Mastering English Grammar: Common Mistakes

Conditional Sentences

1. Take my advice and go to see the doctor soon. WERE

If I were you, I would take your advice and go to see the doctor soon.

13. I’m not good at languages, so I won’t take up Spanish. WERE

If I were good at languages, I would take up Spanish.

17. My advice is to do lots of revision. WERE

If I were you, I would do lots of revision.

Prepositions and Adverbs

2. We warmed up for half an hour and then went for a long run. AFTER

We went for a long run after warming up for half an hour.

6. We saw the film and then we had a meal at a good restaurant. AFTER

After we saw the film, we had a meal at a good restaurant.

Reported Speech

3. ‘Do you like dancing?’ asked Rose. IF

Rose asked me if I liked dancing.

Passive Voice

4. Someone is following us. BEING

We are being followed.

18. Someone stole our car last night. WAS

Our car was stolen last night.

2 (2nd set). They asked him to make a speech at the wedding. HE

He was asked to make a speech at the wedding.

Modal Verbs

5. It’s possible that Mr. Gordon is the murderer. BE

Mr. Gordon might be the murderer.

10. I’m sure he is not French. BE

He can't be French.

20. Why don’t you tell her the truth? SHOULD

You should tell her the truth.

4 (2nd set). You are not allowed to smoke in this building. MUST

You must not smoke in this building.

Verb Tenses

7. I regret not keeping in touch with the friends I met on holiday. WISH

I wish I had kept in touch with the friends I met on holiday.

8. We always went on holiday to the beach when I was very young. USED

We always used to go on holiday to the beach when I was very young.

14. I started work here in 2007. SINCE

I have been working here since 2007.

19. I didn’t travel much when I was younger and now I regret it. MORE

I regret not having traveled more when I was younger.

5 (2nd set). It’s unlikely that I’ll see you again this week. PROBABLY

I probably won't see you again this week.

Phrases and Clauses

9. I met Danielle when we started school together in 1996. KNOWN

I have known Danielle since we started school together in 1996.

11. Someone sold me this computer and said it was a real bargain. WHO

The person who sold me this computer said it was a real bargain.

12. It was such a difficult exercise that it took me an hour to do it. SO

It was so difficult an exercise that it took me an hour to do it.

15. I can’t find anyone who thinks it’s a bad idea. EVERYONE

Everyone thinks that it's a good idea.

16. It would be a good idea to get some petrol or you’ll run out. BETTER

You had better get some petrol or you’ll run out.

3 (2nd set). Martin has to wear his glasses to read the newspaper. WITHOUT

Martin can’t read the newspaper without his glasses.

Wishes

1 (2nd set). I’d love to have a little more money. WISH

I wish I had a little more money.