Common English Mistakes
Topic: English Tips and Grammar
All of the following phrases or words are wrong or often used wrongly:

WRONG: One more please?
Students ask me this question when they want me to repeat a conversation I've just read from the textbook.
CORRECT: Could you read it again?
Could you repeat that? (If you can't hear a word or sentence.)

WRONG: I couldn't catch.
Students say this when they can't answer a question about text I've just read.
CORRECT: I didn't hear.
I couldn't catch that information.

WRONG: I have to finish the report until Monday morning.
CORRECT: I have to finish before Monday.
I have until Monday to finish the report.

WRONG: Almost Japanese like soccer:
"Almost" can be used in two ways. It means "nearly," but used with "all," or "all of," it means "nearly all," or "most."
Almost = nearly.
Almost all = 90%-99%:
CORRECT: I almost scored a goal.
Almost all Japanese like soccer.


WRONG: Please teach me your phone number:
We don't use "teach" to talk about giving simple information like phone numbers or addresses. Usually "give" is the proper word, but "tell" can also be used. "Teach" is used to talk about learning how to do complex things like to speak English or to ski.
CORRECT: Can I have your phone number?
What's your phone number?
Teach me how to use the internet.
Tell me your phone number.
Give me your phone number.

Talking about a time after another time
From the present time: "in"
WRONG: I'm going to LA two weeks later
CORRECT: I'm going to LA in two weeks.

From a time in the past to another time in the past: "later;" "after that"
CORRECT: I came to Tokyo in 2001. I met John two years later.
CORRECT: I woke up at 9. Less than two minutes after that, you called.

From a time in the future to another time later in the future: "later;" "after that"
CORRECT: I'm going to the movies at 7, and later, I'm going to see Kathy.
CORRECT: I'm going to graduate next year, and a year after that I'm going to get married.

Your house or apartment is not a "room."
WRONG: I cleaned my room.
CORRECT: I cleaned my apartment.


WRONG: There are two persons talking in this picture.
This is wrong because we don't use "person" in the plural. Use "people" instead.
CORRECT: There are two people in my family.


WRONG: I'm a safety driver:
"Safety" is a noun. In this situation, we use the adjective form: "safe".
CORRECT: I'm a safe driver.


WRONG: I recommend you to Kyoto:
CORRECT: I recommend Kyoto.
I recommend you go to Kyoto.
I recommend buying a yukata.

The differences between "(be) going to" and "will" to talk about the future:
"(be) going to" is used to indicate:
1. definite plans
WRONG: I will move to LA on June 1.
CORRECT: I'm going to move to LA on June 1. I'm moving on June 1.
2. uncontrollable things (like the weather or other people's feelings)
WRONG: It will rain. My girlfriend will be angry.
CORRECT: It's gonna rain. My girlfriend's going to be angry.

"will" is generally used to indicate:
1. a sudden decision: (ordering food) I'll have a beer. (phone ringing) I'll answer it.
2. a promise: I'll finish the report by tomorrow.
3. not sure: with "maybe," "probably," "I think," "I guess," etc: I'll probably go bowling tomorrow. Maybe I'll have time to stop by your place.

WRONG: I'm working for Sony. (I just started. I might quit soon.)
I'm living in Hakusan.

Using "verb + ing" (the present progressive) implies a new or temporary situation.
CORRECT: I work for Sony.
I live in Hakusan.

Don't use the word "hobby" so much! Americans rarely have any hobbies. We think a hobby is a VERY serious thing, like "Cosplay" or collecting stamps. We call simple things like reading, watching movies, playing tennis, etc "likes" or "interests"
WRONG: What is your hobby?:
CORRECT: What are your interests? I like to play tennis.
What do you do in your free time? I do a lot of reading.
What do you like to do? I'm really interested in WWII History.

talking about marriage with and without objects
The person you married is the object. If you mention him/her use "I married/divorced him/her." If you don't use "him/her," say "I got married/divorced last year."
WRONG: (no object) I married last year:
CORRECT: (no object) I got married last year.
WRONG: (with an object) I got married Susan last year:
CORRECT: (with an object) I married Susan last year.
If there is an object: "Tom Cruise married Nicole Kidman."
If there is no object: "Tom Cruise got married."

WRONG: I'm an office worker:
This is strange because it's so vague. There are many, many office jobs. Give more specific information.

CORRECT: I'm a manager at an import/export company.
I'm a secretary.


WRONG: The weather is fine.
"Fine" in this sentence doesn't mean "clear" or "beautiful," it means "ok."

CORRECT: The weather is great.
It's a beautiful day.
It's sunny.
Fine weather, isn't it?


WRONG: Have you ridden the jetcoaster at La Qua?
"Jetcoaster" isn't a word in English. Use "rollercoaster."

CORRECT: Have you ridden the rollercoaster at La Qua?

WRONG: Do you know sumo?
Usually we use "know" to refer to a person or school subject.
CORRECT: Do you know Japanese?
Do you know about sumo?
Have you heard of sumo?

WRONG: Ichiro is the strongest baseball player in the American League.
"Strong" generally means "muscular." Use "best."
CORRECT: Ichiro is the best baseball player in the American League.

WRONG: I have to back the videos to the video store.
"Back" is not a verb. Use "return."
CORRECT: I have to return the videos to the video store.

WRONG: Sushi is very delicious.
Words like "delicious" are very strong and don't need the word "very."
CORRECT: Sushi is delicious.

FORMAL: Stewart's English lessons are very difficult.
Actually, this isn't wrong. "difficult" is ok, but Americans use "hard" most of the time.
CORRECT: Stewart's English lessons are very hard.

WRONG: I'll explain you how to.
CORRECT: I'll explain IT to you.
"Explain" needs an object. For example, "I'll explain THE PROJECT to you."

"late" is NOT a verb in English, it's an adjective--unlike Japanese.
WRONG: I'm sorry to late.
CORRECT: I'm sorry to be late.
I'm sorry I'm late.

"smart" means "intelligent" not "thin"
WRONG: She is very smart.
CORRECT: She is very thin.
"Smart"= intelligent
"thin"= body shape

WRONG: If you are possible.
WRONG: If you are ok.
WRONG: Are you ok?
Use "it" instead of "you"
CORRECT: If it's possible, let's finish the project today.
Is it ok?
Is it ok with you?

WRONG: I have ever been to Hawaii.
CORRECT: I have been to Hawaii.
"Ever" is used in the question: "Have you EVER been to Hawaii?" The answer doesn't use ever: "Yes, I have--several times."

WRONG: (When seeing your friend for the first time in a long time) "Nice to meet you."
CORRECT: "Nice to see you again."
"Meet/met" usually mean "the first time." After you have met someone, and you see him unexpectedly you can say: "I saw Joe at the train station tonight." If it was planned, you can say, "I got together with/met up with (British/Australia)/had dinner with Joe.

WRONG: I mistaked.
CORRECT: I made a mistake.
"Mistake" is not used as a verb here. "Mistake" is sometimes used as a verb, but it needs an object: "I mistook him (object) for my husband." = "I thought he was my husband."

WRONG: I'm going to leave until Friday.
CORRECT: I'm not going to leave until Friday.
"Until" means do an action or remain in a state up to a certain. At that time you will STOP doing the action, or the state will change.
"I lived in Los Angeles until February."
"The report is due by Friday."

NOT WRONG, BUT CONFUSING: "I have got sick a lot this year."
CORRECT: I have gotten sick a lot this year.
This is very tricky. "Have got" does not really mean "have gotten," it means "have." Americans use "got" or "gotten" as a past participle. (The British use "got.")
"I've got to go (home now)" = "I have to go (home now)."

WRONG: He is cunning!
CORRECT: He is cheating.
In English, "cunning" means "smart/clever/intelligent." It has a negative nuance, but it is a personality trait (adjective). "Cheating" is an action.

"claim" has a very different meaning in English
WRONG: I claimed the manager
CORRECT: I complained to the manager.
WRONG: My landlord claimed me because my music was too loud.
("Claim" means to assert that something is true. "He claimed he could speak Japanese, but he couldn't.")
CORRECT: My landlord complained because my music was too loud.


WRONG: My father was died in 1998.
CORRECT: My father died in 1998.
"Died" is a verb, not an adjective. (die/died/died)

usually "next Thursday" means "Thursday next week." This is wrong if Thursday comes this week too.
WRONG: How about next Thursday?
CORRECT: How about this Thursday?
"This" means in this week. "Next" means in next week.