COMMON MISTAKES by ENGLISH AVENUE https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes It's human to make mistakes. The point is to become aware of them and self-correct until they're no longer a problem to us. What are some common mistakes you're struggling with when you speak English? en-us 2020-04-30 05:35:07 UTC 2023-03-18 16:13:28 UTC hello@padlet.com HOME SWEET HOME englishavenue https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/540947650 We say:
  • go to school
  • go to the shopping mall
  • go to Warsaw

But we can't say: 
  • go to home

Instead, we should say:
  • GO HOME
Other options: 
  • go back home
  • come (back) home
  • return home

HOME IS SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE!

GO BIG OR GO HOME
]]> 2020-04-30 05:36:52 UTC https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/540947650 OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE PREPOSITION "TO" englishavenue https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/540951425 In Polish, we say:
  • dołączyć do zespołu
  • zadzwonić do kogoś
  • wejść do pokoju

But in English, we don't need any prepositions after the verb!
So, we can't say:
  • join to the team
  • call to somebody
  • enter to the room

Instead, we should say:
  • JOIN THE TEAM
  • CALL SOMEBODY
  • ENTER THE ROOM

Notice that the song "CALL ME Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen IS NOT "Call To Me Maybe"!

Exception: CALL FOR HELP
]]> 2020-04-30 05:40:46 UTC https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/540951425 TIME EXPRESSIONS englishavenue https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/540952646 In Polish, we say:
  • w zeszłym roku
  • w tym miesiącu
  • w przyszłym tygodniu

But in English, there's NO NEED to use any prepositions before these expressions!
So, we can't say:
  • in last year
  • in this month
  • in next week

Instead, we should say:
  • LAST YEAR
  • THIS MONTH
  • NEXT WEEK

Notice that George Michael sang "LAST CHRISTMAS I gave you my heart" (not "in last Christmas")  and "THIS YEAR, to save me from tears..." (not: "in this year").
]]> 2020-04-30 05:41:56 UTC https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/540952646 POSSIBILITY englishavenue https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/541015903 In Polish, we say:
  • Jest możliwość, aby coś zrobić.
  • Jest możliwe coś zrobić.

In English, we can say:
  • It's possible to do something.

It seems unnatural for English native speakers to say:
  • There's a possibility to do something.

Instead, we should say:
  • THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF DOING SOMETHING.
]]> 2020-04-30 06:31:24 UTC https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/541015903 DISCUSS englishavenue https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/541035296 In Polish, we say:
  • rozmawiać o czymś
  • dyskutować o czymś

In English, we say:
  • talk about something

But we can't say:
  • discuss about something

Instead, we should say:
  • DISCUSS SOMETHING
]]> 2020-04-30 06:43:56 UTC https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/541035296 BE vs. HAVE englishavenue https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/541506774 In Polish, we say:
  • Mam dwadzieścia lat.
  • Masz rację!

But in English, we can't say:
  • I have twenty years old.
  • You have right!

Instead, we should say:
  • I AM TWENTY YEARS OLD.
  • YOU ARE RIGHT!
]]> 2020-04-30 10:17:11 UTC https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/541506774 VERY with LIKE englishavenue https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/541520441 In Polish, we say:
  • Bardzo to lubię.

But in English, we can't say:
  • I very like it.

Instead, we should say:
  • I LIKE IT VERY MUCH.  

VERY cannot be used to make verbs stronger. It can only be used with adjectives and adverbs.
]]> 2020-04-30 10:24:05 UTC https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/541520441 PRESENT STRUCTURE, FUTURE MEANING - THE "WILL" PROBLEM englishavenue https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/541532283 In Polish, we say (using the future tense):
  • Jeśli pójdę...
  • Kiedy skończysz...
  • Jak tylko wróci...
  • Dopóki nie będzie za późno...

But in English, we can't say:
  • If I will go...
  • When you will finish...
  • As soon as he will come back...
  • Until it will be too late...

Instead, we should say (using the present tense):
  • IF I GO...
  • WHEN YOU FINISH...
  • AS SOON AS HE COMES BACK...
  • UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE...

Other examples: before, after, as, since, as long as, provided, unless, etc. We will NEVER see "will" after these words!

Notice that the song "Wake Me Up When September ENDS" by Green Day IS NOT "Wake Me Up When September Will End"!
]]> 2020-04-30 10:30:01 UTC https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/541532283 THE OTHER MEANING OF IF englishavenue https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/541559484 Apart from jeśli, IF also means czy (synonym: whether).

In this meaning, we can use this word with the future tense!

Examples:
  • I don't know if/whether I'll be ready.
  • Please tell me if/whether you'll come to me or not. 
]]> 2020-04-30 10:43:18 UTC https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/541559484 ON, IN, AT englishavenue https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/541579327 In Polish, we say:
  • na obrazku
  • w poniedziałek
  • zły na kogoś

But in English, we can't say:
  • on the picture
  • in Monday
  • angry on/at someone

Instead, we should say:
  • IN THE PICTURE
  • ON MONDAY
  • ANGRY WITH SOMEONE

Why? Because different functions of various prepositions cause different translations into Polish. We shouldn't translate them in isolation, but always pay attention to the whole phrase.
]]> 2020-04-30 10:54:26 UTC https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/541579327 englishavenue https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/545207750 2020-05-02 07:21:18 UTC https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/545207750 EVERY vs. ALL englishavenue https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/551310160 Just like in Polish we say:
  • każdy człowiek
  • wszyscy ludzie

In English, we should say:
  • EVERY PERSON
  • ALL PEOPLE

It's impossible to say:
  • every people
  • all person

Further explanation linked below:
]]> 2020-05-05 07:49:27 UTC https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/551310160 MULTIFUNCTIONAL "WOULD" englishavenue https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/567996581 WOULD has plenty of different functions in the English language. 

The article linked below explains them pretty nicely.]]> 2020-05-12 16:08:30 UTC https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/567996581 OTHER vs. ANOTHER englishavenue https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/568277858 In Polish, we say:
  • inny/jeszcze jeden/kolejny człowiek
  • inni ludzie

But in English, we can't say:
  • other person
  • another people

Instead, we should say:
  • ANOTHER PERSON
  • OTHER PEOPLE

It's possible to use OTHER (meaning: "different") with a singular noun, but we must always put something before it, e.g. 
  • THE OTHER STUDENT
  • MY OTHER HALF
  • NO OTHER NAME

Further explanation linked below:
]]> 2020-05-12 17:50:40 UTC https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/568277858 THAT, not WHAT! englishavenue https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/586324966 In Polish, we say:
  • Znasz chłopaka, który/co tam stoi?
  • To jest najważniejsza rzecz, którą/jaką muszę zrobić.

In English, we say:
  • Do you know the boy WHO/THAT is standing there?
  • This is the most important thing WHICH/THAT I have to do.

But we can't say:
  • Do you know the boy what is standing there?
  • This is the most important thing what I have to do.

WHAT is generally not used as a relative pronoun (with some exceptions).

Further explanation (in Polish) linked below:
]]> 2020-05-21 05:34:02 UTC https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/586324966 YOU'RE vs. YOUR & other problems englishavenue https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/610529166 YOU'RE = YOU ARE ("ty jesteś")
YOUR = possesive adjective ("twój")
  • YOU'RE awesome!
  • YOUR hair looks cool!
  • YOU'RE YOUR own boss!

THEY'RE = THEY ARE ("oni są")
THEIR = possessive adjective ("ich")
THERE = tam, jest, znajduje się
  • THEY'RE American.
  • THEIR house is big.
  • THERE is someone over THERE!

IT'S = IT IS ("to jest, ono jest")
ITS = possessive adjective ("jego")
  • IT'S one o'clock.
  • Look at this cat! ITS nails are sharp.
  • Look at this dog! IT'S ITS tail!
]]> 2020-06-04 08:44:39 UTC https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/610529166 WORD ORDER IN SENTENCES englishavenue https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/610530939 e.g. preposition at the end vs. at the beginning]]> 2020-06-04 08:45:39 UTC https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/610530939 ACTUALLY and other false friends englishavenue https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/663375919 ACTUALLY - właściwie, faktycznie
CURRENTLY - aktualnie
  • A: "Hi Ewelina!' 
        B: 'Oh, it's ACTUALLY Emilia!"
  • CURRENTLY I don't own a car.

EVENTUALLY - ostatecznie, w końcu
ALTERNATIVELY, POSSIBLY - ewentualnie

MAGAZINE - magazyn (czasopismo)
WAREHOUSE - magazyn (hala)
]]> 2020-07-27 15:22:26 UTC https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/663375919 MEAN englishavenue https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/665647814 If we want to say "to znaczy, że..." in English, we can't say:
  • It's mean that...
Instead, we should say:
  • IT MEANS THAT...
]]> 2020-07-30 06:14:02 UTC https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/665647814 englishavenue https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/1894484215 2021-11-16 15:37:45 UTC https://padlet.com/englishavenue/commonmistakes/wish/1894484215