Hi, in today’s lesson you are going to improve your English
immediately by avoiding these six common grammar errors!
So, tip 1. remember not to use “the” when talking about things or people in general.
We say, “I am afraid of spiders,” and not “I’m afraid of the spiders.”
Because it is spiders in general that you are afraid of,
and you are not afraid of some specific spiders.
Likewise, we say, "My favourite sport is tennis"
and not, "My favourite sport is the tennis" because again you are talking about tennis in general.
tip 2
Use the correct comparative form:
remember to use –er for short (one syllable ) adjectives
and two-syllable adjectives ending in –y
so for example a comparative using a short one-syllable adjective such as tall, could be
Sam is taller than Jack, and not Sam is more tall than Jack.
or a two syllable adjective ending in y, for example, easy,
"The exam was easier than I expected," not "The exam was more easy than I expected."
and remember to use more for longer adjectives (two syllables or more) and adverbs ending in –ly.
So for example with the long adjective such as adventurous, ad-ven-tur-ous that’s 4 syllables:
We say, "You are more adventurous than me," not "You are adventurouser than me."
or with the adverb ending in –ly such as slowly.
"Can you speak more slowly, please?" not "Can you speak slowlier, please?"
tip 3
Do not use “the” before “most” when the meaning is “almost all.”
For example,
"Most people prefer sunshine to rain," and not "The most people prefer sunshine to rain."
tip 4.
Do not mistake adjectives for adverbs.
So, use adjectives before nouns.
For example,
"Zein is a careful driver," not "Zein is a carefully driver."
and use adverbs to describe verbs.
For example,
"It was snowing heavily," not "It was snowing heavy."
and use adverbs before adjectives and other adverbs
For example,
"He eats incredibly quickly."
Incredibly is an adverb used before the adverb quickly. telling you how quickly he eats
and not "He eats incredible quickly."
tip 5
Remember to use “I will or I’ll” when you have just decided to do something.
"Don’t worry, I will do the washing up," not "I do the washing up."
or
"I’m thirsty, I think I’ll get something to drink," not "I get something to drink."
tip 6
use verbs with –ing not to... when talking about a situation that already exists or existed.
So, for example for a situation that already exists, you could say,
"Rebecca lives in Geneva now. She likes living there," and not "she likes to live there."
and as an example for a situation that existed in the past we could say,
"The office I used to work in was fun. I loved working there," not "I loved to work there."
So now it’s your turn.
Which sentence is correct?
My favourite food is the burgers. or My favourite food is the burgers.
that’s right. as you are talking about burgers in general we don’t use “the”
which sentence is correct?
let’s go. I drive. or let’s go I’ll drive.
let’s go. I’ll drive. as the speaker has just decided something.
it’s a spontaneous decision so we use will or ‘ll.
You are ….... than me. You always win at cards. (use the adjective lucky to compare you and me)
luckier. because we are comparing two things you
and me and using a two-syllable adjective that ends y. it is not more lucky.
He was running …... (quick) Use the root word quick to describe how he was running.
quickly. you are describing the verb running so you must use an adverb and not an adjective.
which sentence is correct:
most apples are green. or the most apples are green?
the first sentence as we are meaning almost all apples are green.
Mike has been in Nairobi for 5 years . He prefers …..
(live) there to where he lived before. Fill the gap with a form of the verb to live.
write your answer down below in the comment section
and I promise to give you feedback on how you have done.
so that’s it for today. I hope you remember
these simple grammar tips to improve your English straight away. remember to.... etc