On the news they were talking about people complaining about frequent errors in English. e.g. saying something had been refuted, less or fewer than. Can you give 2 commonly used words that are mixed up, explain the distinction oh 2 sentences with each in so I can see what you mean.
2007-11-02 22:29:09 · 12 answers · asked by Grinning Football plinny younger 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
You'll find plenty on YA, often by first language English speakers:-
than and then.
Jim is taller THAN Bill.
I'm going to change, THEN I'm going out.
lose and loose.
I don't want to LOSE this ticket.
These shoes are too LOOSE.
advice and advise.
Can you give me some ADVICE please? (noun)
I ADVISE you not to say any more. (verb)
effect and affect.
The loss of his Dad had a lasting EFFECT on him. (noun)
Does the weather AFFECT your health? (verb)
past and passed.
People used to work much harder in the PAST.
The Porsche PASSED him as if he were standing still.
there, their and they're.
Your friends are over THERE with THEIR children; THEY'RE looking very happy.
its and it's.
IT'S too late to do anything now.
The dog showed ITS teeth.
too and to.
It's TOO cold to go out so I'm going TO stay indoors.
'could of' and 'would' of instead of 'could have' and 'would have'.
putting apostrophes in plurals....eg potatoe's, train's etc.
There are many more, I'll add to the list as I find some more.
2007-11-02 23:29:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
RULES:
1- i comes before e except after C . example- receipt or friend
2- A word starting with letter 'Q' has 'u' as its second letter.
words that are always mixed up!!
through and threw .
i went through the tunnel. and i threw away the trash.
then and than...than: is comparitive like.. this cake tastes better than your cake. or i have
more than you!
then: immediately or soon afterward: The rain stopped and then started again or next in order of time: We ate, then we started home
effect and affect...In most situations, we use “effect” as a noun and “affect” as a verb.
2007-11-03 05:43:25 · answer #2 · answered by sweetfayth 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The verb 'to have' contracted to 've, as in 'would've' is often pronounced and even spelt 'of' which makes no grammatical sense.
The verb 'to meld' is increasingly used to mean joining or fusing together. Probably from melt and weld, whereas it means to show your hand in a game of cards.
2007-11-03 06:09:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The number one irritation for me (and one BBC reporters are commonly guilty of):
'People THAT'
Instead of:
'People WHO'
The second is how people constantly say:
'I was SAT'
Instead of:
'I was SITTING'
SAT is a past tense verb, the second is a perfect tense verb.
2007-11-03 05:48:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not really a biggie, but people tend to replace 'may' with 'can.' For example:
'Can I open the window?'
instead of
'May I open the window?'
The first one asking whether you're physically able to do it, whereas the second is asking permission.
Probably because hardly anyone says 'may' anymore.
2007-11-03 10:05:06 · answer #5 · answered by charles b 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
how about "too", "to" and "two".
While most people get "two" right most of the time, "too" and "to" are often used incorrectly. "To" indicates an action. "I'm going TO school", "I'm going to eat now", etc.
"Too" can often be used as a replacement for "also" or to indicate an excess. "I'm going to the store, TOO." "I have TOO much work to do." "I ate TOO much at dinner.", etc.
Actually, that one mistake is the one that bugs me a lot as it's simple and shouldn't be hard to remember their correct usage.
2007-11-03 06:06:05 · answer #6 · answered by Top Alpha Wolf 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Quite and quiet:
The little boy was quiet while his mother spoke to me. (i.e. He made no noise.)
The film was quite interesting, but it could have been better. (i.e. It was more than 'interesting', but not 'very interesting.')
'quiet' = adjective
'quite' = adverb
My students mix them up all the time.
2007-11-03 05:48:27 · answer #7 · answered by dlm 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the picture is of a pitcher holding a pitcher.
a photo of a baseball player holding a water pitcher?
number two can to go too
second one is able also
2007-11-03 05:34:19 · answer #8 · answered by crazzijimsmith 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
WHICH way do we go?
There is a WITCH flying on a broomstick,
i am going to WRITE u a poem
have i answered your question RIGHT
SO what?
i am traveling by TRAIN
i am going to TRAIN for a football match
please can u SOW that together for me
2007-11-03 05:34:57 · answer #9 · answered by EMILY S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
accept and except. Train and train.
2007-11-03 05:31:58 · answer #10 · answered by JANARVIHARAN 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋