Common Mistakes at PET

A, an or one?

  • Use "an" before singular countable nouns beginning with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u), and "a" before words beginning with the other letters of the alphabet.
    • Example: My friend is sharing a room with an Italian girl.
  • Note:
    • "a university" is used because it begins with a /j/ sound.
    • "an hour" is used because the h is silent.
  • Use "a" (or "an") in expressions such as:
    • three times a week
    • (a) quarter of an hour
  • Use either "one" or "a" with:
    • hundred
    • thousand
    • million
    • Use "one" instead of "a" to emphasise the number.
      • Example: There are one hundred centimetres in a metre. (or a hundred centimetres)
      • Example: I've got two brothers and one sister. (or and a sister)
  • Use "one" (not "a" or "an") to emphasise talking about only one thing or person and not two or more.
    • Example: I invited three friends, but only one of them came.
    • Example: One holiday a year is not enough for me.

When do I use capital letters?

  • Use capital letters with:
    • Titles and people's names: Mrs Smith, Dr Lee, Queen Elizabeth II
    • Members of the family when used as names: Dad, Grandma
    • Addresses: Woodstock House, 16 West Road
    • Letter beginnings and endings: Dear Charlotte, Love from Emily, Yours sincerely
    • Geographical names: Rome (city), Spain (country), the Nile (river), the Pacific Ocean (ocean), Mount Everest (mountain)
    • Nationality adjectives and languages: English, Italian, French
    • Days of the week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
    • Months of the year: January, February, March
    • Festivals and special days: Christmas Day, Valentine's Day, Easter
  • Use small letters in sentences when referring to someone's job or position rather than his/her name or title:
    • Example: He is my doctor. The new queen is very young. This is my dad.
  • Write only the pronoun "I" with a capital letter:
    • Example: My sister and I went home, but then she went out again.

Do I need am / is / are in this sentence?

  • Use am / is / are:
    • With an adjective to describe people and things:
      • Example: My cousin is tall. He is good-looking too.
    • With -ing to form the present continuous:
      • Example: I hope you are feeling well.
    • With going to to talk about the future:
      • Example: I'm not going to go shopping on Saturday.
    • With the past participle to form the passive:
      • Example: Cardiff and Swansea are situated in south Wales.
    • After there and here:
      • Example: There are a lot of buildings near the school.
      • Example: Here's the book I promised you.
  • Note: Contractions ('m, 's, and 're) are often used in spoken and written English, especially after pronouns and short words.

TEST 1

  • Complete the phrases with a or an. Then rewrite the phrase with the adjective.
    • exam (hard) --> a hard exam
    • university (old) --> an old university
    • idea (interesting) --> an interesting idea
    • house (unusual) --> an unusual house
    • restaurant (expensive) --> an expensive restaurant
    • hour (extra) --> an extra hour
    • uncle (rich) --> a rich uncle
    • lesson (easy) --> an easy lesson
  • Rewrite the letter using capital letters where necessary.
  • Complete the text with am, is or are.
  • Write sentences using the notes. Use is or are and capital letters where necessary.
  • Are the sentences right or wrong? Correct those which are wrong.

Singular or plural?

  • Curtain or curtains?
    • Use "curtains" unless referring to one curtain only.
      • Example: I'd like to buy some new curtains for my room. (but The right curtain is longer than the left one.)
  • Holiday or holidays?
    • "a holiday" / "on holiday" when talking about a trip or a day off work.
    • "school holidays" / "summer holidays" to describe a period of time.
      • Example: I hope you enjoy your holiday in Britain.
  • Mountain or mountains?
    • Use "mountains" when talking about an area.
      • Example: My uncle's house is in the mountains near Turin.
  • Cloth, cloths or clothes?
    • Use "clothes" to talk about things people wear.
    • "an item" or "a piece of clothing" to describe one thing only.
    • "A cloth" (plural "cloths") is a piece of material for a particular purpose, e.g., table cloth, or for making clothes.
      • Example: I am going to buy some new clothes for the wedding.

Plural or uncountable?

  • Most plural nouns end in -s.
  • Some plural nouns are irregular:
    • man → men
    • woman → women
    • child → children
    • foot → feet
    • tooth → teeth
    • mouse → mice
  • Police and staff are also plural: The police are hard-working.
  • Some nouns have no plural form. These are 'uncountable' nouns such as water and cheese because we can't count them. We can only count glasses / bottles of water and pieces / slices of cheese.
    • Example: I'd like some water, please, and I'd like a glass of water, please. (not two waters)
  • Other common uncountable nouns include food, furniture, hair, homework, information, money and work.
  • Use singular verbs with uncountable nouns:
    • Example: The furniture in my bedroom looks good.
    • Example: My hair is dark brown. (but I've got one grey hair behind my ear.)

When do I use of and when do I use an apostrophe?

  • Use apostrophe + s ('s) to talk about things associated with one person:
    • Example: My friend's name is Natalia.
    • Example: These are my husband's things.
  • Use s + apostrophe (s') to talk about things associated with more than one person:
    • Example: Here is my friends' teacher.
    • Example: The students' records are in the cupboard.
  • Use an apostrophe + s ('s) with irregular plural nouns:
    • Example: The children's party is at the club.
  • Use apostrophe + s ('s) on its own:
    • Example: My birthday is the same day as my mother's.
  • Use "of" to talk about things associated with places and objects:
    • Example: Rome is the capital of Italy. (not Italy's capital)
    • Example: The answers are at the back of the book.

TEST 2

  • Insert an apostrophe where necessary.
  • Add the plural ending -s where necessary.
  • Rewrite these sentences in the plural form.
  • Write two sentences for each picture. Use some in the first sentence and one of the words in the box in the second.
  • Are the sentences right or wrong? Correct those which are wrong.

What's the negative form of have?

  • Use either "have" or "have got" when talking about possessions, families, personal characteristics and ailments.
    • Use "has" or "has got" with he, she, and it.
    • Example: I have a lot of clothes. / I've got a lot of clothes.
    • Example: My mother has a cousin in Australia. / My mother has got a cousin in Australia.
  • Negative forms are "don't/doesn't have" and "haven't/hasn't got":
    • Example: I don't have a camera. (not Haven't a camera.)
    • Example: My room hasn't got much furniture. (not My room hasn't much furniture.)
  • Use "have" (also "don't have" / "doesn't have") for actions:
    • Example: I don't have breakfast in the morning. (not Hhaven't breakfast)
    • Example: He has a shower every morning. (not He has got a shower)
  • The past tense of "have" and "have got" is "had".
  • The negative is "didn't have":
    • Example: I've got a terrible headache. I wasn't well yesterday, but I didn't have a headache. (not + hadn't a headache, I hadn't got a headache or I didn't have got a headache)
  • The future form is "will (ll) have".
  • The negative form is "won't have":
    • Example: If you take this tablet, you won't have a headache.

Present simple or present continuous?

  • Use the present simple to talk about:
    • Permanent states: I don't live near an underground station.
    • Regular habits: I play football most weekends.
    • General truths: Garage mechanics repair cars.
  • Use the present continuous to talk about current actions or events that are unfinished:
    • To describe what is happening at the time of speaking:
      • Example: Can you switch the TV off? I'm not watching it.
    • To describe temporary actions, often with today, this week, etc. to show the period of time:
      • Example: I'm walking to school this month. It's good for me.
    • To describe ongoing actions which are happening around this time but not necessarily at the time of speaking:
      • Example: I'm learning English because I want to work in a travel agent's.

Which verbs don't have a continuous form?

  • Do not use the continuous form with the following verbs which describe thoughts and feelings: believe, depend, forget, hate, know, like, love, mean, need, prefer, remember, understand, want
  • Some common verbs have more than one meaning.
    • Do not use the continuous form
      • when "think" means believe
      • when "have" refers to possession.
    • Compare:
      • I think it's going to rain soon. and I'm thinking about becoming a teacher.
      • My sister has a new car. and She isn't at home now. She's having a driving lesson.
  • Do not usually use the continuous form with hear, smell and taste.
  • Can use "seeing" when it refers to meeting someone in the future.
  • Often use "can" with hear, smell, taste and see to describe what is happening now.
    • Compare:
      • I (can) see two women in the picture. and I'm seeing my sister tomorrow evening.
  • Use both the continuous and simple form of look and feel to talk about now:
    • Example: You're looking tired. What's the matter? and You look tired. What's the matter?
    • Example: I'm feeling nervous about my exams. and I feel nervous about my exams.

TEST 3

  • Rewrite these sentences in the negative form.
  • Choose the correct form.
  • Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb.
  • Complete the postcard. Use the present simple, present continuous or can + infinitive form of the verbs in the box.
  • Are the sentences right or wrong? Correct those which are wrong.

Regular or irregular past simple forms?

  • Regular past simple forms end in -ed:
    • clean → cleaned
    • play → played
    • arrive → arrived
    • try → tried
    • carry → carried
    • tidy → tidied
    • plan → planned
    • slip → slipped
    • rob → robbed
  • Some verbs have irregular past simple forms:
    • go → went
    • find → found
    • pay → paid
    • say → said
    • buy → bought
    • bring → brought
  • Some verbs have the same past simple form and infinitive form:
    • let → let
    • put → put
    • cost → cost
    • read /ri:d/ → read /red/
  • Some irregular past simple forms are easily confused:
    • My uncle brought his wife with him. (bring)
    • We bought many presents when we were on holiday. (buy)
    • I slipped and fell down the stairs. (fall)
    • I got out of bed because I felt better. (feel)

How do I form the past simple negative?

  • Use did not (didn't) + the infinitive of the verb when forming the past simple negative. The main verb stays in the infinitive:
    • Example: I played tennis every day last week, but I didn't play yesterday. (not didn't played)
    • Example: It rained a lot in April, but it didn't rain much in May. (not it didn't rained)
  • Irregular verbs also use the infinitive in the negative:
    • Example: She went to the dentist yesterday morning, so she didn't go to work.
    • I didn't have time to go shopping yesterday. (not+hadn't time)
  • We say didn't have (not hadn't) (see Unit 7).
  • Some irregular verbs have the same infinitive and past simple form:
    • Example: I cut my nails every week. I didn't cut them at the weekend, so I cut them today.
    • Example: My sister put my books on the chair. She didn't put them on the table.
  • The verb read has the same infinitive and past simple form, but different pronunciation:
    • Example: I read /red/ a magazine on the train this morning. I didn't read /ri:d/ a newspaper.

Past simple or past continuous?

  • Use the past simple to talk about completed actions or events in the past.
  • Also use the past simple to describe a permanent state and regular habits:
    • Example: I watched the news on TV last night. At half past ten I went to bed.
    • Example: My father worked in London for fifteen years. He walked to the office every day.
  • Use the past continuous to refer to a particular moment and a temporary state:
    • Example: I was watching the news on TV at ten o'clock last night.
    • Example: I was in America last summer. I was working at a sports camp.
  • Use the past simple and past continuous together when something happened in the middle of something else.
  • Use the past continuous for two things happening at the same time and the past simple when one thing happened after another.
    • Compare:
      • I was watching TV when the phone rang.
      • My brother was getting ready for bed while I was watching TV.
      • When the phone rang, my brother answered it. He knew it would be his girlfriend.
  • Some verbs are not normally used in the continuous (see Unit 9).

TEST 4

  • Read the first text. It describes what Pete does every day. Complete the second text with the past simple.
  • Complete the sentences with a negative form from the box of the past simple.
  • Look at the pictures. They show what Ben and Katie did yesterday. Complete the sentences with positive and negative forms of the past simple.
  • Complete the sentences using the past simple and past continuous.
  • Are the sentences right or wrong? Correct those which are wrong.

How do I use personal pronouns?

  • Use my, your, his, her, its, our and their with a noun:
    • Example: My bedroom is the smallest. She left her handbag on the train.
  • Use mine instead of my + noun when referring to the same thing again in a sentence.
    • Use yours, his, hers, ours, theirs in the same way:
      • Example: The smallest bedroom is mine. The largest one is yours.
  • Use me, you, him, her, it, us, them:
    • As the object of a verb:
      • Example: I hope you'll bring me a surprise.
    • After a preposition such as for, to, with:
      • Example: The teacher had some advice for them.

How do I use reflexives?

  • Use me, you, him, her, it, us, them as the object of a verb:
    • Example: My uncle came to visit me for three days.
    • Example: Our teacher is great. We like him a lot.
  • Use myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves and themselves when the subject and object of a verb are the same:
    • Example: I was angry with myself when I lost my watch.
    • Example: Take care of yourself.
    • Example: We went out and bought ourselves a drink.
    • Example: They introduced themselves by saying where they came from.
  • Use each other when two (or more) people do the same thing to the other.
  • Often use each other with (get to) know, like, meet, phone, see, tell, understand, write:
    • Example: I hope we'll see each other soon, Sarah.
    • Example: Everyone in the class knows each other very well.

Many, much or a lot of?

  • Use many with countable nouns and much with uncountable nouns in negative statements and questions:
    • Example: I didn't have much fun at the party.
    • Example: Did you take many photos when you were on holiday?
  • Use a lot of in
    • positive and negative statements and questions, in informal and spoken English (though not considered correct in written and formal English)
      • Example: I tried on a lot of clothes in the shop.
      • Example: I didn't have a lot of fun at the party.
      • Example: Did you take a lot of photos when you were on holiday?
    • Use a lot without a noun:
      • Example: The teacher told me a lot about his experiences.
    • Use much without a noun in negative statements and questions:
      • Example: The lesson was interesting, but we didn't learn much.
      • Example: Do you use the Internet much?

TEST 5

  • Rewrite the sentences in the negative form. Use much and many. Which sentence in each pair is true for you?
  • Put the words in the correct order to make sentences.
  • Complete the sentences with possessive adjectives (my, our, etc.) and possessive pronouns (mine, ours, etc.).
  • Circle the correct word for each space and complete the text.
  • Are the sentences right or wrong? Correct those which are wrong.

Something, anything, nothing or everything?

  • Use something and nothing in positive statements:
    • Example: I wanted to watch something on TV.
    • Example: When I lost my money, there was nothing I could do.
  • Use anything in negative statements and questions:
    • Example: When I lost my money, there wasn't anything I could do (not there wasn't nothing)
    • Example: I couldn't afford anything very expensive. (not couldn't afford something)
    • Example: Did you buy anything to wear for the party?
    • Example: I'm not very lucky - I never win anything.
  • Use anything with will, could and would to mean 'any thing, it does not matter what':
    • Example: I will do anything to have my watch back.
    • Example: I liked the belt because I could wear it with anything.
  • Use everything to mean 'all things':
    • Example: My friend and I do everything together. (not do all together)
    • Example: I can't say everything I want to say.

Same sound, different spelling

  • To, too and two are homophones - they have the same pronunciation but different spelling:
    • Example: The music wasn't too loud and I talked to a lot of people, including two Italian girls.
  • Aloud and allowed are homophones:
    • Example: We're not allowed to read aloud in the library.
  • Other homophones are: hole / whole, know / no, meat / meet, passed / past, right / write, their / there, wait / weight, weather / whether
  • Use maybe (one word) to mean perhaps. This is different from may be (modal verb + infinitive without to). Similarly, already and all ready have different meanings.
    • Compare:
      • I want my room yellow, or maybe orange.
      • I am not sure, but the teacher may be late today.
      • When I got to the cinema, the film had already started.
      • The students are all ready to go. (all the students are ready to go)
  • Note that we can say the other but not an other. We write another as one word:
    • Example: I will write you another letter soon.

Commonly confused nouns

  • House or home?
    • Use house for the building, with a possessive form to say whose house it is; use home for the place where the speaker (or the person the speaker is referring to) lives:
      • Example: Patrick and I stayed at his house overnight.
      • Example: My brother left home when he was seventeen.
    • Say be / live / stay at home, and go / get / come / return / arrive home:
      • Example: He was at home all evening. His parents returned home later that night.
    • Say be / stay, arrive at (someone's) house and go / get / come / return to (someone's) house.
      • Compare:
        • I didn't go home until midnight. and My cousin and I went to her house.
        • We arrived home very late. and My friend will arrive at our house soon.
  • Place, room or space?
    • Use place when you talk about a specific position or area. Use room or space when you talk in general. Place is countable; room and space are uncountable:
    • Example: There isn't much space in my bedroom. I don't have enough room for all my clothes. This is a good place for my photos.

TEST 6

  • Underline the correct word.
  • Complete the sentences with homophones.
  • Insert n't (not) where necessary.
  • Circle the correct word for each space and complete the text.
  • Are the sentences right or wrong? Correct those which are wrong.

Which verbs take to + verb after them?

  • Use to + verb after want:
    • Example: I want to buy a new radio.
  • Use to + verb after would like (or 'd like):
    • Example: Perhaps you would like to go for a walk.
  • Use to after would love, would hate and would prefer.
    • Example: I would love to improve my English.
  • Can use either to + verb or verb + -ing after like, love, hate, and prefer.
    • Example: I like to brush my hair in front of the mirror. (or I like brushing)
  • Also use to + verb after verbs such as decide, expect, forget, hope, learn, need, plan, promise, try:
    • Example: Where did you decide to go at the weekend?
  • Can also use nouns or noun phrases after all these verbs:
    • Example: I want a new radio.
    • Example: I'll decide what to do very soon.

Which form of the verb do I use after look forward to?

  • Use to + verb after some verbs. (see Unit 19):
    • Example: I want to change my bed because it is old.
  • Use look forward to + verb + -ing:
    • Example: I look forward to hearing from you. (not Hook forward to hear from you.)
    • Example: We're looking forward to seeing you soon.
  • This is because to in look forward to is a preposition:
    • Example: Are you looking forward to the end of term?
  • Use -ing after both the preposition to and other prepositions such as in, on, for:
    • Example: I prefer speaking to writing English.
    • Example: Are you interested in going on the tour?
  • Also use verb + -ing after verbs such as avoid, enjoy, finish, practise, stop:
    • Example: We really enjoy being in this class.
    • Example: I finished writing my diary at half past eleven.

Which form of the verb do I use after can and could?

  • Use can + infinitive without to:
    • Example: Maybe we can see each other in the holidays.
    • Example: You can find everything you need in the market.
  • Also use the infinitive without to after might, could, should, must:
    • Example: Our teacher said she might be late.
    • Example: We could stop now and have a drink.
    • Example: Should I tell you what I did?
  • Use could + infinitive without to to talk about the past. Don't change the form of the main verb:
    • Example: When I entered the club, I couldn't see any of my friends. (not I couldn't saw)
    • Example: I wanted to help my friend, but there was nothing I could do.
  • Note that use could + have (done) for things which were possible but didn't happen in the past:
    • Example: I could have told you the answer, but you didn't ask me.

TEST 7

  • Insert to in these sentences where necessary.
  • Rewrite the sentences with the -ing form of the verb where possible.
  • Complete the sentences with suitable verbs.
  • Circle the correct word for each space and complete the text.
  • Are the sentences right or wrong? Correct those which are wrong.

How do I form adjectives from nouns?

  • Adjectives are sometimes formed by adding -y, -al, etc. to the noun:
    • rain --> rainy
  • Some adjective endings:
    • -al:
      • environment → environmental
      • music → musical
    • -ful:
      • colour → colourful
      • wonder → wonderful
    • -less (meaning 'without'):
      • child → childless
      • home → homeless
    • -ish:
      • fool → foolish
      • self → selfish
    • -ous:
      • danger → dangerous
      • mountain → mountainous
  • Sometimes change the ending of the noun to form the adjective:
    • sun → sunny
    • beauty → beautiful
    • fame → famous
  • Many adjectives end in -ed and -ing.
    • Adjectives ending in -ed describe how people feel.
    • Adjectives ending in -ing cause people to feel this way.
      • Example: I'm interested in this book, and This book looks interesting.
      • Example: I wasn't surprised I missed the plane. and It wasn't surprising I missed the plane.

Very or really?

  • Use very with adjectives such as big and angry.
  • The words huge and furious mean 'very big' and 'very angry', so use adverbs such as absolutely and completely instead:
    • Example: I thought the palace would be very big, but it was absolutely huge.
    • Do not use so, much or too instead of very in the above sentence. Use really with big/huge and other pairs of adjectives.
  • Compare
    • very / really good and really / absolutely excellent, fantastic, great, wonderful
    • very / really bad and really / absolutely awful, dreadful, horrible, terrible
  • Can use very with much, but this is usually in negative sentences:
    • Example: I don't like opera very much, but I like modern music a lot.
  • If something makes us laugh, we say it is (very) funny. But if we're enjoying ourselves, we say we're having (great) fun. A person can also be (great) fun:
    • Example: My cousin is great fun. He tells some very funny stories.

How do I form adverbs?

  • Use adverbs to describe verbs.
  • In general, form an adverb by adding -ly to an adjective:
    • clear → clearly
    • fortunate → fortunately
    • careful → carefully
  • If an adjective ends in y, change the y to i before adding -ly:
    • easy → easily
    • happy → happily
    • lucky → luckily
  • Can't make adverbs from adjectives such as friendly and lovely, which already end in -ly. Instead, use the adjective + fashion, manner or way:
    • Example: The teacher spoke to me in a friendly way.
  • Some adverbs are irregular:
    • Good is an adjective, and well is an adverb.
    • Fast and hard are both.
  • Also use hardly before a verb to mean 'only just, almost not':
    • Example: I hardly play chess at all. My brother is a good chess player. He plays chess well. He works hard to improve his game.
  • Sometimes use adverbs such as really, completely, absolutely, truly (true + -ly) with adjectives (see Unit 23):
    • Example: My new watch is truly lovely.

TEST 8

  • Underline the adverbs and circle the adjectives in this text.
  • Add the word in brackets.
  • Complete the rest of the missing words.
  • Complete the second sentence so that it has the same meaning as the first.
  • Are the sentences right or wrong? Correct those which are wrong.

Which, who or that?

  • Use which for things and who for people when combining two pieces of information to say exactly which thing or person. Which and who refer to the subject
    • Example: I'm wearing a ring. It was my aunt's. → I'm wearing a ring which was my aunt's.
    • Example: I know a woman. She is a doctor. → I know a woman who is a doctor.
    • Example: The waiter was Italian. He served us. → The waiter who served us was Italian.
  • Use that instead of which or who in sentences like these, although who is more common for people (especially family members). Don't usually use that for people.
  • Often use which / that and who when defining things or people. Don't use what:
    • Example: A dictionary is a book which / that lists words and tells you what they mean. (not a book what lists)
    • Example: A waiter is someone who serves customers food and drink.
  • Can either include or omit which, who and that when they refer to the object:
    • Example: The teacher told a joke. I already knew it. The teacher told a joke (which/that) I already knew.
  • Depending on the emphasis you want to give, you could also say:
    • Example: I already knew the joke (which/that) the teacher told.

How do I give extra information?

  • Use which to give extra information about something:
    • Example: The walls, which are pink, need painting again.
    • Example: I'm in Brazil, which is a beautiful country.
  • Use a comma before and after the extra information when it comes in the middle of a sentence and before the extra information when it comes at the end.
  • In the same way, use who to give extra information about someone:
    • Example: My best friend, who is the same age as I am, wants to study English too.
  • Don't use that to give extra information:
    • Example: My room, which is on the first floor, is very small. (not My room, that is on the first floor)
    • Example: I work with Emilia, who comes from Peru. (not Emilia, that comes from Peru)
  • When talking about 'a fact,' use which:
    • Example: I failed my exam, which was surprising. (not my exam, that was surprising)
  • Use what to mean 'the things that.' Compare:
    • Example: That is the information which / that I have. and That is the information I have. (not the information what I have)
    • Example: I can tell you what I know.

Which prepositions do I use after arrive?

  • Say arrive in a country, city or town, and arrive at all other places:
    • Example: I have just arrived in Brazil.
    • Example: We arrived at the airport two hours before our flight.
  • In informal situations, can use get (to) instead of arrive (in/at). Also say arrive home / get home, arrive here / get here, and arrive there / get there.
    • Example: We will arrive in Malaga very soon. and We will get to Malaga very soon.
    • Example: I didn't arrive at work until ten o'clock. and I didn't get to work until ten o'clock.
    • Example: We arrived home late at night. and We got home late at night.
  • Note that you can arrive, but you must get somewhere:
    • Example: I'll phone you when we arrive. (not when we get)
  • Use at, in and on with expressions of time:
    • at: at two o'clock, at midnight, at night, at the weekend, at Christmas
    • in: in the evening, in July, in summer, in 2008
    • on: on Monday, on Monday evening, on 22 July, on Christmas Day
  • Note that usually talk about place before time:
    • Example: I arrived at school at half past eight in the morning.

TEST 9

  • Complete the sentences with an appropriate preposition where necessary.
  • Insert commas where