Common mistakes in

spoken english

O Other/anotherO DifferentO 1 more

O Make/do*O Action (auxiliary)O Have something $

O Fun/funny

O Come back/ go backO Same placeO travel

Wrong I have visited Niagara Falls last weekend.

Right I visited Niagara Falls last weekend.Wrong She’s married with a dentist.

Right She’s married to a dentist.

Wrong I look forward to meet you.

Right I look forward to meeting you.

Wrong My boyfriend has got a new work.

Right My boyfriend has got a new job. (or just "has a new job")

Wrong You speak English good.

Right You speak English well.

Wrong The police is coming.

Right The police are coming.

Wrong My flight departs in 5:00 am.

Right My flight departs at 5:00 am.

Wrong Please explain me how improve my English.

Right Please explain to me how to improve my English.

Wrong We studied during four hours.

Right We studied for four hours.

Wrong My mother wanted that I be doctor.

Right My mother wanted me to be a doctor.

Wrong You are very nice, as your mother.

Right You are very nice, like your mother.

Wrong Me and Johnny live here.

Right Johnny and I live here.

O “I think she doesn’t like tomatoes.”O “They enjoyed the baseball game

despite of the rain.” “Despite” and “in spite of” mean the same thing, and many English learners confuse them. After “despite,” we never use “of.” The correct sentence would be “They enjoyed the baseball game despite the rain” or “They enjoyed the baseball game in spite of the rain.”

INCORRECT:"I would prefer to study by my own rather than study with others."CORRECT:"I would prefer to study on my own/by myself rather than study with others."INCORRECT:"In my point of view, we should raise taxes on gasoline."CORRECT:"From my point of view, we should raise taxes on gasoline.""In my view, we should raise taxes on gasoline."

O OnO Used to express a surface of something:

I put an egg on the kitchen table.O The paper is on my desk.O Used to specify days and dates:

The garbage truck comes on Wednesdays.O I was born on the 14th day of June in 1988.O Used to indicate a device or machine, such as a phone or computer:

He is on the phone right now.O She has been on the computer since this morning.O My favorite movie will be on TV tonight.O Used to indicate a part of the body:

The stick hit me on my shoulder.O He kissed me on my cheek.O I wear a ring on my finger.O Used to indicate the state of something:

Everything in this store is on sale.O The building is on fire.

O InO Used for unspecific times during a day, month, season, year:

She always reads newspapers in the morning.O In the summer, we have a rainy season for three weeks.O The new semester will start in March.O Used to indicate a location or place:

She looked me directly in the eyes.O I am currently staying in a hotel.O My hometown is Los Angeles, which is in California.O Used to indicate a shape, color, or size:

This painting is mostly in blue.O The students stood in a circle.O This jacket comes in four different sizes.O Used to express while doing something:

In preparing for the final report, we revised the tone three times.O A catch phrase needs to be impressive in marketing a product.O Used to indicate a belief, opinion, interest, or feeling:

I believe in the next life.O We are not interested in gambling.

O AtO Used to point out specific time:

I will meet you at 12 p.m.O The bus will stop here at 5:45 p.m.O Used to indicate a place:

There is a party at the club house.O There were hundreds of people at the park.O We saw a baseball game at the stadium.O Used to indicate an email address:

Please email me at abc@defg.com.O Used to indicate an activity:

He laughed at my acting.O I am good at drawing a portrait.