
We hope that it’s Silicon, because there is no Silicone Valley in
California yet. "Silicon" is the element, the basic compound used
in modern semiconductor products. "Silicone" is used in
cosmetics and plastic surgery.

Find a mistake:
Silicone is an integral element for the computer industry.

291 "Morale".

"Morale" is the amount of confidence or hope for the future

that people feel.
Our company has gone into the recession and there have
been a lot of job losses. No surprise that everyone’s morale
is quite low.

And ideas and beliefs about what is right or wrong is

"morality".
Every society has its own morality based on its values and
traditions.

Find a mistake:
It is not uncommon for younger people to question the morale
they grew up in.
292 "Anecdote".
"Anecdote" is a short story that you tell someone about something that
happened to you or someone else. A funny story is "a joke".
Find a mistake:
Kris is such a joker. He has an anecdote to tell for any occasion.

293 "Attraction".
"Attraction" is something that makes people come to a place or
want to do a particular thing. A machine at a fair that moves people
up and down and round in circles, as they sit in it, is a "ride".
It’s the best ride in the park.
Find a mistake:
When my kids were younger, we would take them to the amusement
park for their birthdays. They loved the attractions there.

294 "Concrete".
The noun "concrete" is a hard substance that is used in building
and is made by mixing sand, water, small stones, and cement. If
it is an adjective, it means "certain" or "based on facts". If you
talk about one special thing, say "specific" or "particular".
Don’t sit on a cold concrete floor.
I don’t know anything specific about that case.
Find a mistake:
We would appreciate if you would provide more concrete
evidence on this case.
295 "Actual".
"Actual" is an adjective which means "real, not guessed or
imagined". If you want to say that something is modern, and using
the most recent technology or knowledge, use the adjective "up-
to-date". The actual reason why she’s with him is his money.
Find a mistake:
Our prices can change depending on the currency rate. You can
find all the actual information about the prices and the
availability of products on our website.

296 "Brilliant".
This is an adjective, which means "very good". A beautiful stone
which all girls love is a "diamond". "Diamonds are a girl’s best
friend".

Find a mistake:
Kurt got her a brilliant ring when he proposed to Jessica but she
still turned him down.

297 "Cabinet".
This is a cupboard with shelves or drawers to store or showcase things
in. A room in a house where you can read and write is a"study".

Find a mistake:
Mr. Jefferson is in his office. You can find him in cabinet 564.
298 "Compositor".
This is a piece of equipment used to take photographs or to make
films. A room where you keep your luggage is a "luggage room"
or "inner tube".

Find a mistake:
Please, leave your bags in the camera and follow me.

299 "Chef".
"Chef" is not a "boss". It is someone who is the main cook in a
hotel or a restaurant.
Working with chef Ramsay in Vegas — that is the dream job.
Find a mistake:
My chef can be such a pain in the ass sometimes. I wish she
were more understanding.

300 "Complexion".
This is the colour and appearance of the skin on someone's face.
People with fair complexion should be especially careful when
sunbathing.
If you want to talk about the body, say "build".
You always had such a nice build.
Find a mistake:
If you are working towards a slimmer complexion, you should
first lose weight and then tone your body.
301 "Compositor".
This is a person whose job is to arrange the letters, words, sentences,
etc. of a book or a magazine before it is printed. A person who writes
music is a "composer".
I prefer listening to modern composers.

Find a mistake:
Modern compositors are so talented but yet so underappreciated.

302 "Conductor".
This is someone who directs the performance of musicians or a
piece of music. Pavel Berman is a violinist and conductor of
Russian origin. The person who checks your tickets on public
transport is a "ticket inspector".

Find a mistake:
If a conductor finds out you didn't buy a ticket, they can easily
fine you right on the bus.
303 "Fabric".
"Fabric" is cloth or material for making clothes, covering
furniture. A building or set of buildings where large amounts of
goods are made using machines is a "factory".

His coat is made of the finest fabric.

Find a mistake:
— What's your favorite children's movie?
— Charlie and the Chocolate Fabric.

304 "List".
This is a set of names and numbers usually written one below the
other. Plants have "leaves" and we draw on "sheets of paper".

I have a whole list of presents that I’d like to get for

my birthday.

Find a mistake:
Now I want you to take a list of paper and write down your
thoughts about today's lecture.
305 "Paragraph".
This is a short part of a text, consisting of at least one sentence
and beginning on a new line. One of the parts of a book,
newspaper or website that deals with a particular subject is
"article" or "section".

Find a mistake:
Your essay should have at least 3 sections: introduction, body,
and conclusion.

306 "Prospect".
"Prospect" is the possibility that something good might happen in
the future. A wide road with trees or tall buildings on both sides is
an "avenue". The prospect now looks more possible.

Find a mistake:
We walked down a long prospect before finally saying
our goodbyes.
307 "Intelligence".
This is the ability to learn, understand, and make judgments or
have opinions that are based on reason. If we talk about a very
educated group of people it is "intelligentsia". Intelligentsia
should become a leading power in strengthening the nationwide
values.

Find a mistake:
Russian intelligence was a special moral and ethical
phenomenon.

308 "Data" .
This is information or facts. A numbered day in a month is a "date".
One letter, and the meaning completely changes.

What date is it today?

The data is insufficient.

Find a mistake:
Keeping a memory of important historical datas is an
integral part of any country's mission.
309 "Dutch".
"Dutch" — "belonging to or relating to the Netherlands". If we
talk about Denmark then we say "Danish".
A Danish person is someone who was born in Denmark.
Dutch people live in the Netherlands.

Find a mistake:
Dutch is spoken not only in Denmark but also in Greenland
and northern Germany.

310 "Insult".
This is an offensive remark or action. A sudden change in the
blood supply to a part of the brain is a "stroke".

Find a mistake:
If you notice any symptoms of an insult, you should
immediately call 911.

311 "Mark".
This is a written or printed symbol. Also it is a synonym for
"grade". She wants to get the highest mark on the exam.

Find a mistake:
Excuse me. Could you please tell me where I can get postal
marks to send a letter?
312 "Magazine".
It is a large thin book with a paper cover that contains news
stories, articles, photographs etc, and is sold weekly or monthly.
A place where you buy things is a "store" or a "shop". She saw
me enter the store. The shop sells food products and
necessities and is open daily.
Find a mistake:
Sarah, please, go to the magazine and buy some milk
for breakfast.

313 "Metropolitan".
This is an adjective which means "relating to a large city". A
railway system in which electric trains travel through tunnels
below ground is "underground", "metro", "subway" (AmEn) or
"tube" (BrEn). This hotel is a 15-minute metro ride from the
city center.
Find a mistake:
The Moscow Metropolitan can be undoubtedly considered one
of the most beautiful in the world.

314 "Obligation".
This is something that a person feels morally or legally forced to
do. An official document that states you will be paid a certain
amount of money because you have lent money to a government
or company is a "bond". Investing in bonds is potentially less
risky than investing in stocks.

Find a mistake:
If you are new to a stock market, you’d better start with
obligations as they are less risky.
315 "Repetition".
This is the act of doing or saying something again. A time when
all the people involved in a play or dance practise in order to
prepare for a performance is "rehearsal". Three repetitions
are performed for each test series.

Find a mistake:
I work as an actress. We have daily repetitions during weekdays.

316 "Solid".
It means "hard" or "firm". The police had no solid evidence to
arrest him.

Find a mistake:
Participants who will show solid skills will be invited to the next
competition stage.

317 "Virtual".
This word relates not only to computers and the Internet. It can
also mean "almost a particular thing or quality". The crisis
caused a virtual collapse for the economy of many countries.
318 "Native city" or "native language".
We say "hometown" and "first language" or "mother tongue".

English is not my first language, but my goal is to sound like

a native.

Find a mistake:
I’ve never come back to my native city since I left it in my 20s.

319 "Session".
It is a formal meeting or series of meetings of an organization
such as a parliament or a law court. Discussions took place
after each session. When we talk about exams at the University
after each term, it is "midterm exams" or "final exams".

Find a mistake:
The first session at university can be a terrifying experience
for college students.
320 Do not use the preposition "on" after the verb "affect".
In English, no preposition is needed.

This problem might affect on our future.

This problem might affect our future.

Find a mistake:
Your personal life cannot affect on the business in any way.

321 "Also", "as well" and "too".

These words have similar meanings, but we use them differently.
"As well" always comes at the end of a sentence. "You should
take this into consideration as well". "As well" is more informal
than "too", it is more common in oral speech. "Too" we also put
at the end of a sentence: "You should take this into
consideration too". However, "too" can also appear immediately
after the subject if it refers to it: "I too dislike spiders". Also,
the choice in favor of "too" will be preferable if we wish
something to someone in return:

— Take care!
— Yeah, you too.
— I checked the door already.
— Good luck to you too!
 "Also" can appear at the beginning of a sentence as a synonym
for "In addition".
I would like you to send me an email. Also, could you call me
back later? But in the middle of the sentence "also" stands
between the subject and the main verb. It’s a great book. This
author also has another interesting one to read.

Find a mistake:
We are willing to invest in savings bonds. Too, we’d like to
open a high-yielding savings account.

322 "Altogether" and "all together".

"Altogether" is an adverb which means "in total". This dress and
this skirt will be $20 altogether. "All together" means "all in one
place or in a group". Mix all the ingredients all together.

Find a mistake:
At a certain point in your life you start seeing your school friends
less and less often and then you completely drift apart all together.
323 "As", "because" and "since".
Again, similar meanings, but different usage. If you want to pay
attention to the cause of something, it is best to use "because".
I couldn’t come to work, because I was ill. If you want to pay
more attention to the result of something, use "since" or "as".
As we have already discussed this matter, we are not going
deeper today. "As" and "since" are considered more formal
options.

Find a mistake:
Because Mark is always running late for our meetings, we
are going to tell him to come one hour before the actual
time.

324 "Beacon" and "bacon".

"Beacon" is a light or fire on the top of a hill that acts as a
warning or signal. "Bacon" is meat from the back or sides of a
pig, often eaten fried in thin slices.

Find a mistake:
I usually have eggs and beacon for breakfast.
325 "Beside" and "besides".
"Beside" = "next to". If you’d like, you can sit beside me.
"Besides" means "in addition to". We can use "besides" both as
an introductory word and as an excuse. What do you like doing
besides stalking me? Besides, Jack is a creep.

Find a mistake:
There was a cinema besides our school and we would sometimes
go watch movies after school.

326 "Between" and "among".

"Between" — "in or into the space that separates two places,
people, or objects:". My house is between South and North
Street. There is a small house between those enormous
skyscrapers.
"Among" — "in the middle of or surrounded by other things".
There are a lot of foreign students among my classmates.

Find a mistake:
Let’s keep it just among you and me, okay?
327 "Historic" and "historical".
"Historic" — "important or likely to be important in history".
This battle had a historic significance. "Historical" —
"connected with studying or representing things from the past".
I am going to take a class in historical studies.

Find a mistake:
As a historian, I love spending time studying historic documents.

328 We advise against using the word "touristic".

Native speakers are much more likely to use the word "tourist"
as both an adjective and a noun.

Paris is a popular touristic destination.

Paris is a popular tourist destination.

Find a mistake:
Couchsurfing lets you learn the city from the inside out and not
have a typical touristic lifestyle.
329 "Match", "suit" and "fit".
All of these verbs are used to describe that something fits with
something. "Match" — "to look attractive together:". This skirt
matches your blue shirt. "Suit" — "to make someone look more
attractive:". This dress really suits you. "Fit" — "to be the
right size or shape for someone or something". These pants
don’t fit me anymore.

Find a mistake:
I don't really think this dress suits you. It’s too big on
the shoulders.

330 "Lend" and "borrow".

"Lend" — "to give something to someone for a short period of
time, expecting it to be given back". I don’t lend my clothes —
even to my friends.
"Borrow" — "to get or receive something from someone with the
intention of giving it back after a period of time". My friends
know that I never lend my clothes, but they still try to borrow
them.

Find a mistake:
Can I lend your pen? I left mine at the library.
331 "Opportunity" and "possibility".
"Opportunity" is a chance of doing something". You can’t miss
such an opportunity. "Possibility" is a chance that something may
happen or be true. What is the possibility that we’ll meet
again?

Find a mistake:
The weather forecast predicts an opportunity of heavy rain and
sleet tomorrow.

332 Don’t say: "Ability of doing".

We say "ability to do".

People differ from animals in their ability of thinking.

People differ from animals in their ability to think.

Find a mistake:
An ability of expressing yourself clearly and concisely is precious.
333 Don’t say: "Ability to English»
The word "ability" can also be used as "skill, knowledge of a
certain subject or language." Note that in this case we are using
the preposition "in".

Jack’s ability to maths is amazing.

Jack’s ability in maths is amazing.

Find a mistake:
I’ve never had any ability to music but I still wanna try playing
the piano.

334 "Able" and "capable".

"Able" is a synonym for "can", only more formal. Mike won’t
be able to get back home on time. "Capable" means "able to do
things effectively and skillfully, and to achieve results". Mike is
capable of getting back home on time but I think he’ll be late as
usual.

Find a mistake:
I am sorry but I won't be capable to attend the meeting.
335 Do not use in the past and present tense "be able to" with the
verbs of perception ("see", "hear", "smell", etc.) and thinking
("decide", "understand", etc.).
Instead, use the verbs "can" or "could".

We were not able to decide where to have breakfast.

We couldn’t decide where to have breakfast.

Find a mistake:
My husband was not able to know where I was going. He won’t
be spying on us.

336 If something is prohibited by law or regulations, "be able to"

cannot be used either.
Instead, use the modal verb "can" or the expression "be
allowed to".

In Russia you are not able to drive until you turn 18.
In Russia you can not drive / are not allowed to drive until
you turn 18.

Find a mistake:
No way! You are not able to go to that party. What if you get drunk
or high?
337 "Raise" and "rise".
"Raise" — "to lift something to a higher position". Raise your
hand if you want to answer. "Rise" — "to move upwards". The
sun rises at around 6 now.

Find a mistake:
The stock prices raised up after the announcement of new
medical technologies.

338 Wear", "put on" and "dress".

"Dress" — "to put clothes on yourself or someone else, especially
a child". I used to dress my dolls in cute outfits when I was a
little girl. "Put on" — "to place a garment, piece of jewellery, etc.
on part of one's body". Put on a jacket, it’s cold outside.
"Wear" — "to have clothing, jewellery, etc. on your body".
Suzie always wears the most stylish clothes ever.

Find a mistake:
I woke up, wore my sports, suit and went for a run.
339 "Look at", "see" and "watch".
"Look at" — "to direct your eyes towards an object". What are
you looking at? "See" — "to be conscious of what is around you
by using your eyes". I can see Jack crossing the road, he’ll be
here in a minute. "Watch" — "to look at something for a period of
time, especially something that is changing or moving". Don’t
watch him so closely, it’s too creepy.

Find a mistake:
Hey! Why are you seeing me? I’ve seen you at least 5 times near
my house today.

340 "Shadow" and "shade".

"Shadow" — "an area of darkness, caused by light being blocked
by something". A "shade" — "darkness caused by something
blocking the direct light from the sun".

Find a mistake:
It was a peaceful day at the beach. Children were building
sandcastles while parents were hiding in the shadow of umbrellas.
341 "Lay" and "lie".
"Lie" (lie – lay – lain) — "to be in or move into a horizontal
position on a surface".
"Lie" (lie – lied – lied) — "to say or write something that is not
true in order to deceive someone".
"Lay" (lay – laid – laid) — "to put something in especially a flat or
horizontal position, usually carefully or for a particular purpose".

Find a mistake:
I am exhausted. I wish I could just lay down on the sofa and chill.

342 "Lose" and "loose".

"Lose" is a verb which means "to no longer have something
because you do not know where it is".
"Loose" is an adjective which means "not firmly held or fastened
in place:".

Find a mistake:
We gotta do something about those lose wires. They might be
dangerous.
343 Don't confuse "although" and "however".
"However" helps to contrast the thought from the previous
statement. He’s not really good at math, however, he’s a
really great artist. It is often confused with "although", but that
word means у него значение "despite the fact that". Although
he’s not really good at math, he’s a really great artist. The
difference is that "however" is always separated by a comma,
while "although" is not.

Find a mistake:
I feel like our relationship with Jess has become quite toxic.
Although, she is always there for me when I need help.

344 Don’t say: "I drink my medicine 3 times a day"

In English, we "take" medicine.

You should drink this medicine 4 times a day.

You should take this medicine 4 times a day.

Find a mistake:
The doctor prescribed me to drink these painkillers every other
day until the pain fades away.
345 Don’t say: "to be on pension”.
"Pension" is an amount of money paid regularly by the
government or a private company to a person who does not work
any more because they are too old. But when we are talking
about a process of leaving a job or stop working because of old
age, we say "to retire".

Find a mistake:
I am going to go on my pension in 4 years. I am getting tired of
such a stressful lifestyle.

346 "On the street".

If we want to say that something or someone is not inside the
room, we use the word "outside". It’s quite chilly outside.
In British English, when we mean a street as a place, we use the
preposition "in". Cherille lives in Oxford Street. The car is
parked in the street.
In the American English, we use "on". Cherille lives on
Oxford Street. However, if you have an exact address, use "at".
She lives at 10 Oxford Street.

Find a mistake:
— Where are the kids?
— Oh, they are in the street playing in the garden.
347 Don’t say "on the picture" or "on the photo".
When describing an image, use the preposition "in".

You can see my pretty little kitty on the picture.

You can see my pretty little kitty in the picture.

Find a mistake:
If you look closer, you can see tiny little details on the picture.
This artist paid a lot of attention to elements.

348 There is no "today’s evening".

Say "tonight".

Let’s hang out tonight.

Find a mistake:
What do you say to going out in today’s evening?
349 There is no "today morning".
Unlike "tomorrow morning" or "yesterday morning", you cannot
say "today morning" — it is better to say "this morning".

I met Jane today morning.

I met Jane this morning.

Find a mistake:
I wanted to surprise my girlfriend with some coffee and croissants
today morning but instead, I found her cheating with my best
friend.

350 "Once" and "someday".

"Once" is "one time." I once met a girl who was my true
soulmate. And "once, which hasn't happened yet" is "someday".
Someday I will meet a girl who will be my true soulmate.

Find a mistake:
You can't run away from your responsibilities all the time. Once
you will have to settle and have a family.
351 "Grow" and "get".
“I grew tired” does not mean the same as “I got tired”.
”To grow tired” means to get bored or weary over time. For
example, you go to an unloved job every day and after a few
months you grow tired of it.
Employees can easily grow tired if they have to constantly
overwork.
"To get tired" is a faster process and more suitable for times
when you've worked hard for two hours and then realized you
were tired.
I quickly got tired and couldn't continue working out
anymore.

Find a mistake:
I have been taking pictures of her for half an hour and I grew so
tired of it.

352 "Upset with" and "upset about".

Because of the preposition, the whole meaning of the expression
changes. If we are sad about something, we use "upset about".
I am so upset about my poor grades at school. If we are angry
with someone or about something, we use "upset with". Jess is
still upset with me about my lack of attention to her. Mike is
upset with his principal's decision to expel him.

Find a mistake:
Kathy's mad at me. She is upset at my offer to split the bill when
we went out yesterday.
353 Don't say "Be against of something".
In this construction, we do not need the preposition "of", no
matter how much we would like to use it. I’m against it.
She is against my rules. We are against your decision.

Find a mistake:
Most MPs voted against of a new lockdown.

354 "Popular with", "popular among" or "popular between"?

This movie is popular among / between young adults.

This movie is popular with young adults.

Find a mistake:
Styles are coming back. I remember that such dresses used to
be popular among my generation.
355 Don't say: "Thanks God".
The ending -s is useless. It will sound funny, as if you are talking
directly to God. Thank God! Thank God it's Friday!

356 Don't say: "Ask someone advice".

You need a preposition "for". “Ask someone for advice”.

Find a mistake:
Your Mom is such a wise woman. If I were you, I’d ask her advice.

357 "Advice" is an uncountable noun.

It does not have a plural and is used without an article. We say “a
piece of advice” — I’ll give you a piece of advice. Or we can
say "tip": I’ll give you a tip. This word does have a plural —
"tips".
Find a mistake:
My father gave an advice that I’ve been turning in my head
ever since.
358 Do not use the preposition "in" in phrases about social
networks and the Internet.
“I saw this in Instagram”, “She found a video in the Internet”
is wrong. In English we need a preposition "on": "on the
Internet", "on Instagram", "on Twitter", "on TikTok". Note,
however, that if you add the words "account" or "feed" it will
become: "in my Instagram account", "in my feed".

Find a mistake:
Elon Musk sometimes writes posts in Russian in his Twitter.

PUNCTUATION

359 Do not separate adjectives with "and" if they refer to the same
noun.
A typical mistake is "This is a long and boring movie". The phrase
"This is a long, boring movie" sounds much more natural. We do
not need the conjunction "and", unless there are more than three
adjectives.

Find a mistake:
I couldn't take my eyes off her wide and charming smile.
360 Don't add an apostrophe in years.
It is incorrect to write "in the 1970's". With decades, we don't
need an apostrophe, we just add the -s at the end as a plural.

This singer was popular in 1970s.

Find a mistake:
Kids who were born in the late 1990’s are now getting married
and having kids.

361 "However, suddenly he entered the room" (you forgot one

comma).
You put the comma after “However,” but forgot to add one after
“suddenly” as an introductory word: “However, suddenly, he
entered the room”.

362 Using "and etc." instead of "etc."

"Etc." already contains the meaning of "and so on", we do not
need to add "and" at all.

363 Don't read all acronyms the same.

Some acronyms are pronounced like words: "NASA", "NATO".
Other acronyms are spelled letter by letter: "BRB — be right
back", "DIY — do it yourself".
364 Abbreviations "i.e." and "e.g."
These acronyms are similar and can be easily confused.
"I.e." — "in essence, basically, that is." This acronym comes
from the Latin "id est" (analogue in English — "that is").
We need to adjust our expectation, i.e. lower them.
"E.g." — "for example", from the Latin "exempli gratia"
(analogue in English — "for example").
Our office has everything you might need, e.g.a coffee
station, a canteen, and open space to hang out.

Find a mistake:
There are a lot of ways to learn a language, i.e. watch movies and
read books, go study abroad, or find a native speaker to practice.

365 Do not confuse the stress in words in which the meaning or

part of speech depends on it.
There are some words that change the part of speech or
meaning, depending on the syllable on which the stress falls.
imPLANT (to put something into someone’s body by
performing a medical operation) — IMplant (something
artificial that is put into someone’s body in a medical
operation)
inCREASE (to get bigger or to make something bigger in size
or amount) — INcrease (a rise in amount, number, or degree)
preSENT (to give people information in a formal way) —
PREsent (something that you give to someone)
 ANSWERS:

1. We finished an important project.

2. My older brother is really handsome and clever, however, I am a
better student than he is.
3. She doesn’t need anything to survive in the wilderness. She also
can’t get lost in the woods.
4. A doctor shouldn’t be nervous while working, otherwise, they can
affect their patients in a negative way.
5. My favorite meal ever is pasta and I can eat it literally every day.
6. Did you know that my friends and I are meeting next Sunday?
7. My mom is so anxious when I stay late at the university.
8. Oh my, Lana, I adore your new car a lot / very much!
9. Modern economy relies on inventions.
10. Greg can’t walk slowly, he always rushes to somewhere.
11. You seem quite happy today, did something good happen?
12. My train arrives at 9 AM.
13. Your stunning look will amaze everyone at the party.
14. She was not feeling good enough to go to school that day.
15. My children often misbehave.
16. Do you have any errands to run today? / Do you have anything to
do today?
17. Mike didn’t make himself clear. I misunderstood him.
18. - Are you able to open this can on your own?
- Sure, I always open cans by myself.
19. The door of my house was painted red yesterday.
20. I think I saw my wife’s boss.
21. — I am sorry but there’s someone’s bag over there.
— Oh, it’s mine.
22. My parents’ house will always be dear to my heart.
23. It’s my editor-in-chief’s advice that I value the most.
24. Mark and Jennifer’s new apartment is in Brooklyn.
25. I brought my own equipment so I don't have to rent one.
26. An open door is a prospect for new opportunities.
27. If you need cash, there is an ATM just across the corner.
28. My grandparents are full of love.
29. My husband is an accountant.
30. There is a cool new thrift store just across the street.
31. I've been struggling a lot with the French language.
32. My arm is swollen and I can't move it.
33. Let's meet after lunch, shall we?
34. You really shouldn't read or watch anything while having your
dinner.
35. Koalas love eating green eucalyptus leaves.
36. -
37. -
38. The good news is that there is no bad news.
39. Don't worry, the police are on their way.
40. This knowledge is invaluable.
41. -
42. How many years of teaching experience do you have?
43. I used to love economics when I was at school. Economics is so
much fun.
44. I’ve just binge-watched a new series “The Queen's Gambit”.
45. What?! 700 bucks is a rip-off for this skirt.
46. Elon Musk’s net worth is estimated to be 27 billion dollars.
47. There were over 300 people at his party. It was huge!
48. If you are going to Vegas, be ready to see many bizarre things
there.
49. Do you have any tips on how to improve my English?
50. Could you please give me some water? I am so thirsty.
51. We’ve run out of product ideas so now any thoughts are welcome!
52. I don’t have any / I have no clue where my car keys are.
53. My car is parked on the other side of the road.
54. Other girls at my school don’t dress like that anymore.
55. All people were shocked by such outrageous behavior.
56. All the days that I spent studying were so tedious and boring.
57. All of you are punished for misbehaving.
58. When I was a kid, I used to make up all sorts of stories.
59. Everybody was worried about Mr. Jefferson’s decision to retire.
60. Both Jack and Suzie have started saving up for a new house.
61. Neither Jack nor Jane won't be coming to the party.
62. My parents are both hard-working and goal-oriented people.
63. There is a dozen of problems we’re working on at the moment.
64. University and work require a lot of time and attention.
65. Neither I nor my brother knows what to do after graduation.
66. A great number of students have failed this exam.
67. One of the subjects I am taking this semester is Maths.
68. Neither my friend nor I know what’s going on.
69. Unfortunately, we don't have pens or pencils.
70. What is the most stupid thing that you have ever done?
71. Most language learners are afraid to speak because of their
accent.
72. Most people nowadays live in cities.
73. I prefer traveling by plane. It’s faster.
74. Have you ever been to LA?
75. My family lives in the Netherlands so I sometimes go there to see
them.
76. The UK consists of 4 countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and
Northern Ireland.
77. I’d like to go to the Himalayas one day.
78. Easter Island has one of the most peculiar human creations.
79. My kids don't go to school every day because they are partially
homeschooled.
80. Did you know that summer in Australia actually starts December?
81. There are a lot of spoiled products in the fridge.
82. There are a lot of people who need help.
83. There is a Harry Potter lover, a Star Wars aficionado, and a Star
Trek geek in our group of friends.
84. There are so many cars today. Where the heck is everyone going?
85. There’s a girl at my university who is originally from Iceland.
86. Kids are playing outside as the weather is great today.
87. You are always late! That’s so annoying!
88. Mike did not know that we were coming.
89. Where will you be spending your summer holidays?
90. What stopped you from handing in your work on time?
91. Did Lucie call before coming by?
92. I don’t / do not understand what you’re talking about.
93. I am thinking of buying a new car. Is it worth it?
94. I am afraid Mike won't agree with us.
95. My brother will have graduated the university before I do.
96. I had a great time. Thank you for having me!
97. Jessica hasn’t got/doesn’t have much choice so she’ll have to
agree.
98. Lucie has been to NYC 5 times already and now she's thinking of
moving there.
99. We bought a new car last week. It’s way faster than our old one.
100. Has Nick left yet?
101. Jared hasn’t started preparing for TOEFL yet.
102. It will be so sad to leave this place behind one day. I have lived /
have been living in this town since my teens.
103. I’ve been trying to reach you for 2 hours! Where the heck are
you?
104. People used to spend more time in the libraries.
105. Mike got fired from work last month.
106. I still can’t get used to the hustle and bustle of this noisy city.
107. It will take you some time to get used to being around so many
people.
108. Sarah used to think it is impossible to study abroad for free till
she received her own scholarship from Yale.
109. - How are you doing?
110. Well, kinda fine. I am still getting used to cooking and cleaning
on my own but overall, everything is going great.
111. I will be listening to some podcasts while I am driving home.
112. - Will, can you please take care of the dishes?
- Sure. I will do them later.
113. My parents have been happily married for 10 years.
114. During my work at Google, I’ve learned a lot of useful things
about the corporate world.
115. Since her early teens Meghan has been quite good at
manipulating people.
116. All shops will be closed until further notice.
117. You can call me back in a couple of hours. I’ll have all the info you
need.
118. At the moment I am quite busy.
119. 3 years after our wedding we decided to renew our vows.
120. Lucie said yes to Jack. After that / afterwards she learned he had
cheated on her.
121. Mike left the house. Later he got into his car and drove away.
122. Today is our wedding anniversary, kids. Your mum and I met 15
years ago.
123. Nick told me that they were chipping in for Sam’s birthday.
124. Can you please tell me where the nearest grocery store is?
125. Jackie asked if she could drop in the following day.
126. Marcus said that it must take us a lot of effort to pull off such a
trick.
127. Our teacher demands that we hand in our papers in a written
form.
128. My friends would rather go skiing than lie on the beach.
129. I’d better save up a little more and buy an iPad instead of new
clothes.
130. You’d better not mull it over for too long. It might be too late.
131. I would rather my husband stopped playing computer games and
help me with the chores.
132. I think it's time that you got over your ex-boyfriend.
133. Lucie let the cat out of the bag and told me that Mickey was
going to propose to her.
134. My friend who is obsessed with organizing everything also likes
to stock up on groceries and home goods.
135. Kamala Harris, who is a vice president-elect of the USA, is a
member of the Democratic party.
136. Wow, that quiet kid Mickey, who lives next door, turned out to be
a drug dealer.
137. The bookstore that is located in Downtown LA is called the Last
Bookstore.
138. The bank in which I keep money just went bankrupt.
139. Despite the bad weather, people still went out on rallies.
140. In spite of acting up all the time, Jess is still the favorite child.
141. Despite the fact that Mike and Sarah have broken up, they are
still going out together.
142. We must cooperate if we want to win.
143. Okay, kids, divide into groups and start working.
144. Can you please wait for me in the car? I’ll be ready in a moment.
145. My favorite way to chill is to drive alone at night and listen to
music.
146. The government could / might / may introduce new laws next week.
147. Might / could / can this be helpful to you?
148. - Can I invite some friends for a sleepover?
- Yes, you can / may.
149. - Could I come in?
- No, you can’t / may not.
150. I was finally able to sell my old furniture that was cluttering my
place.
151. I didn't forbid my kids to go to your party. They were allowed to
come over but apparently, they didn't want to.
152. I just want you to listen to me, that's it.
153. Jack’s boss made him work till late at night.
154. I was made to confess! They tortured me!
155. “The Little Prince” was written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
156. This dessert is made with gluten-free flour.
157. When you grow up, you'll have to learn not to depend on anyone.
158. My manager didn't believe my story and told me to stop making up
all sorts of excuses.
159. Try calling the bank. They might tell you what to do in case your
card gets stuck.
160. We will be arriving in London in 30 minutes.
161. I’ll call you as soon as I arrive home.
162. Young people can be quite under a lot of pressure because of
constant comparison with their peers.
163. Most schools disapprove of the lack of uniform.
164. Popular bloggers can easily influence mass opinion. That’s why
they are called influencers.
165. My daughter is just 7 but she is already dreaming of marrying a
wealthy guy.
166. You shouldn’t get angry at your parents that it takes time to explain
to them some new technologies.
167. - How did you learn about our school?
- Oh, I’ve seen an ad for your photography classes and it got me
interested.
168. If you don't have a car, metro is the fastest way to get around the
city.
169. - What is the worst decision that you’ve ever made?
- Not learning English.
170. It is way much simpler to hire a professional than to try fixing the
leak yourself.
171. My laptop case is less efficient / expensive / твой вариант than
yours.
172. Finding your soulmate is probably one of the most amazing
things that can happen to you.
173. Sarah works the most attentive when it comes to small details.
174. Employees work by far the most efficiently with the Agile
system.
175. My elder cousin Jack is coming over for Christmas.
176. I am the youngest sibling in my family. My brother is 3 years
older than me and my sister is 5 years older than me.
177. My close friend opened his first coffee shop at the age of 23.
178. It is scary that people of my age are now getting married and
having kids.
179. If such inappropriate behavior doesn't stop, we’ll have to take
further legal actions.
180. I know that this house is three times as far from the city center
as our old one but look how stunning it is.
181. My younger brother is more talented than I am / than me.
182. My mom is quite a wise woman and she always gives the best
advice.
183. I used to have rather better benefits at my previous job.
184. This paper is not as difficult as you think.
185. The faster you send your assignment, the better grade you will get.
186. Peach is the tiniest kitten of the litter but also the fastest one.
187. Studying abroad has been my biggest dream ever.
188. We still have a few places open so you can book one if you want.
189. Only few people showed up. It wasn't enough to organize a proper
event.
190. Places like the Sahara desert can be deadly to anyone who comes
there unprepared.
191. In the end, Mike didn't even show up.
192. This day is too good to spend it doing chores.
193. Josh can be such a nice guy sometimes.
194. Nicky has such a fantastic style. I wonder where she gets
inspiration for all of her outfit ideas.
195. If people followed sanitary requirements, there would be fewer
COVID cases.
196. I will be super grateful if you will help me out with this task.
197. Unless more people start living sustainably, our planet will suffer
from severe ecological consequences.
198. Get in the car, will you?
199. I am really good at it, aren’t I?
200. There was nothing on the table, was there?
201.-
202. - My husband never helps me out with kids.
- Neither does mine.
203. What are you doing it for?
204. Would you mind switching seats with me?
205. We’re looking forward to hosting you in our luxurious hotel.
206. Have you ever been abroad?
207. Our English teacher advises us to review new vocabulary every 2
days.
208. Unfortunately, we cannot afford to buy you a new iPhone at the
moment.
209. I was extremely excited to learn that I had been accepted to
university.
210. Nuclear weapons are hazardous.
211.-
212.-
213.-
214. - How is your mood today?
- Everything is fine / I am good / I am fine, what about you?
215. - You should move to another place if you don't like where you
live now.
- I don’t think so. I believe you should really move to a new
country if you know what to do there.
216.-
217. - Thank you so much for helping me out with bags!
- No problem / Sure / You’re welcome / No worries / Happy to
help, my dear.
218.-
219. I really think you should be more attentive when doing your
homework. You’ve been making so many mistakes lately.
220. Film photography is my biggest passion. I enjoy taking vintage
photos of my friends and family.
221. I am sorry, professor. I missed the bus and had to catch another
one.
222. The best cure for exhaustion is a good night sleep.
223. I am afraid to confess to my parents that I’ve got a tattoo. I think
they won't like it.
224. Jeremy looked so surprised when our whole gang showed up at
his house for his birthday.
225. Mike left his keys on the table and got locked out of his
apartment.
226. I’ve been at school for 10 years already and I still don’t
understand math.
227. You got home just in time — we’re going to have dinner.
228. Her voice was soft and quiet so I fell asleep.
229. How could you accomplish this task in such little time? That’s
virtually impossible!
230. The big number of tourists greatly affects the city's landscape
and its culture.
231. The kiss cam is a super popular thing at sports events in the
states. It scans the spectators and selects a couple, showing
them on the big screen so they would kiss.
232. I am sorry but I can't sell you this drug without a prescription.
233. I have a secret recipe for my brownies. It’s delicious.
234. If you want to return your purchase, please bring in the receipt
you were given.
235. My parents met back in the 90s. My dad was in the military then.
236. This work is done really bad. You should fix it asap.
237. Why did you come home so late again?
238. Mike works 12 hours a day. He hardly sees his friends and
family.
239. Your parents are deeply respected people in town. You can’t
disgrace them like that.
240. Let’s check who can jump higher.
241. Freedom of speech is one of the basic democracy values that
allows people to freely express their thoughts and opinions.
242. Is there a restaurant near us?
243. Before performing the surgery the vet needed to weigh the puppy.
244. The room was cluttered with so much random stuff. It took us 3
days to completely clear it out.
245. I will be able to carry out my plan.
246. Giving birth to a child is a miraculous experience.
247.-
248. This house is really old and needs renovation. It’s really cheap
though.
249. I like the fabric. I think it’s good enough to be used for our
clothes.
250. We can offer you five different options and you can test out each of
them.
251.-
252. I didn't tell you anything because I was scared that you would be
angry at me.
253. The fund didn't raise enough money. That’s why it had to be shut
down.
254. I hope you have a reason because you’re being so creepy today.
255. I did not mean to insult you. I called you an imbecile figuratively.
256. Mommy, I want a new dress to wear to my birthday party!
257. As for our conversation yesterday, I didn’t mean to offend you.
258. It takes me so much time to get up from bed. I’d better do
something about it.
259. If you live in the UK and your kids go to a free school, then it’s a
state school.
260. Lucie said that she had a new crush from school.
261. The part of your assignment is a presentation of your individual
projects. You will have to speak about a historic event that, in
your opinion, had the biggest impact on society.
262. Our shop has very convenient opening hours.
263. Jack and I are in the same English class at school.
264. What exams do I need to take to study for a psychologist?
265. What do you study at university?
266. My job is not something extraordinary. I am an accountant.
267. Have you heard the latest news? Jess is pregnant!
268. I want to hang a mirror above the wardrobe. What do you think?
269. A manager usually has 3 to 5 people working below them.
270. You are not giving me any options to choose from!
271. Please, do not leave any personal belongings in this room.
272.-
273. We believe our students must spend 4-5 hours every day
practicing music.
274. Problem-solving is one of the most crucial soft skills we’re
looking for in our employees.
275. When you arrive at the customs, you can drive through but
passengers will have to go on foot.
276. I enjoy / love / like knitting in my free time. It helps me relax.
277. Jess is so bad at debates/discussions. She can hardly ever find
good points to prove her opinion.
278. - What do you do for a living?
- I am a CEO/head/manager of a banking company.
279. You used to be so energetic and lively. What happened?
280. I am afraid to leave my kids alone. What if they set the house on
fire or hurt themselves?
281. Our hotel offers a wide range of interesting activities for your and
your kids to enjoy.
282. Are there any side effects of this drug?
283. Your behavior is totally inappropriate!
284. Broadway is a paradise for bohemians but a hell for
actors/performers.
285. You will look absolutely charming in this black fitted tuxedo.
286. My mom wishes I were a careful person but my room has always
been a mess.
287.-
288. My family is a close-knit one. We have deep affection and
fondness for each other.
289. Silicon is an integral element for the computer industry.
290. It is not uncommon for younger people to question the morality
they grew up in.
291. Kris is such a joker. He has a joke/funny story to tell for any
occasion.
292. When my kids were younger, we would take them to the
amusement park for their birthdays. They loved the rides there.
293. We would appreciate if you would provide more
specific/particular evidence on this case.
294. Our prices can change depending on the currency rate. You can
find all the up-to-date information about the prices and the
availability of products on our website.
295. Kurt got her a diamond ring when he proposed to Jessica but
she still turned him down.
296. Mr. Jefferson is in his office. You can find him in room 564.
297. Please, leave your bags in the luggage room and follow me.
298. My boss/manager can be such a pain in the ass sometimes. I
wish she were more understanding.
299. I don't think it's a brilliant idea to take out a loan to buy just a
new phone.
300. If you are working towards a slimmer build, you should first lose
weight and then tone your body.
301. Modern composers are so talented but yet so underappreciated.
302. If a ticket person finds out you didn't buy a ticket, they can easily
fine you right on the bus.
303. - What's your favorite children's movie?
- Charlie and the Chocolate Fabric.
304. Now I want you to take a sheet of paper and write down your
thoughts about today's lecture.
305. Your essay should have at least 3 paragraphs: introduction, body,
and conclusion.
306. We walked down a long avenue before finally saying our
goodbyes.
307. Russian intelligence was a special moral and ethical
phenomenon.
308. Keeping a memory of important historical dates is an integral
part of any country's mission.
309. Danish is spoken not only in Denmark but also in Greenland and
northern Germany.
310. If you notice any symptoms of a stroke, you should immediately
call 911.
311. Excuse me. Could you please tell me where I can get stamps to
send a letter?
312. Sarah, please, go to the shop and buy some milk for breakfast.
313. The Moscow Metro can be undoubtedly considered one of the
most beautiful in the world.
314. If you are new to a stock market, you’d better start with bonds as
they are less risky.
315. I work as an actress. We have daily rehearsals during weekdays.
316. Participants who will show considerable skills will be invited to
the next competition stage.
317.-
318. I’ve never come back to my hometown since I left it in my 20s.
319. The first final exams/midterm exams at university can be a
terrifying experience for college students.
320. Your personal life cannot affect the business in any way.
321. We are willing to invest in savings bonds. Also, we’d like to open a
high-yielding savings account.
322. At a certain point in your life, you start seeing your school friends
less and less often and then you completely drift apart altogether.
323. As/Since Mark is always running late for our meetings, we are
going to tell him to come one hour before the actual time.
324. I usually have eggs and bacon for breakfast.
325. There was a cinema beside our school and we would sometimes
go watch movies after school.
326. Let’s keep it just between you and me, okay?
327. As a historian, I love spending time studying historic documents.
328. Couchsurfing lets you learn the city from the inside out and not
have a typical tourist lifestyle.
329. I don't really think this dress fits you. It’s too big on the shoulders.
330. Can I borrow your pen? I left mine at the library.
331. The weather forecast predicts a possibility of heavy rain and sleet
tomorrow.
332. An ability to express yourself clearly and concisely is precious.
333. I’ve never had any ability in music but I still wanna try playing the
piano.
334. I am sorry but I won't be able to attend the meeting.
335. My husband could not know where I was going. He won't be spying
on us.
336. No way! You are not allowed to go to that party. What if you get
drunk or high?
337. The stock prices rose up after the announcement of new medical
technologies.
338. I woke up, out on my sports suit, and went for a run.
339. Hey! Why are you looking at me? I’ve seen you at least 5 times near
my house today.
340.I t was a peaceful day at the beach. Children were building
sandcastles while parents were hiding in the shade of umbrellas.
341. I am exhausted. I wish I could just lie down on the sofa and chill.
342. We gotta do something about those loose wires. They might be
dangerous.
343. I feel like our relationship with Jess has become quite toxic.
However, she is always there for me when I need help.
344. The doctor prescribed me to take these painkillers every other day
until the pain fades away.
345. I am going to retire in 4 years. I am getting tired of such a stressful
lifestyle.
346. - Where are the kids?
- Oh, they are outside playing in the garden.
347. If you look closer, you can see tiny little details in the picture. This
artist paid a lot of attention to elements.
348. What do you say to going out tonight?
349. I wanted to surprise my girlfriend with some coffee and croissants
this morning but instead, I found her cheating with my best friend.
350. You can't run away from
351. I have been taking pictures of her for half an hour and I got so
tired of it.
352. Kathy's mad at me. She is upset about my offer to split the bill
when we went out yesterday.
353. Most MPs voted against a new lockdown.
354. Styles are coming back. I remember that such dresses used to be
popular with my generation.
355.-
356. Your Mom is such a wise woman. If I were you, I’d ask her for
advice.
357. My father gave advice/a piece of advice/a tip that I’ve been
turning in my head ever since.
358. Elon Musk sometimes writes posts in Russian on his Twitter.
359. I couldn't take my eyes off her wide charming smile.
360. Kids who were born in the late 1990s are now getting married and
having kids.
361.-
362.-
363.-
364. There are a lot of ways to learn a language, e.g. watch movies and
read books, go study abroad, or find a native speaker to practice.
365.-