Thursday, May 31, 2012

Un-English Expressions


Set a watch by, not put a watch with.
Don’t say: I put my watch with the radio news.
ΓΌ  Say: I set my watch by the radio news.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

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?

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

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.

Monday, May 28, 2012

Un-English Expressions

Telling lies, not saying lies.
Don’t say: Are you saying a lie? 
-- Say: Are you telling a lie?

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Un-English Expressions


Make a mistake, not do a mistake.
Don’t say: I did one mistake in dictation.
ΓΌ  Say: I made one mistake in dictation.

Friday, May 25, 2012

Un-English Expressions


Have a dream, not see a dream.
Don’t say: I saw a strange dream last night.
ΓΌ  Say: I had a strange dream last night.
ΓΌ  Or: I dreamt a strange dream last night.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

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.
ΓΌ  Say: I say my prayers before I go to bed.
Note: To say grace is to ask God’s blessing.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Un-English Expressions


Give or deliver a lecture, not make a lecture.
Don’t say: He made an interesting lecture.
ΓΌ  Say: He gave an interesting lecture.
ΓΌ   Or: He delivered an interesting lecture.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Un-English Expressions


How much time, not how much minutes, etc.
Don’t say: How much minutes do you need.
ΓΌ  Say: How much time do you need.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Un-English Expressions


Take an hour, not need an hour, etc.
Don’t say: I will need an hour to do that.
ΓΌ  Say: It’ll take me an hour to do that.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Un-English Expressions


Take or have a shower, not make a shower.
Don’t say: I make a shower every morning.
ΓΌ  Say: I take a shower every morning.
ΓΌ  Or: I have a shower every morning

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Un-English Expressions


Always used, not used always.
Don’t say: You used always to help me.
ΓΌ  Say: You always used to help me.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Un-English Expressions


Go on foot, not go with the feet.
Don’t say: Shall we go there with the feet?
ΓΌ  Say: Shall we go there on foot?

Saturday, May 12, 2012

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.
ΓΌ  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.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Un-English Expressions


It’s hot, etc., not it has hot, etc.
Don’t say: It has hot this summer.
ΓΌ  Say: It’s hot this summer.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Un-English Expressions


It’s cold, etc., not it has cold, etc.
Don’t say: It has cold this winter.
ΓΌ  Say: It’s cold this winter.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Un-English Expressions


To be right or wrong, not to have right or wrong.
Don’t say: You have right or you have wrong.
ΓΌ  Say: You are right or you are wrong.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Use of the wrong Grammar


Using till instead of before or when.
Don’t say: I’d reached the school till the rain started.
ΓΌ  Say: I’d reached the school before the rain started.
ΓΌ  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.

Monday, May 7, 2012

Use of the wrong Grammar


Using also or too in a negative sentence instead of either.
Don’t say: Joe hasn’t come also.
ΓΌ  Say: Joe hasn’t come either.
Remember: Change also or too into either in a negative sentence.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Use of the wrong Grammar


Using neither … or instead of neither … nor.
Don’t say: Sara speaks neither English or French.
ΓΌ  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.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Use of the wrong Grammar


Using any for two, instead of either.
Don’t say: Any of these two books is good.
ΓΌ  Say: Either of these two books is good.
Either means one or the other of two; any means one of three or more.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Use of the wrong Grammar


Using a country instead of the country.
Don’t say: I spend my holidays in a country.
ΓΌ  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.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Use of the wrong Grammar


Using under the rain, instead of in the rain.
Don’t say: They played football under the rain.
ΓΌ  Say: They played football in the rain.