Common errors - ESL worksheet by Nicola5052 - Free Printable
Educational worksheet: Common errors - ESL worksheet by Nicola5052. Download and print for classroom or home learning activities.
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Step-by-step solution for: Common errors - ESL worksheet by Nicola5052
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Common errors - ESL worksheet by Nicola5052
Let's go through each sentence and identify the common errors. These are mostly grammar, spelling, or word usage mistakes. I'll correct each one and explain why it's wrong.
---
- ✔ Error: "advise" is a verb; the noun form is "advice".
- 🔧 Correct: *He gave me good advice.*
---
- ✔ Error: "among" is used for three or more people; for two, use "between".
- 🔧 Correct: *She divided the sweets between the two children.*
---
- ✔ Error: Same as above — "between" is for two; for five, use "among".
- 🔧 Correct: *She shared the cake among the five adults.*
---
- ✔ Error: Incorrect word order and missing punctuation. Should be "Are we ready to go out, children?"
- 🔧 Correct: *Are we ready to go out, children?*
---
- ✔ Error: "accept" should be "except" (meaning "excluding").
- 🔧 Correct: *I can’t believe you told everyone except me.*
---
- ✔ Error: "board" is a noun; the adjective is "bored".
- 🔧 Correct: *I was so bored at college yesterday.*
---
- ✔ Error: "cereal" is breakfast food; the correct word is "series" (TV show).
- 🔧 Correct: *I watched the new documentary series on TV last night.*
---
- ✔ Error: "ensured" means "made sure"; the correct word is "insured" (as in insurance).
- 🔧 Correct: *She insured her car last week.*
---
- ✔ Error: "fare" is a noun (like bus fare); the correct word is "fair" (meaning just or equal).
- 🔧 Correct: *It’s not fair – she’s got more than me!*
---
- ✔ Error: "less" is for uncountable nouns; "people" is countable → use "fewer".
- 🔧 Correct: *There were fewer people here today than yesterday.*
---
- ✔ Error: "should of" is incorrect; it should be "should have" (often contracted to "should've").
- 🔧 Correct: *I should have gone to the park with my friends.*
---
- ✔ Error: "I" is not correct here; it should be "me" (object of the preposition "to").
- 🔧 Correct: *That CD was given to my sister and me last Christmas.*
---
- ✔ Error: "it’s" = "it is" (contraction); the possessive form is "its" (no apostrophe).
- 🔧 Correct: *The dog wagged its tail when it saw him.*
---
- ✔ Error: "Lay" is transitive (requires an object); "lie" is intransitive (no object). Here, no object → use "lie".
- 🔧 Correct: *Come on. Lie down next to me.*
---
- ✔ Error: In British English, it's "driving licence" (with 's'); in American English, it's "license". But since this is likely UK-based (based on spelling), "licence" is correct.
- 🔧 Correct: *Wahoo! I’ve got my driving licence.*
*(Note: "license" is acceptable in US English, but "licence" is standard in UK English.)*
---
- ✔ Error: "loose" (adjective) vs. "lose" (verb).
- 🔧 Correct: *Careful – don’t lose your keys.*
---
- ✔ Error: "maybe" is an adverb meaning "perhaps"; the correct word is "may be" (modal verb + base verb).
- 🔧 Correct: *What you said may be true!*
---
- ✔ Error: "past" is a noun or preposition; the verb form is "passed".
- 🔧 Correct: *Congratulations – you passed your exams!*
---
- ✔ Error: No grammatical error here — this sentence is correct.
- ✘ Wait! Actually, it's fine. But let's double-check: "practice" is correct (US/UK spelling), "better and better" is idiomatic. So this one is correct.
- ✔ No mistake — but the prompt says all have a mistake. Hmm... maybe not?
Wait — actually, "practice" could be spelled "practise" in British English, but both are accepted depending on region. So likely this sentence is correct.
But if we're strict about British English, it might be:
- ✔ "practise" (verb) vs. "practice" (noun).
So perhaps the intended error is:
- 🔧 "If you practise every day..." (British spelling)
But since the sentence uses "practice", and it's common in both regions, it's probably acceptable.
✔ So this sentence is likely correct — but let's move on.
---
- ✔ Error: "quite" means "fairly" or "very"; the word for silence is "quiet".
- 🔧 Correct: *She’s really shy, isn’t she – she’s so quiet!*
---
- ✔ Error: "stationery" = paper, pens, etc.; the correct word is "stationary" (not moving).
- 🔧 Correct: *The car was stationary at the traffic lights.*
---
- ✔ Error: "threw" is the past tense of "throw"; the correct word is "through" (preposition).
- 🔧 Correct: *She fell through the hole in the ice.*
---
- ✔ Error: "waste" is a noun (e.g., rubbish); the correct word is "waist" (part of the body).
- 🔧 Correct: *Her hair is so long – it’s down to her waist.*
---
- ✔ Error: "Who’s" = "who is"; the correct possessive is "whose".
- 🔧 Correct: *Whose coat is this?*
---
## ✔ Summary of Corrections:
| Sentence | Error | Corrected |
|--------|-------|----------|
| 1 | advise → advice | He gave me good advice. |
| 2 | among → between | She divided the sweets between the two children. |
| 3 | between → among | She shared the cake among the five adults. |
| 4 | already → ready; add comma | Are we ready to go out, children? |
| 5 | accept → except | I can’t believe you told everyone except me. |
| 6 | board → bored | I was so bored at college yesterday. |
| 7 | cereal → series | I watched the new documentary series on TV. |
| 8 | ensured → insured | She insured her car last week. |
| 9 | fare → fair | It’s not fair – she’s got more than me! |
| 10 | less → fewer | There were fewer people here today. |
| 11 | of → have | I should have gone to the park. |
| 12 | I → me | The CD was given to my sister and me. |
| 13 | it’s → its | The dog wagged its tail. |
| 14 | lay → lie | Come on. Lie down next to me. |
| 15 | license → licence (UK) | I’ve got my driving licence. |
| 16 | loose → lose | Don’t lose your keys. |
| 17 | maybe → may be | What you said may be true. |
| 18 | past → passed | You passed your exams! |
| 19 | Possibly none — but see note | Sentence is correct. |
| 20 | quite → quiet | She’s so quiet! |
| 21 | stationery → stationary | The car was stationary. |
| 22 | threw → through | She fell through the hole. |
| 23 | waste → waist | Down to her waist. |
| 24 | Who’s → Whose | Whose coat is this? |
---
💡 Final Note: Sentence #19 ("If you practice every day...") appears correct. If the exercise insists that all sentences have errors, then perhaps the intended error is spelling variation — using "practice" instead of "practise" in British English. But even then, it's widely accepted.
However, in most contexts, this sentence is grammatically correct.
✔ So only 23 out of 24 have clear errors — #19 is likely the exception, or possibly a trick question.
But based on standard grammar rules, all others have errors as corrected above.
Let me know if you'd like a printable version or explanation for students!
---
1. He gave me good advise.
- ✔ Error: "advise" is a verb; the noun form is "advice".
- 🔧 Correct: *He gave me good advice.*
---
2. She divided the sweets among the two children.
- ✔ Error: "among" is used for three or more people; for two, use "between".
- 🔧 Correct: *She divided the sweets between the two children.*
---
3. She shared the cake between the five adults.
- ✔ Error: Same as above — "between" is for two; for five, use "among".
- 🔧 Correct: *She shared the cake among the five adults.*
---
4. Are we already to go out children?
- ✔ Error: Incorrect word order and missing punctuation. Should be "Are we ready to go out, children?"
- 🔧 Correct: *Are we ready to go out, children?*
---
5. I can’t believe you told everyone accept me.
- ✔ Error: "accept" should be "except" (meaning "excluding").
- 🔧 Correct: *I can’t believe you told everyone except me.*
---
6. I was so board at college yesterday.
- ✔ Error: "board" is a noun; the adjective is "bored".
- 🔧 Correct: *I was so bored at college yesterday.*
---
7. I watched the new documentary cereal on TV last night.
- ✔ Error: "cereal" is breakfast food; the correct word is "series" (TV show).
- 🔧 Correct: *I watched the new documentary series on TV last night.*
---
8. She ensured her car last week.
- ✔ Error: "ensured" means "made sure"; the correct word is "insured" (as in insurance).
- 🔧 Correct: *She insured her car last week.*
---
9. It’s not fare – she’s got more than me!
- ✔ Error: "fare" is a noun (like bus fare); the correct word is "fair" (meaning just or equal).
- 🔧 Correct: *It’s not fair – she’s got more than me!*
---
10. There were less people here today than yesterday.
- ✔ Error: "less" is for uncountable nouns; "people" is countable → use "fewer".
- 🔧 Correct: *There were fewer people here today than yesterday.*
---
11. I should of gone to the park with my friends.
- ✔ Error: "should of" is incorrect; it should be "should have" (often contracted to "should've").
- 🔧 Correct: *I should have gone to the park with my friends.*
---
12. That CD was given to my sister and I last Christmas.
- ✔ Error: "I" is not correct here; it should be "me" (object of the preposition "to").
- 🔧 Correct: *That CD was given to my sister and me last Christmas.*
---
13. The dog wagged it’s tail when it saw him.
- ✔ Error: "it’s" = "it is" (contraction); the possessive form is "its" (no apostrophe).
- 🔧 Correct: *The dog wagged its tail when it saw him.*
---
14. Come on. Lay down next to me.
- ✔ Error: "Lay" is transitive (requires an object); "lie" is intransitive (no object). Here, no object → use "lie".
- 🔧 Correct: *Come on. Lie down next to me.*
---
15. Wahoo! I’ve got my driving license.
- ✔ Error: In British English, it's "driving licence" (with 's'); in American English, it's "license". But since this is likely UK-based (based on spelling), "licence" is correct.
- 🔧 Correct: *Wahoo! I’ve got my driving licence.*
*(Note: "license" is acceptable in US English, but "licence" is standard in UK English.)*
---
16. Careful – don’t loose your keys.
- ✔ Error: "loose" (adjective) vs. "lose" (verb).
- 🔧 Correct: *Careful – don’t lose your keys.*
---
17. What you said maybe true!
- ✔ Error: "maybe" is an adverb meaning "perhaps"; the correct word is "may be" (modal verb + base verb).
- 🔧 Correct: *What you said may be true!*
---
18. Congratulations – you past your exams!
- ✔ Error: "past" is a noun or preposition; the verb form is "passed".
- 🔧 Correct: *Congratulations – you passed your exams!*
---
19. If you practice every day you’ll get better and better.
- ✔ Error: No grammatical error here — this sentence is correct.
- ✘ Wait! Actually, it's fine. But let's double-check: "practice" is correct (US/UK spelling), "better and better" is idiomatic. So this one is correct.
- ✔ No mistake — but the prompt says all have a mistake. Hmm... maybe not?
Wait — actually, "practice" could be spelled "practise" in British English, but both are accepted depending on region. So likely this sentence is correct.
But if we're strict about British English, it might be:
- ✔ "practise" (verb) vs. "practice" (noun).
So perhaps the intended error is:
- 🔧 "If you practise every day..." (British spelling)
But since the sentence uses "practice", and it's common in both regions, it's probably acceptable.
✔ So this sentence is likely correct — but let's move on.
---
20. She’s really shy isn’t she – she’s so quite!
- ✔ Error: "quite" means "fairly" or "very"; the word for silence is "quiet".
- 🔧 Correct: *She’s really shy, isn’t she – she’s so quiet!*
---
21. The car was stationery at the traffic lights.
- ✔ Error: "stationery" = paper, pens, etc.; the correct word is "stationary" (not moving).
- 🔧 Correct: *The car was stationary at the traffic lights.*
---
22. She fell threw the hole in the ice.
- ✔ Error: "threw" is the past tense of "throw"; the correct word is "through" (preposition).
- 🔧 Correct: *She fell through the hole in the ice.*
---
23. Her hair is so long – it’s down to her waste.
- ✔ Error: "waste" is a noun (e.g., rubbish); the correct word is "waist" (part of the body).
- 🔧 Correct: *Her hair is so long – it’s down to her waist.*
---
24. Who’s coat is this?
- ✔ Error: "Who’s" = "who is"; the correct possessive is "whose".
- 🔧 Correct: *Whose coat is this?*
---
## ✔ Summary of Corrections:
| Sentence | Error | Corrected |
|--------|-------|----------|
| 1 | advise → advice | He gave me good advice. |
| 2 | among → between | She divided the sweets between the two children. |
| 3 | between → among | She shared the cake among the five adults. |
| 4 | already → ready; add comma | Are we ready to go out, children? |
| 5 | accept → except | I can’t believe you told everyone except me. |
| 6 | board → bored | I was so bored at college yesterday. |
| 7 | cereal → series | I watched the new documentary series on TV. |
| 8 | ensured → insured | She insured her car last week. |
| 9 | fare → fair | It’s not fair – she’s got more than me! |
| 10 | less → fewer | There were fewer people here today. |
| 11 | of → have | I should have gone to the park. |
| 12 | I → me | The CD was given to my sister and me. |
| 13 | it’s → its | The dog wagged its tail. |
| 14 | lay → lie | Come on. Lie down next to me. |
| 15 | license → licence (UK) | I’ve got my driving licence. |
| 16 | loose → lose | Don’t lose your keys. |
| 17 | maybe → may be | What you said may be true. |
| 18 | past → passed | You passed your exams! |
| 19 | Possibly none — but see note | Sentence is correct. |
| 20 | quite → quiet | She’s so quiet! |
| 21 | stationery → stationary | The car was stationary. |
| 22 | threw → through | She fell through the hole. |
| 23 | waste → waist | Down to her waist. |
| 24 | Who’s → Whose | Whose coat is this? |
---
💡 Final Note: Sentence #19 ("If you practice every day...") appears correct. If the exercise insists that all sentences have errors, then perhaps the intended error is spelling variation — using "practice" instead of "practise" in British English. But even then, it's widely accepted.
However, in most contexts, this sentence is grammatically correct.
✔ So only 23 out of 24 have clear errors — #19 is likely the exception, or possibly a trick question.
But based on standard grammar rules, all others have errors as corrected above.
Let me know if you'd like a printable version or explanation for students!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of common usage errors worksheet.
