It’s easy to use regional dialects or commonly misused language mistakes when speaking everyday English. However, when teaching a second language to new students, it’s important that you’re giving them the proper foundation from which to build their habits. This includes your own speaking and writing habits in the classroom. The following are 20 common English grammar mistakes you might not even know you’re making:<\/p>\n
Once you’re done with these,\u00a0check out Part 2<\/a> for even more English grammar mistakes and tips!<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: Anyways<\/strong>, I went in the other direction.<\/p>\n A correct use of anyway <\/strong>would be: We don’t need that anyway<\/strong>!<\/p>\n Anyways<\/strong> is not a word.<\/p>\n This is the “have, has and had” series that can trip people up. Present perfect is used to show something that has happened in the past and continues into the future, or to show how long something has happened. For instance, \u201cI have worked as a teacher for 10 years\u201d or \u201cI have lived in New York since 1998.\u201d<\/p>\n Towards<\/strong> is typically not used in America. However, British English uses towards<\/strong> more often than toward<\/strong>. So, before you discredit either version, just think about its origin.<\/p>\n This can get tricky, but remember – you use who<\/strong> when asking about the subject of the sentence and whom<\/strong> when asking about the object of the sentence.<\/p>\n Take, for instance, this sentence: He must stay with her!<\/p>\n When asking about the male in question, the question is, “Who<\/strong> must stay with her?” On the other hand, when asking about the female, you ask, “With whom <\/strong>must he stay?”<\/p>\n You use “I<\/strong>” when the pronoun is the subject. You use “me<\/strong>” when the pronoun is the object. Another way to look at it is to take the “noun and” out of the sentence to see if it makes sense.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: Riley said goodbye to Emmitt and me<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Does it make sense if you take “Emmitt and” out? “Riley said goodbye to me<\/strong>.” Yes, it does!<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: She and I<\/strong> fell asleep under the stars.<\/p>\n Does it make sense if\u00a0 you take “She and” out? “I<\/strong> fell asleep under the stars.” Correct.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: Eli and me<\/strong> baited our own hooks.<\/p>\n Does it make sense if you take “Eli and” out? “Me baited our hooks.” Me<\/strong> has been used incorrectly.<\/p>\n According to dictionary.com<\/a>, “If you affect<\/b> something, you do to it. If you effect<\/b> something, you cause it to be.” In other words, a general rule is affect<\/strong> is used as a verb and effect<\/strong> is used as a noun.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: Your decision a<\/strong>ffected<\/strong> me.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: What effect<\/strong> will this have on me?<\/p>\n Note: Thanks to a reader’s input, it’s important to note that both words can be used as both a noun and a verb. A definition of the words might be helpful:<\/p>\n Affect<\/strong>, according to dictionary.com<\/a> (who helpfully used the word “effect” in the definition), is (v1) to<\/span> act<\/span> on;<\/span> produce<\/span> an<\/span> effect<\/span> or<\/span> change<\/span> in, (v2) to impress<\/span> the<\/span> mind<\/span> or<\/span> move<\/span> the<\/span> feelings<\/span> of, or (v3) <\/span><\/span>(of<\/span> pain,<\/span> disease,<\/span> etc.)<\/span> to<\/span> attack<\/span> or<\/span> lay<\/span> hold<\/span> of. As a noun, the definition is, a (n1) feeling<\/span> or<\/span> emotion<\/span>, or (n2) an expressed<\/span> or<\/span> observed<\/span> emotional<\/span> response.<\/span> Effect,\u00a0<\/strong>according to Merriam-Webster.com,<\/a> means (n1) a change that results when something is done or happens; an event, condition, or state of affairs that is produced by a cause, <\/span>(n2) <\/span>a particular feeling or mood created by something, (n3) <\/span><\/span>an image or a sound that is created in television, radio, or movies to imitate something real. As a verb, the definition is (v1) to cause to come into being<\/span>, (v2a) to bring about often by surmounting obstacles;\u00a0 accomplish, or (v2b) to put into operation.<\/span><\/p>\n Farther<\/strong> refers to a distance, while further<\/strong> refers to a metaphorical time or space.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: I can spit farther<\/strong> than you can.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: Please don’t take this line of thinking any further<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Note: While there is a difference between the two, it’s not a hard and fast rule that everyone follows. They are sometimes used interchangeably without fault.<\/p>\n Because these two sound so similar, it’s easy to use mispronounce one over the other. Accept\u00a0<\/strong>as a verb means “to consent to receive,” whereas except<\/strong>, is used sometimes as a verb, conjunction, and a preposition, and means “to exclude.”<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: You need to accept<\/strong> my decision.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence (preposition): Everyone can go, except<\/strong> John.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence (verb): Who’s going with me, present company excepted<\/strong>?<\/p>\n Used in a sentence (conjunction): They look the same, except<\/strong> that he is younger than her.<\/p>\n This is an old conundrum that has confused people for years. Here’s the breakdown:<\/p>\n Lie <\/strong>is generally used to describe what a person is doing to themselves, whereas lay<\/strong> is generally used to describe how a person is placing another item.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: I just want to lie<\/strong> beside you.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: You can lay<\/strong> the book on the end table.<\/p>\n Now, here comes the confusing part:<\/p>\n The past tense of lie<\/strong> is lay. <\/strong>The past tense of lay<\/strong> is laid<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence (past): After I got home last night, I lay<\/strong> down for a couple of hours before Used in a sentence (future): After I get home tonight, I will lie<\/strong> down for a couple of hours before going out.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence (past): I laid<\/strong> the book down on the table after I finished it.<\/p>\n In a sentence, that<\/strong> generally refers back to an object while who<\/strong> refers back to a person.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: It was the book that<\/strong> did it.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: It was the chief of police who<\/strong> did it.<\/p>\n This, however, isn’t a hard and fast rule. It would also be acceptable to say, “The boy that<\/strong> got away is my cousin.” Who <\/strong>would work too, but it’s not incorrect to use that. Which <\/strong>is also often included in this issue but mostly, though not exclusively,\u00a0refers to groups or things.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: He bought a new car, which<\/strong> is red just like mine.<\/p>\n Moot<\/strong> is most often used in a sentence to describe something that is superfluous. Like, “It was a moot<\/strong> point.” Interestingly, this not the correct usage of the word.<\/p>\n According to dictionary.com<\/a>, moot<\/strong> is defined as a subject to debate, dispute, or uncertainty, and typically not admitting of a final decision.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: The subject of urbanization was a moot<\/strong> point with the aging council.<\/p>\n Than<\/strong> generally makes a comparison while then<\/strong> is used as a time construct.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: I can run farther than<\/strong> you.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: In the morning I first get out of bed, then I make breakfast.<\/p>\n According to Grammar Girl<\/a>, this is one of those differences that only sticklers hold to, but it’s interesting that we’ve been using the words incorrectly. Nauseous<\/strong> means to make sick, whereas nauseated <\/strong>is how we feel.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: That smell makes me nauseous.<\/strong><\/p>\n Used in a sentence: I feel nauseated.<\/strong><\/p>\n In America, backwards<\/strong> is typically not used. In British English, backward<\/strong> is used as an adjective and backwards<\/strong> is used as an adverb. This trend is very similar to the above toward <\/strong>versus towards <\/strong>preference.<\/p>\n Most people were taught that you use a<\/strong> before a noun that begins with consonant and an<\/strong> before a noun that begins with a vowel. Interestingly, that is only partially true. The rule is actually based on the phonetic<\/em> sound of the noun following the article. For instance, a<\/strong> herb<\/em> is actually an<\/strong> herb\u00a0<\/em>because the “h” is a silent consonant, likewise an<\/strong> utopia <\/em>is actually a<\/strong> utopia <\/em>because the “u” does not have a long vowel sound.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: I saw a<\/strong> one-legged man.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: This is an<\/strong> unmitigated mess!<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: He made an<\/strong> honest mistake.<\/p>\n This is a nonstandard English word, which means it’s not the correct word. You can use regardless or irrespective, but irregardless<\/strong> is not a word.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: Irregardless<\/strong> of what you do, I’m going to the game. Incorrect.<\/strong><\/p>\n Used correctly in\u00a0a sentence: Regardless<\/strong> of what you do, I’m going to the game.<\/p>\n This has become a popular word in America to give a sentence more gravity even when using the word incorrectly. Literally<\/strong> describes what actually happened. Consequently, when someone says they literally<\/strong> lost their mind, they are either a walking miracle or they are speaking figuratively.<\/p>\n Used incorrectly in a sentence: He literally<\/strong> blew up at me.<\/p>\n Used correctly in a sentence: The cat literally<\/strong> jumped two feet in the air.<\/p>\n The actual phrase is “could have,” but when people speak quickly, the natural tendency is to pronounce have in unstressed contexts, which in turn, sounds like “of.” The confusion comes when someone writes it down. The correct way to pronounce and write it out would either be to use the actual verb have<\/strong> or to simply use the following contractions: could\u2019ve, would\u2019ve, should\u2019ve<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: I could have<\/strong> been a contender. OR, I could’ve<\/strong> been a contender<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: I should have<\/strong> played tag. OR, I should’ve<\/strong> played tag.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: I would have<\/strong> gone in a heartbeat. OR, I would’ve<\/strong> gone in a heartbeat.<\/p>\n Although they sound the same, they don’t come from the same word. Baloney<\/strong> means it is a lie. Bologna<\/strong> refers to the type of meat.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: That is baloney<\/strong>!<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: Is that a Bologna<\/strong> sandwich?<\/p>\n Even those with advanced degrees can confuse saw<\/strong> and seen<\/strong> in a sentence. This rule is similar to the lie <\/strong>versus lay <\/strong>standard. Saw<\/strong> is the past tense of see and is generally used after nouns and pronouns. Seen<\/strong> is the past participle of see and is generally used in conjunction with have, has or had.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: I seen<\/strong> him yesterday. (Incorrect)<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: I saw<\/strong> him yesterday.<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: You seen<\/strong> where I live. (Incorrect)<\/p>\n Used in a sentence: You have seen<\/strong> where I live.<\/p>\n These are just a few of the common English mistakes we make. Fortunately, by getting a certificate with Oxford Seminars, you’ll have a much better understanding of these challenging words and phrases. Interestingly, as an ESL teacher, you will quickly become aware of little nuances of the language you thought you knew so well.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n It’s easy to use regional dialects or commonly misused language mistakes when speaking everyday English. However, when teaching a second language to new students, it’s important that you’re giving them the proper foundation from which to build their habits. This includes your own speaking and writing habits in the classroom. The following are 20 common […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":732,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,27,344,23],"tags":[8,7,126,6],"class_list":["post-723","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-getting-tefl-certified","category-oxford-seminars","category-teaching-esl","category-tesol-jobs","tag-culture","tag-english","tag-grammar","tag-tesol"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oxfordseminars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/723","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oxfordseminars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oxfordseminars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oxfordseminars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oxfordseminars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=723"}],"version-history":[{"count":42,"href":"https:\/\/www.oxfordseminars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/723\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4352,"href":"https:\/\/www.oxfordseminars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/723\/revisions\/4352"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oxfordseminars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oxfordseminars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=723"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oxfordseminars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=723"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oxfordseminars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=723"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}1. Anyways or anyway<\/h2>\n
\n2. Present perfect tense<\/h2>\n
\n3. Toward or\u00a0towards<\/h2>\n
\n4. Whom or\u00a0who<\/h2>\n
\n5. When to use I or me<\/h2>\n
\n6. Affect or\u00a0effect<\/h2>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\n7. Farther or\u00a0further<\/h2>\n
\n8. Accept or\u00a0except<\/h2>\n
\n9. Lay or lie?<\/h2>\n
\ngoing out.<\/p>\n
\n10. That or who?<\/h2>\n
\n11. Moot<\/h2>\n
\n12. Than or then?<\/h2>\n
\n13. Nauseous or\u00a0nauseated<\/h2>\n
\n14. Backward or\u00a0backwards<\/h2>\n
\n15. When to use the articles “a” or “an”<\/h2>\n
\n16. Irregardless<\/h2>\n
\n17. Literally<\/h2>\n
\n18. Could of, should of & would of<\/h2>\n
\n19. Baloney and Bologna<\/h2>\n
\n20. When to use “saw” or “seen”<\/h2>\n
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