Download - Error correction 3_(answers)
Error Correction 3
Idioma Modern II
2014
1. Affirmative / Negative
• When you have a baby you don’t have time for nothing.
• When you have a baby you don’t have time for anything.
• Note: you could also say ‘You have no time’ or ‘You have time for nothing’ (less common).
2. Word Order
• I like so much your ideas.• I like your ideas so much / I really like your ideas.• Note: this was very common in the forum and
Langblog. It is not a huge mistake but the second sentences sound more natural.
3. Vocabulary
• When we were younger we didn’t appreciate our fathers.
• When we were younger we didn’t appreciate our parents.
• Note: in English ‘father’ only refers to the male parent
4. Vocabulary
• Communication with your couple is the most important thing.
• Communication with your partner is the most important thing.
• Note: ‘couple’ means two people and ‘partner’ means one i.e. ‘boy/girlfriend’ / ‘husband’ / ‘wife’
5. Vocabulary
• I decided to study the history career.• I decided to study a course / a degree in history.• Note: ‘career’ means work (from Macmillan
Dictionary: ‘a job or series of related jobs that you do, especially a profession that you spend a lot of your working life in’). It sounds like ‘carrera’ but does not refer to study.
6. Infinitive forms
• It’s difficult adapt to a new situation at first.• It’s difficult to adapt to a new situation at first.• Note: ‘it’s + adjective + to infinitive’
7. Word choice
• Some people buy a puppy for caprice.• Some people buy a puppy on a whim. • Note: the expression ‘do something on a whim’
means to make a quick decision (often to buy something or do something fun). ‘Caprice’ sounds a little antiquated in English.
8. Countable / Uncountable
• I have found two information about this place.• I have found two pieces of information about this
place.• Note: information is uncountable. Lots of people
are still making this mistake with advice too – check your writing for this.
9. Word form
• Study was very bored when I was a student.• Study was very boring when I was a student. • Note: bored is a feeling, boring describes the
thing that gives you this feeling. It is the same for other –ed / –ing adjectives e.g. excited / exciting, tired / tiring, worried / worrying
10. Word choice
• I stayed two months of unemployment.• I was unemployed for two months. • Note: stay does not always translate directly into
English. In Spanish ‘me quedé (en situación X)’ would usually be ‘I was (adjective)’
11. Prepositions / Verb Forms
• The matches could be useful for light a fire.• The matches could be useful to light a fire.• The matches could be useful for lighting a fire.• be + adjective + to (verb)• be + adjective + for (verb –ing)
12. Articles
• I am very interested in the history. • I am very interested in history. • Note: history (general) takes no article• a specific period can take an article e.g. The
history of ancient Egypt is fascinating.
13. False friends / Vocabulary
• The sheet of plastic would be interesting.• The sheet of plastic would be useful.• interesting refers to something you want to
study / learn about / watch / listen to e.g. ‘That’s an interesting movie, I highly recommend it’.
• useful refers to something practical e.g. ‘The sheet of plastic would be useful to protect us from the rain’.
14. Collocation / false friends
• Insect bites could be an important problem.• Insect bites could be a major problem.• important = something positive / necessary e.g.
‘Penicillen was an important discovery’. / ‘It’s important to eat healthily’.
• problem = something negative. You can say a big problem / a major problem / a significant problem
15. Vocabulary / False Friends
• What do you think about my election?• What do you think about my choice?• election is a political event