Common Errors

Emilie & Rachel

1.What does she look like? V.S. How does she look like? Which one should we fill in the blank?

a. I heard that Jane was sick and I

haven’t seen her for a long time.

___________

b. Oh, Sam got a new girlfriend? Who is

she? ___________

Answer:

a. I heard that Jane was sick and I

haven’t seen her for a long time.

How does she look like?

(refers to person we know)

b. Oh, Robert got a new girlfriend? Who is she? What does she look like?

(used when we do not know the person and we haven’t seen her before)

Answer Meeting is never interesting so I always

fall asleep in this kind of occasion. Meeting is never interesting so I always

fall asleep in such occasion.

The kind of= such

2. Meeting is never interesting so I always fall asleep in such kind of occasion. (X)

Answer In the conference, the professor

mentioned about the possible solutions for the serious air pollution problems.

mention something

never mention [about] something!

3. In the conference, the professor

mentioned about the possible

solutions for the serious air pollution

problems. (X)

4. Like V.S. Such as

A. John has recordings of many foreign pop singers ______ Elton John and Joss stone.

B. John wants to be a great singer____ Elton John and Joss stone.

Answer A. John has recordings of many foreign

pop singers such as Elton John and Joss stone.

B. John wants to be a great singer like Elton John and Joss stone.

Note!

such as precedes an example that represents a larger subject

like indicates that two subjects are comparable

5. Rise, Raise, and Arise

He ____ to greet me when I entered his office.

I don’t think the problem of compensation will ____, but if it does, just give a vague reply.

The flag on the roof of the palace is _____ whenever the queen is in residence.

Rise (rose, risen)

a. If something rises, it moves upwards.

b. Rather formal way to say that you get

up or stand up.

c. sb/sth rise Arise (arose, arisen)

a. Mainly used in a more abstract way

b. formal way to say get up or stand up. Raise (raise, raised)

a. move sth to a higher position

b. raise voice, raise the standard

c. raise sth

He rose to greet me when I entered his office.

I don’t think the problem of compensation will arise, but if it does, just give a vague reply.

The flag on the roof of the palace is raised whenever the queen is in residence.

6. enough to…VS. too…to…

What’s the differences between these two sentences?

a. Ted is old enough to go to the kindergarten.

b. Ted is too old to go to the kindergarten.

enough to…VS. too…to…

so that ＋ positive clause＝ enough to

so that ＋ negative clause＝ too…to…

enough to…VS. too…to…

a. Ted is old enough to go to the kindergarten.

＝ Ted is so old that he can go to the kindergarten.

b. Ted is too old to go to the kindergarten.

＝ Ted is so old that he can not go to the kindergarten.

7. Which sentence is correct?a. Did you hear a girl to cry last

night?b. Did you hear a girl cry last night?c Do you hear a girl crying?

Ans: b and c are correct.

hear ＋ V ＝ focus on the occurrence of the event. (The event has already happened)

hear ＋ V-ing ＝ focus on the process of the event. (The event is still going.)

8. by, until and not…until

I will stay here by Monday. (T/F?)

Ans: False

“until” and “by” mean “any time before and not later than”

We just can use “until” not “by” if the “verb” is used to represent the “proceeding action” within the period of time. (eg. stay, wait…)

I will stay here until Monday.

(I will leave after Monday)I won’t stay here until Monday.

(I will come here on Monday.)

We just can use “ not…until” (negative) if the verb is used to point out the exact time. (eg. leave, finish…)

I won’t leave until Monday. (On Monday, not before)

We just can use “by” if the verb is used to point out the exact time. (positive and negative)

I’ll have left by Monday. (before Mon. not after it)

I won’t have left by Monday. (I am still here on Mon.)

9. not only A but (also) B VS. A as well as B

Are these two sentence correct?Not only you but also I are hungry.The princess, as well as the

princes, have learned to ride.

a. not only A but (also) B ( 不僅 A,B 也~) the verb is depended on B

Not only you but also I am hungry. b. A as well as B ( 不只 B,A 也 ~) the

verb is depended on A The princess, as well as the princes,

has learned to ride.