UN-ENGLISH EXPRESSIONS 02

Dialog

Right, you. Let's get this done. Pay attention. I'm going to say a sentence, and you tell me if it's correct English. Understand?

Uh, yes. I think so. I'll try my best.

Good. Try your best. We'll see if that's any good. First one: He pretends to know. Is that correct?

Hmm. He pretends to know. Yes, I think that sounds right. It feels correct.

It is. Well done, for once. You don't say 'He makes himself that he knows'. That just sounds silly. We use pretends when someone acts like something is true, but it isn't. Simple, really.

Oh, I see. That makes sense.

Of course it makes sense. I explained it. Next. Listen carefully. I saw a strange dream last night. Is that correct?

I saw a strange dream... Last night... I think so. You see things, don't you? So you see a dream?

Wrong! Honestly, you really need to concentrate. You don't see a dream. You have a dream, or you can say you dreamt a strange dream. We don't use 'see' for dreams. It's like you own it, you see? Or it happens to you.

Oh, I get it now. I had a strange dream. Thank you.

Don't mention it. Just try to remember it. Okay, for this one: He drinks too many cigarettes. Is that sentence correct?

Drinks too many cigarettes? No, that can't be right. You drink tea or water, not cigarettes. That sounds completely wrong.

Finally, you got one obviously wrong! Well, it is wrong. Good. You smoke cigarettes, you don't drink them. You drink liquids. So you'd say 'He smokes too many cigarettes'. See? Common sense, really.

Right, yes. That's a silly mistake.

It would be for some people, yes. Now, I made one mistake in dictation. Correct or not?

Made one mistake... Yes, that's what we say, isn't it? 'I made a mistake.' So it must be correct.

It is. You got it. We always say make a mistake, not 'do a mistake'. You don't 'do' a mistake. You 'make' it. Not bad.

Phew. Thank you.

Don't get too confident. This man always says the truth. What do you think?

Says the truth... Hmm. That sounds perfectly fine to me. You say things, and the truth is a thing. So, correct?

Wrong again! Honestly. You don't say the truth. You tell the truth or you speak the truth. We use 'say' for general statements, but for 'truth' or 'a lie', it's 'tell' or 'speak'. Don't forget that.

Oh, I definitely will try to remember. 'Tell the truth'.

You better. Next up: Did you watch the game? Is that correct?

Did you watch the game? Yes, that is correct. You watch sports.

Spot on. You can say 'see the game' or 'watch the game', but never 'follow the game' unless you're actually walking behind the players. Or like, following a lesson in a textbook, not an actual match. You seem to pay attention when it's about sports.

Well, it's easier to think about.

Of course it is for you. Try this one: Please open the light. Correct?

Open the light? That's what I say sometimes... Is it not? Like you open a door?

No! You don't open a light! You don't open electricity, do you? You turn on or switch on the light. Or turn it off or switch it off. You open or shut doors, not lights. Honestly. It's not that hard.

Right. Turn on the light. I'll try to remember that.

You have to. Can you give a better example? Is that sentence correct?

Give a better example. Yes, I think so. That's what our teachers say.

Exactly. It is correct. You give an example, you don't 'bring' one. Unless you're literally carrying a box of examples, which would be weird.

No, that would be very weird.

Right. So you understand. Good. Here's a trickier one perhaps: The teacher put me a good mark. Correct or incorrect?

The teacher put me a good mark. Put... a mark... like putting a sticker? No, wait. That sounds a bit off. I think it's wrong.

You're right! It is wrong! You don't 'put' a mark, the teacher gives you a mark. They give you a lesson, too, and they 'score' a goal, not 'put' one. It's about who performs the action. So, well done. You actually thought about that one.

I tried to.

Okay, focus. I set my watch by the church bell. Is that correct?

Set my watch by the church bell... Yes, that sounds right. You set it to the time of the bell.

It is correct. You set a watch by something to make it accurate. You don't 'put a watch with'. That makes no sense. Good.

Another one right!

Don't get ahead of yourself. My watch goes two minutes behind. What about that?

My watch goes two minutes behind. Oh, that's what my mum says about her old clock. So it must be right.

Wrong! Just because your mum says it doesn't make it correct English, does it? My watch is two minutes slow, or 'two minutes fast' if it's the other way. Watches are slow or fast, they don't 'go behind' or 'in front'. It's just how we say it.

Oh. Okay. So, 'My watch is two minutes slow.'

Yes. Now, this film will be shown shortly. Is that correct?

Shown shortly. Yes, I think that is correct. Films are shown.

It is. You show a film. You don't 'play a film'. We 'play' games or music, but films are 'shown'. You actually remembered that quickly. Maybe you're not entirely useless.

Thank you! I think.

Last one. I am going to cut my hair. What about that?

I am going to cut my hair. If you mean you're doing it yourself, then yes. But if someone else is cutting it for you, then no. You should say 'I am going to have my hair cut.'

Oh, wow. You actually got that one exactly right. That's impressive, for you. If you're doing it yourself, you 'cut your hair', but usually, someone else does it, so you have your hair cut. It's good you understood the difference. Maybe you're not totally hopeless after all.

I try my best to learn.

Good. Well, that's enough for today. Don't go forgetting everything I just taught you, alright? I won't be repeating myself.

I won't! I promise.

Summary

• 206. Pretend, not make oneself that.
• 207. Have a dream, not see a dream.
• 208. Smoke a cigarette, etc., not drink a cigarette, etc.
• 209. Make a mistake, not do a mistake.
• 210. Tell or speak the truth, not say the truth.
• 211. See or watch a game, not follow a game.
• 212. Turn (switch) the light on or off, not open or shut the light.
• 213. Give an example, not bring an example.
• 214. Give a mark, not put a mark.
• 215. Set a watch by, not put a watch with.
• 216. A watch is slow or fast, not goes behind or in front.
• 217. Show a film, not play a film.
• 218. Have one's hair cut, not cut one's hair.

Reference: T. J. FITIKIDES, "COMMON MISTAKES IN ENGLISH" p45 - p46