MISTAKES MOST FREQUENTLY MADE BY POLES
typical Polish errors in English and how to correct them. Here are two such common mistakes: 1. I have bought the ticket yesterday. 2. He is painting the kitchen since 10 o'clock this morning. (The correct way is: 1. I bought the ticket yesterday. 2. He has been painting the kitchen since 10 o'clock this morning.
MISTAKE: Julie is not very good in bridge.
PROPER WAY: Julie is not very good at bridge.
EXPLANATION: The preposition `at' is used when describing people's abilities in different pursuits.
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MISTAKE: This species of pine is typical for mountainous regions.
PROPER WAY: This species of pine is typical of mountainous regions.
EXPLANATION: The preposition `of' is always used with the adjective `typical'.
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MISTAKE: There were above two hundred people in the audience.
PROPER WAY: There were over (or more than) two hundred people in the audience.
EXPLANATION: With numbers use `over' or `more than'. AN exception are points on a scale:: It is three degrees above zero. The patient's temperature should not be permitted to rise above 39°. We live at an altitude of 600 metres above sea-level.
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MISTAKE: My wife and her sister love to discuss about food and fashions, but I find that boring.
PROPER WAY: My wife and her sister love to discuss (...) food and fashions, but I find that boring.
EXPLANATION: The verb `to discuss' requires no preposition and takes a direct object.
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MISTAKE: My uncle is married with Monica Foster, the well-known film star.
PROPER WAY: My uncle is married to Monica Foster, the well-known film star.
EXPLANATION: `Married' requires the preposition `to' (see following example).
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MISTAKE: Irene plans to marry to Bill Hathaway next month.
PROPER WAY: Irene plans to marry (...) Bill Hathaway next month.
EXPLANATION: The verb `to marry' requires no preposition and takes a direct object.
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MISTAKE: Who is that beautiful blonde dressed all on green?
PROPER WAY: Who is that beautiful blonde dressed all in blue?
EXPLANATION: The preposition `in' is used when describing the colour or type of garment someone is dressed in.
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MISTAKE: Thank you for all you did to me when I visited you in Prague.
PROPER WAY: Thank you for all you did for me when I visited you in Prague.
EXPLANATION: The expressions `to do something to somebody' and `for somebody' both exist in English, but their meaning is different. `To' is used when harm or various bad things were done to someone. `For' when good things, favours, helpful gestures, etc. Were performed.
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MISTAKE: That big, beautiful church in Oakmont Square was built during only nine months.
PROPER WAY: That big, beautiful church in Oakmont Square was built in only nine months.
EXPLANATION: The preposition `during' tells when something took place (during the winter, during Easter break, etc.); `in' is used to indicate how long something took to complete.
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MISTAKE: I don't care much for pizza and my brother doesn't too.
PROPER WAY: I don't care much for pizza and my brother doesn't either.
EXPLANATION: The adverb `too' is used only in affirmative statements, whilst `either' is used in negative ones.
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MISTAKE: My maths teacher turned up to be my dad's former university room-mate.
PROPER WAY: My maths teacher turned out to be my dad's former university room-mate.
EXPLANATION: Both expressions exist in English but mean something different. `To turn up' means to appear unexpectedly. `To turn out' means `to prove to be' or `to become' as in: As a youngster Joe was never mechanically inclined, but he turned out to be a pretty good mechanic.