Author: Louise

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Typical German speaker mistakes in English (44)

I often hear these mistakes made by German speakers who are learning English.

They say:  I thought on you.

 

The problem here is with the preposition.  ‘On’ is not the correct word here.

Correction:  I thought of you.

 

If the sentence is then extended to talk about what you were thinking of doing we need an _ing on the verb

E.g.  I thought of calling you but then realised I didn’t have your new number.

E.g.  I thought of inviting you to the presentation but there was not enough time.

E.g.  He thought of applying for the job but it was too late.  He’d missed the deadline.

 

Have fun learning English!

Louise

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Any Denglish in your English? (11)

I’ve mentioned before that many German speakers know that Handy does not mean mobile phone in English but are there any other Denglish words and phrases that you are using by mistake?

Here are a couple more examples I often hear:

Synchronised.  Hollywood films shown on German television are dubbed and not synchronised.

Chef.  I often hear this used by mistake when what you want to say is boss or manager.  Chef in English refers to a person who prepares and cooks food professionally, usually in a restaurant, pub or hotel.

Have fun learning English!

Louise

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As … as (5)

There are many expressions commonly used in English with the comparison form ‘as … as’.

There is no magic rule to help you remember them.  You just have to learn them.  Sorry!

Take a look at the examples below.

 

As flat as a pancake.

If you say that something is as flat as a pancake you are emphasizing that the object / thing is extremely flat.

E.g.  Certain areas of the country have hills and mountains and other areas are as flat as a pancake.

 

As free as a bird.

If someone is as free as a bird they have complete freedom to do exactly what they want when they want to.

E.g.  Since she retired from her job she’s been as free as a bird to do exactly what she wants.

 

As hard as nails.

If someone is as hard as nails it means that they don’t show emotion, sympathy or pity towards other people.  It has the sense that the person is uncaring towards others.

E.g.  Don’t expect any sympathy for your situation from her.  She’s as hard as nails and probably doesn’t care.

 

Have fun learning English!

Louise

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Drive vs ride. When do we use these words?

Let’s be honest, sometimes English can be confusing.  Sometimes when learning English it is easy to mix up words or be unsure when to use them.

I often hear German speakers who are learning English make mistakes with the words ‘to drive’ and ‘to ride’.

Take a look at the examples below.  Hopefully they will make things clearer for you.

In British English we drive a car, a taxi, a bus, a lorry, a van and a train.

In British English we ride a bike, a motorbike and a horse.

 

E.g.  He lives in New York and drives a taxi for a living.

When we moved to a new flat I drove the removal van.

 

E.g.  I ride a bike to work every day.

He really enjoys riding around on his motorbike at the weekends.

 

Have fun learning English!

Louise

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Typical German speaker mistakes in English (43)

I often hear these mistakes made by German speakers who are learning English.

They say:  She’s getting a baby.

She got a baby.

The problem here is with the verb.  In English we don’t ‘get’ a baby, we ‘have’ a baby.

Correction:  She’s having a baby.

She had a baby last week.

She’s just had a baby.

 

Alternatively we can say:  She’s expecting a baby.

Her baby is due in October.

 

Have fun learning English!

Louise

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Relegation . . . not to be confused with the German word Relegation

The English word ‘relegation’ should not be confused with the German word ‘Relegation’.

In English at the end of, for example, a football season, a number of teams at the bottom end of the table are relegated to the lower league.  In other words they move down to a lower league.

Teams in the lower league that performed well and ended up at the top end of their table are promoted to the higher league.

Some teams are promoted automatically.  Other teams have to play further matches to decide who goes up.  This process is called the ‘play-off(s)’ and not ‘relegation’ as I often hear in Germany.

E.g.  The play-offs usually start in the middle of May.

The play-off final is on Sunday.

 

Have fun learning English!

Louise

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As … as (4)

There are many expressions commonly used in English with the comparison form ‘as … as’.

There is no magic rule to help you remember them.  You just have to learn them.  Sorry!

Take a look at the examples below.

 

As good as gold.

This expression if often (but not only) used to describe children who are very well behaved.

E.g.  The children played happily all day.  They were as good as gold and there was no stress for anyone.

 

As blind as a bat.

If someone is as blind as a bat they have poor eyesight and cannot see very well.

E.g.  Without his glasses he’s as blind as a bat!

 

As clean as a whistle.

If something is as clean as a whistle it means it is extremely clean.

E.g.  She spent all afternoon cleaning and polishing her car.  She did a great job – it’s as clean as a whistle.

 

Have fun learning English!

Louise

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Typical German speaker mistakes in English (42)

I often hear these mistakes made by German speakers who are learning English.

They say:  I made a great experience on my last business trip.

The problem here is with the verb.  In English we don’t ‘make’ an experience we ‘have’ an experience.

Correction:  I had a great experience on my last business trip.

Alternatively just say:  My last business trip was a great experience.  (This means that the whole trip / situation was positive for you and you are reflecting back on a positive time.)

 

Have fun learning English!

Louise

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As … as (3)

There are many expressions commonly used in English with the comparison form ‘as … as’.

There is no magic rule to help you remember them.  You just have to learn them.  Sorry!

 

Take a look at the examples below.

 

As pretty as a picture.

If something or someone is as pretty as a picture it means it / they are very attractive, very beautiful or very pretty.

E.g.  The lovely cottage dates from 1750 and is as pretty as a picture with its secluded location and extensive garden.

 

As straight as an arrow.

If someone is as straight as an arrow it means they are totally honest.

E.g.  You can trust him with anything.  He’s as straight at an arrow.

 

As drunk as a skunk.

If someone is as drunk as a skunk they are very, very drunk.  They are extremely intoxicated.

E.g.  She had only planned on staying for a couple of drinks but by the end of the evening she was as drunk as skunk!

 

Have fun learning English!

Louise

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Typical German speaker mistakes in English (41)

I often hear these mistakes made by German speakers who are learning English.

They say:  Do you have found the document?

 

This is totally understandable to native speakers but it is incorrect.  There are too many verbs in the sentence.

We are using the present perfect tense here so we do not need the word ‘do’.

 

Correction:  Have you found the document?

Further examples:

Have you met the new team member?

Have you seen the boss today?

Have you visited the new office?

 

Have fun learning English!

Louise