Avoid These 10 Common Mistakes In Spoken English
Do you ever have trouble speaking in English? No problem, many people make this mistake, whether announcing the phrase or mixing grammar, it happens with everyone. But this is not something to be afraid of, in this guide, we will tell you how people usually make the mistake of speaking English. So let's start.
1. A Double Negative While Speaking
MIt’s a common phrase we pay attention to in films and TV: "I didn’t do anything." But there’s a bit of a hiccup in there. Using two negatives together, like "didn’t" and "nothing," can confuse what it means. So, the better way to say it is: "I didn’t do something." It’s clearer and follows the guidelines of English grammar. And you’re right, depending completely on American shows might not be the first-rate way to analyze the right language usage
2. Mixing Up “Lend” and “Borrow”
Mixing up "lend" and "borrow" is a common mistake. Let's smash it down without a doubt: "Borrow" means to take something from someone, knowing you may give it back. For instance, if you ask, "Can you borrow me an eraser?" You are asking to take someone else's eraser temporarily. On the other hand, "lend" or "mortgage" means to give something to a person for a brief time. So, instead of pronouncing, "Can you borrow me an eraser?" you should ask, "Can you mortgage me an eraser?" or "Can you lend me an eraser?"
3. Using ‘Good’ With a Verb (Action) During a Conversation
When we often talk about someone doing something, like music, we tend to use the word "well" as opposed to "properly." So instead of declaring, "She sings well," one should say, "She sings beautifully." This is because it "exactly" describes how he sings and shows his strengths or abilities. Like accents, he does a pretty good job with songs. Using the right word "good," allows us to communicate more factually and fairly. So, if you need to talk about someone's motivation or ability, don't forget to use "good" instead of "true." When we often talk about someone doing something, like music, we tend to use the word "well" as opposed to "properly." So instead of declaring, "She sings well," one should say, "She sings beautifully." This is because it "exactly" describes how he sings and shows his strengths or abilities. Like accents, he does a pretty good job with songs. Using the right word, "good," allows us to communicate more factually and fairly. So, if you need to talk about someone's motivation or ability, don't forget to use "good" instead of "true."
4. Confusing “Me Too” and “Me Either”
So, imagine you're chatting with someone, and they say something like "I like pizza." If you also like pizza, you'd respond with "me too." It's like saying "I like pizza too. Now, let's say they mention something you don't like, like "I don't enjoy horror movies." If you agree with them and also don't like horror movies, you'd say "me either." This means "I don't like horror movies either." So, "me too" is for when you agree with something positive, and "me either" is for when you agree with something negative. It's a simple way to show agreement in conversation!
5. ‘Less’ With Uncountable Nouns:
Saying “congratulations” on a person’s birthday According to the ESL professional, Anu Sharma, it’s very commonplace for English novices to touch upon their buddies’ birthdays in a way that sounds awkward. “When a person has a birthday, you may say happy birthday, you can send desirable wishes, however, in English, you can’t really say ‘congratulations. In English, the phrase ‘congratulations’ is used to praise any individual’s achievement. However, if you have a birthday, it’s simply something that occurs to you. It’s not clearly a success. This mistake generally comes from translating from your personal language into English.” "
6. Saying “Congratulations” on Someone’s Birthday
You can find out where you need to improve by recording your speech. Take a close listen to your recordings and make a note of any grammatical or pronunciation issues, as well as any hesitations. This self-evaluation will assist you in monitoring your development and concentrating on the areas that require attention.
7. ‘A/an’ Confusion
When we talk approximately about something, we use "a" before phrases that begin with a consonant sound, like "canine" or "book." And we use "an" earlier than words that start with a vowel sound, like "apple" or "umbrella." So, instead of saying "This is a office," you should say "This is a workplace." It sounds better and follows the guidelines. A workplace is a place where humans work, Do you've got an office you visit?
8. Mixing Up “Since” and “For”
Anu Sharma, the teacher behind the YouTube channel English with Anu Sharma, mentions that even some advanced English speakers get confused between “since” and “for”. “I often hear people say, ‘I have been living here for three years.’ It’s a shame, because ‘I have been living here’ is a beautiful way to start a sentence, very advanced. However, the final part of this sentence has a mistake! You should say, ‘I have been living here for three years.”
9. Myself’ as a Subject Pronoun
Anu Sharma, the teacher behind the YouTube channel English with Anu Sharma, mentions that even some advanced English speakers get confused between “since” and “for”. “I often hear people say, ‘I have been living here for three years.’ It’s a shame, because ‘I have been living here’ is a beautiful way to start a sentence, very advanced. However, the final part of this sentence has a mistake! You should say, ‘I have been living here for three years.”
10. Saying “Eat” Rather Than “Take” For Medicine
Anu Sharma, the Indian English expert from Learn English with Anu Sharma, points out a common mistake that many non-native English speakers make when talking about medicine and drugs. Instead of saying "I have a headache, so I eat some painkillers," which might sound natural in some languages, the correct verb to use is "take." So, the right way to say it is, "I have a headache, so I take some painkillers." In simpler terms, when you're talking about medicine or drugs, you should use "take" instead of "eat." It's a small but important detail in English. Saying "take" makes it clear that you're consuming something specifically for medicinal purposes, while "eat" implies you're consuming it as food, which might not be the intended meaning. So, remember to use "take" when talking about medicine or drugs!
Conclusion: Common Mistakes In Spoken English
English is not a difficult language to learn, but in the beginning, you will find it a bit difficult, But that's not true, You will make mistakes like grammar mistakes, wrong phrases and sentences in the beginning, but don't worry, Practice your mistakes every day, and after some time you will see a huge improvement in yourself, Just focus on learning and correcting your mistakes. After some time you will also speak English fluently.
