Answers to Typical FCE-level Mistakes

So did you do your homework? 😉 Last time I wrote down 11 common mistakes, particularly from Czech learners of English, and asked you to correct them. If you are intermediate or upper-intermediate level try to correct the sentences first (click here) before checking the answers below.

Answers:

1. I take care about the kids when Simona’s at work.
Correct: I take care of the kids when Simona’s at work.

Take care of is similar in meaning to look after.
eg I took care of the accounts while my boss was away.

This is an understandable error, as the verb care is followed by about (and also for) when used on its own:
Eg I care about the environment.
I care about him, I really do.
She cared for me when I was sick.

But it’s TAKE CARE + ABOUT.

2. I was on the cottage all weekend with my family.
Correct: I was at the cottage all weekend with my family.

This is kinda amusing for us English speakers, as we imagine you are ON the cottage, as if you climbed up to the roof of your cottage and spent the weekend there 🙂

3. John’s a good friend which I met in Brno.
When referring to people you need to use who or that in this kind of relative clause.
Correct: John’s a good friend who/that I met in Brno.

In this sentence you can also leave out the relative pronoun:
John’s a good friend I met in Brno.

Please note that when we add more to the sentence, we use WHO:

John, who I met in Brno, is coming to Prague this weekend.

4. I do lots of mistakes in English!
Correct: I make lots of mistakes…

Knowing when to use do or make with certain nouns creates some confusion with learners, and not just Czech learners. This is quite a big area and I’ll write more about this another time.

5. I recommend to go to the castle – it’s really beautiful.
Correct: I recommend going to the castle.

You can now see a few examples through a google search of recommend to do something, but if you were given this in a Cambridge exam, using the gerund (recommend + _ing) would be the correct answer.

6. Everything what he did made me really happy.
Correct: Everything that he did made me really happy.

Please note you can use which as well. You can also leave out that:
Everything he did made me really happy.
Or if you remember that Bryan Adams song:
Everything I do, I do it for you.

7. Sorry he can’t come to the phone, he’s on a meeting.
Sorry he can’t come to the phone, he’s at/in a meeting.

For Czech speakers this is a very common mistake. We don’t use on in these cases:
I’m at ….. the theatre | the cinema | a party | a cafe | university

8. I’d like to buy new bag for my sister’s birthday.
Correct: I’d like to buy a new bag for my sister’s birthday.

When you use a countable noun you normally need an article (a/an, the).
eg I’ve got…. a phone | a new shirt | a sister | an exciting job

9. I don’t really know why did he do this. I guess he was tired.
Correct: I don’t really know why he did this…

When you place a short phrase in front of a direct question, the word order changes to that of a normal sentence, and the auxiliary verbs are taken out.
Eg Where is he? – > Can you tell me where he is?
Where is the post office? – > Can you tell me where the post office is?

When you make a statement by using ‘question words’ it’s the same idea:
I don’t know where he is.
I’d like to know where the nearest bank is.

10. On the second picture I can see a group of people having fun.
Correct: IN the second picture..

This is a classic mistake in the FCE Speaking Exam. Again, prepositions can be tricky but as you know that you’ll have to discuss photos in a Cambridge ESOL exam, try to remember this one.

11. I’m go a lot to the cinema. I love being in front of the big screen.
Correct: I go a lot to the cinema…

As I said last time, try to see mistakes in a positive way, and to see them as part of the learning process. If you have any questions or comments, please feel to leave a note below!

David Sweetnam
Engage s.r.o.

Learn English in Prague with me:
david (at) engage.cz
Skype: engageprague
Twitter @GetIntoEnglish
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