The teachers at EASI have put their minds together and come up with the 10 most common errors English students make.
See if you can correct the 10 errors in the letter below.
Dear Jack,
Yesterday we had the first meeting with the project manager and the production supervisors for talk (i) about the progress on ‘Elite Dea’ project. Overall, progress on the project is good but I suggest to meet (ii) in the next few days because there are two problems that we should follow closely:
a) Last week the software engineer has started (iii) the first part of the testing phase when unfortunately, he discovered a potential glitch in the programme. He contacted the manufacturer for some advices (iv) and actually (v) our engineer and the manufacturer are working to solve the problem. They think they’ll have the solution in the next few days.
b) The production of the prototype is going too much slow (vi); the production workers are already working on the prototype for three days (vii). So the supervisors discussed about (viii) this problem and to speed up the process the supervisors are thinking to start (ix) production around the clock.As I said progress is good and everyone is feeling very positive about the project but I’d like to talk to you about these issues and I look forward to hear (x) your input.
Regards
Franz
i) we use to + verb to say ‘why’ we do something -> “we had the first meeting with the project manager and the production supervisors to talk about the progress..”
ii) It is always suggest + ing -> “I suggest meeting …”
iii) With past time expressions (yesterday; last week; on Thursday; in 2012 etc) we use the past simple -> “Last week the software engineer started the first part of the testing phase…”
iv) ‘Advice’ is uncountable; there is no plural form -> “He contacted the manufacturer for some advice…”
v) “Actually’ does not mean ‘attualmente’ -> the correct translation is currently or presently
vi) too + adjective -> “The production of the prototype is going too slow..”
vii) “..the production workers have already been working on the prototype for three days.” This means they started three days ago and their work is not finished; it is continuing
viii) discuss + object -> “So the supervisors discussed this problem…”
ix) ‘think’ is followed by about/of + ing – “…the supervisors are thinking of starting production….”
x) ‘look forward to +ing ‘ -> “…I look forward to hearing your input.” Top tip: after a preposition, add +ing to the verb
p.s. This was written by Jane who is keeping track
The meanings of these two words overlap a little. But in English, we say “opportunity” when we’re talking about a situation which usually relates to a favourable or positive ‘prospect’. We say “possibility” when we’re talking about something that may happen, be done or be true.
Here are some examples of “possibility”:
And….some examples of “opportunity”:
In English, we don’t say “yesterday evening”. It’s too long. We say “last night”. I think this is because we have different ideas for “evening” and “night” than Italians (or Southern Europeans;). For the British, “evening” usually means “night”!! Night- time starts early for us…especially during the winter!! Which is very very loooong….
We can say “during the evening, we watched a film”, as a contrast to what we did “during the day”, when we’re describing a whole day’s activities (for example, describing what we did during the morning, afternoon…). But if we’re just referring to that one period of time, the time before bed, we say simply “last night” 😉
Some examples: “What did you learn at the seminar last night?”
Compare: Last night, my best friend called me and we spent the whole evening on the phone.
p.s. These alerts are by Sarah who is on the ball