Un-English Expressions

Set a watch by, not put a watch with.

Don’t say: I put my watch with the radio news.

ü  Say: I set my watch by the radio news.

Un-English Expressions

Give an example, not bring an example.

Don’t say: Can you bring a better example?

      Say: Can you give a better example?

Un-English Expressions

See or watch a game, not to follow a game.

Don’t say: Did you follow the game?

        Say: Did you see (or watch) the game?

Note: Avoid saying to follow the lesson when you mean to attend the class.

Un-English Expressions

Telling lies, not saying lies.

Don’t say: Are you saying a lie? 

-- Say: Are you telling a lie?

Un-English Expressions

Make a mistake, not do a mistake.

Don’t say: I did one mistake in dictation.

ü  Say: I made one mistake in dictation.

Un-English Expressions

Have a dream, not see a dream.

Don’t say: I saw a strange dream last night.

ü  Say: I had a strange dream last night.

ü  Or: I dreamt a strange dream last night.

Un-English Expressions

Say one’s prayers, not make or do one’s prayers.

Don’t say: I make my prayer before I go to bed.

ü  Say: I say my prayers before I go to bed.

Note: To say grace is to ask God’s blessing.

Un-English Expressions

Give or deliver a lecture, not make a lecture.

Don’t say: He made an interesting lecture.

ü  Say: He gave an interesting lecture.

ü   Or: He delivered an interesting lecture.

Un-English Expressions

How much time, not how much minutes, etc.

Don’t say: How much minutes do you need.

ü  Say: How much time do you need.

Un-English Expressions

Take an hour, not need an hour, etc.

Don’t say: I will need an hour to do that.

ü  Say: It’ll take me an hour to do that.

Un-English Expressions

Take or have a shower, not make a shower.

Don’t say: I make a shower every morning.

ü  Say: I take a shower every morning.

ü  Or: I have a shower every morning

Un-English Expressions

Always used, not used always.

Don’t say: You used always to help me.

ü  Say: You always used to help me.

Un-English Expressions

Go on foot, not go with the feet.

Don’t say: Shall we go there with the feet?

ü  Say: Shall we go there on foot?

Un-English Expressions

Go for a ride on a bicycle, etc., not go for a walk on a bicycle, etc.

Don’t say: We went for a walk on our bicycles.

ü  Say: We went for a ride on our bicycles.

Note: We ride on a bicycle, on horseback, etc, but we ride in a bus, train, or other public vehicle.

Un-English Expressions

It’s hot, etc., not it has hot, etc.

Don’t say: It has hot this summer.

ü  Say: It’s hot this summer.

Un-English Expressions

It’s cold, etc., not it has cold, etc.

Don’t say: It has cold this winter.

ü  Say: It’s cold this winter.

Un-English Expressions

To be right or wrong, not to have right or wrong.

Don’t say: You have right or you have wrong.

ü  Say: You are right or you are wrong.

Use of the wrong Grammar

Using till instead of before or when.

Don’t say: I’d reached the school till the rain started.

ü  Say: I’d reached the school before the rain started.

ü  Or: I’d reached the school when the rain started

Before or when introduces a clause of time, if the verb of the main clause denotes an action completed before that of the time clause.

Use of the wrong Grammar

Using also or too in a negative sentence instead of either.

Don’t say: Joe hasn’t come also.

ü  Say: Joe hasn’t come either.

Remember: Change also or too into either in a negative sentence.

Use of the wrong Grammar

Using neither … or instead of neither … nor.

Don’t say: Sara speaks neither English or French.

ü  Say: Sara speaks neither English nor French.

Remember: Neither must be followed by nor and not by or. Either is followed by or: E.g. She drinks either orange juice or apple juice.

Use of the wrong Grammar

Using any for two, instead of either.

Don’t say: Any of these two books is good.

ü  Say: Either of these two books is good.

Either means one or the other of two; any means one of three or more.

Use of the wrong Grammar

Using a country instead of the country.

Don’t say: I spend my holidays in a country.

ü  Say: I spend my holidays in the country.

A country is a place like France, India, or Egypt. The country is a rural area where there are no towns or cities.

Use of the wrong Grammar

Using under the rain, instead of in the rain.

Don’t say: They played football under the rain.

ü  Say: They played football in the rain.