mistakes_ni2.pdf

7/29/2019 mistakes_NI2.pdf

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COMMON MISTAKES

intermediate level

By Pili A.M.


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To indicate PURPOSE...

You use this knife for cutting bread (GENERALUSE)

I want to cut some bread, will you pass me that

knife, please? (SPECIFIC PURPOSE)

But you can NEVER EVER SAY... for to cut!!!


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OTROOTRO

ANOTHER + singular noun

I will tell you another day

OTHER + plural nounAt weekends I go jogging, the other days I swim

OTHERS (pronoun)

Some people like it,others don't.


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LastLast Saturday I went to a party (i.e. Feb 16th)

NextNext Saturday we're going hiking in the mountains

(i.e. Feb 23rd )

Our point of reference is TODAY, Monday 18th.


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THE lastTHE last Saturday in January I was ill (i.e. Jan 26 th)

THE nextTHE next Saturday after Carnival we'll go on holiday

(i.e. March 8th

)

Our point of reference is NOT TODAY, Monday18th, BUT January and Carnival (March 4th)


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during / for

WHEN?It refers to the moment

when sth happens

HOW LONG?It refers to the duration

He was in hospital for 6 weeksduring the summer

There was a storm during the night; it rained for 3 hours


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ARRIVEARRIVE

You arriveATAT the airport

(specific place, a building)

but...

You arriveININ London

(a town, country)

A SPECIAL CASE:

If you arrive AT Paris, you onlyconsider it a point in space/ a stop ina journey

Watch out!arrive home


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Un viaje...?Un viaje...?

TRAVELTRAVEL (uncount.): activity of travelling in generalHer interests are reading and travel

(plural): time spent travelling, especially abroad andfor pleasure: his travels in India

TRIPTRIP: specific and concrete, for the day or includingthe stay) I went on a business trip

My trip to Paris was fun

JOURNEYJOURNEY: el desplazamiento, el trayecto de unviaje concreto (sobre todo si es largo)It was a six-hour journey, so we were exhausted

TOURTOUR: organised, visiting several places


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ESPERARESPERAR

HOPE: you wish this tohappen

EXPECT: somethinglogical and probable

WAIT


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CONOCERCONOCER

MEETMEET (for the first time)

Nice to meet you!

...knowing them takes longer

KNOWKNOW (deeper, requirestime)

I know Liz, she'll love that doll

They've knowneach other for 6years


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DARSE CUENTADARSE CUENTA(SEEING something)

NOTICE

(mental process)

REALISE


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so

He is soso stupid thatthat he thinks DomPerignon is a Mafia godfather.

so = tan

He's soso tall thatthat you can always see his

head in a crowd

It's an exclamation used incasual English, but to be avoided ina serious composition.

He is so stupid!


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To mean muy you just say:

He is veryvery stupid.

Don't use so by itself as an intensifier

in formal writing, and be careful whenyou use very. It's usually better touse a stronger adjective, e.g.

I was starving;it was huge, etc

An exercise here: http://a4esl.org/q/h/0101/jb-verytooso.html
http://a4esl.org/q/h/0101/jb-verytooso.htmlhttp://a4esl.org/q/h/0101/jb-verytooso.html


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To speak IN GENERALwe don't use any article

MobilesMobiles are useful (plural)

ALSO POSSIBLE:

The mobile is a great invention

A mobile phone is necessary nowadays


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All / everyAll / every

Everybodyenjoyed themselves at the party

(each & every person who went)

every + singular noun

all people = all humanity (all = whole, complete)

Everythingwas good = all the things (that...)


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I was out all day (the whole period of time)

All men are mortal (everyone, with no exception)

All ofthe people enjoyed themselves (a specific

and concrete group of people)

All my plants have died (the whole number I had)

The page was all ads (it only consisted of one

thing) All we have is bread and cheese

(the only thing that we have)

mistakes_ni2.pdf

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