How to make less mistakes in English. Native Speaker / Company Blog Online School EnglishDom

In linguistics, there is such a thing as interference - the influence of the native language on the one we are studying. Most often, these are attempts to find some common features in phonetics, grammar and vocabulary in the native and foreign languages.

At the initial stage, this helps to understand phonetics, but then you have to get used to a lot of rules and exceptions that have no analogues in Russian.
We asked one of the most experienced native English speakers in our school, Tressa, to talk about the most common mistakes of her Russian-speaking students and how to fix them. But before moving on to the list itself, there are a number of tips from it, so that the number of errors is constantly reduced:

• always write an unfamiliar word in a file, application or notebook to make fewer mistakes in spelling;
• practice communication as often as possible so as not to be afraid of your pronunciation in English and make fewer mistakes in phonetics;
• Do not be afraid to ask and clarify when communicating - you will quickly understand, even from the fifth time, and also be able to make fewer lexical mistakes;
• for the same purpose, it is worth reading more in English in order to better remember the meanings of words;
• try to listen and watch audio and video in English more often (preferably short sessions of 3-5 minutes at first) to make fewer mistakes in recognizing speech by ear.

And now a list of private errors and solutions to prevent them.

On time vs in time

On time - punctual, not late. If something happens on time, it happens at the time which was planned. The opposite for the phrase is “late”.

That is, in accordance with the planned time, it is not too late. To avoid mistakes when using this phrase, remember the antonym - late.

The 11.45 train left on time. - The train at 11.45 left on time.

In time - for something or to do something, soon enough. The opposite for the phrase is “too late”.

This can also be translated as “on time” and soon enough. Only in this case, the benchmark is no longer for a specific time, but that it is time to do something, do something. To remember the value correctly, we use the antonym “too late”.

Will you be home in time for dinner? “Will you be home for dinner?” (specific time is not indicated).

At the end, in the end, to this end

At the end is used when you are talking about an event that happens in the final moment.

“At the end” (at the end, at the final stage) should be used to say about the event at the very end. After this phrase, there is always a refinement and the preposition “of” (at the end of which it is).

At the end of the meeting, they shook hands. - At the end of the meeting, they shook hands.

In the end is used when you are talking about an end result, but not a single event.

This construction (in the end - as a result, as a result) is used to say about the final result or result, and not about an individual event. In order not to be confused with “at the end”, look at the general context and whether there is a clarification at the end of what exactly. If not, use “in the end”. If there is, “at the end”.

In the end, no one will miss you. “In the end, no one will miss you.”

To this end is used when you are talking about achieving a previously specified goal.

There is such a construction, which is often incorrectly translated. It means “for this purpose” and is not connected with the end. In order not to make mistakes when translating into your native language, always pay attention to the preposition “to” at the beginning of the phrase.

He wanted to discuss his idea and arrange a meeting to this end. - He wanted to discuss his idea and arrange a meeting for this purpose.

In the school, at the school, in school, at school

In the school - under the roof of the school building (said of a person or thing).

This can be safely translated as “under the roof of the school,” if we are talking about a person or subject. That is, right in the building. To use the phrase correctly, note the presence of “the” in the phrase. This will mean location.

The books are in the school now. “Books are now in the school building.”

At the school - in or near the school building (said of a person or thing).

It is worth perceiving it as “on the school grounds” or right at the school (you can also talk about a person or subject). There is also “the” here, so the emphasis is more on location, but not entirely accurate (inside the school or in its territory).

Where is your friend? - Somewhere at the school. - Where is your friend? - Somewhere on the school grounds.

In school - being educated in or at a school; occupied with being educated (said of a person).

This can only be said about the person who is currently studying, and in any educational institution (institute or university, and so on). In order not to be confused with “in the school”, remember that the emphasis is more on the learning process itself, rather than on location.

What is she busy with now? - She is in school. - What is she doing now? - Learning.

At school - located at a school; attending a class in a school (said of a person).

We also use this phrase only about a person, indicating that he is in the school, attends classes. In this case, we are only talking about the school, and not the educational institutions as a whole.

Can't come to your place now, I am at school. - I can’t come to you now, I’m in class at school.

You can say that there is an auditorium in the school, but the auditorium is not in school or at school.

So our carrier explains that inanimate objects can only be found in the phrases “at” or “in” with the article (in the school and at the school).

In general, at X means participating in the activities associated with X: at school, at work, at court, at football practice.

In general, if we say at something there, we indicate participation in something: at school, at work, in court, at football training.

Sentences ending with a preposition

The “rule” that a preposition should not end a sentence goes back to the 18th century, when some grammarians believed English should bend to the rules of Latin grammar.
This rule often leads to unnatural-sounding sentences.

In the XVIII century, some of the specialists in English grammar believed that it is not necessary to end sentences with prepositions, focusing on the rules of Latin grammar.
But if prepositions are not put at the end of a sentence, they may sound unnatural.

It was my mother about whom we were most concerned. - It was about our mother that we were most worried about (the preposition about in the middle of the sentence is more difficult to pronounce).
It was my mother whom we were most concerned about . - It was about our mother that we were most worried about (the preposition about at the end of the sentence is easier to pronounce).

Based on this, the native speaker says that the choice is ours (whether to put an excuse in the end):

The question of whether or not to end sentences with prepositions is ultimately a matter of taste.

Who and whom

It is exactly the same as the difference between I and me, he and him, she and her, etc.

The difference here is the same as between I and me, he and him, she and her, and so on.

Who, like I, he, and she, is a subject - it is the person performing the action of the verb.

Who, like I, he and she act as the subject, the person who performs the action expressed by the verb.

Whom, like me, him, and her, is an object - it is the person to / about / for whom the action is being done.

Whom, like me, him and her is an addition, the person with whom the action takes place.

Who is talking to you? “Who's talking to you?” (who - subject)
Whom are you talking to? - Who are you talking to? (whom - addition)

It is also worth noting that now “who” is more often used as an addition. In order to prevent mistakes and understand what is subject or predicate, pay attention to the word order in the sentence:

Who is talking to you? - the word order after “Who” as the subject of the direct line, as in the affirmative sentence.
Who are you talking to? - after the word “Who” is a full interrogative word order.

Substitute who with the word he. If that part of the sentence still makes sense, then who is almost certainly correct.

There is another way to distinguish the meaning of who - replace it with he. If after this the sentence has not lost its meaning, then who is in his place and plays the role of the subject.

Who is talking to you? - He is talking to you. - It sounds understandable, so who is the subject.
Who are you talking to? - He are you talking to. - The sentence is perceived as incorrect and “he” cannot replace “who”. So, “who” acts as a complement.

English nouns as adjectives

Adjectives don't have plural forms. Ever. But nouns are common to modify other nouns. Instead, I would say these are attributive nouns.

In English, adjectives do not have a plural. At all. But nouns can become adjectives to expand or change the meaning of other nouns. They seem to become definition nouns.

It turns out that definition nouns follow the same rules as English adjectives. Therefore, nouns in combinations, like a five-minute walk and others, do not change their number (we do not say five-minute walk).

We hope that these tips will be useful and will help make your English speech more correct. We plan to talk about other mistakes that are often made by Russian-speaking students of our native teachers. And what points in English often raise questions from you? We will be happy to know in the comments that later our native speakers will help us answer your questions.

Reader Bonuses

Online Courses

We give free access for three months of learning English using our online courses. To do this, simply follow the link until December 31, 2017.

Individually by Skype

We will be glad to see you in English courses for IT-specialists.
Sign up for an introductory lesson and get comprehensive feedback on your level of knowledge, then choose a teacher and a training program to your liking!