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COMMON ENGLISH
MISTAKES OF NATIVESPANISH SPEAKERS
By Alejandra Basulto
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Wrong: I haven'ta pen.
Correct: I don't have a pen.
This mistake comes from the correctidiomatic phrase I haven't got a pen.
Better to use the structure of the presenttense which requires doesn't/don't.
Have and has are auxiliaries in the present
perfect only.
MISUSE OF "HAVE"
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"PEOPLE" AS A SINGULAR NOUN
Wrong: The people is very angry at the taxincrease.Correct: People arevery angry at the taxincrease.
Students translate "people" which is pluralin English as "gente" which is singular in
Spanish.
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ARTICLE CONFUSION
Wrong:The peopleuse a lot of creditcards.
Right:People use alot of credit cards.
The definite
article is not usedwhen speakinggenerally.
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WHICH AND WHAT CONFUSION
Which and What are notalways interchangeable.
If the choice is in front of you,
use which:I have two kinds of fizzsprite and ginger aleWhich one do you want?
If the choice is moreabstract, use what:What kind of fizz do you like?
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WHICH AND WHAT CONFUSION
Wrong: I want that youopen the door.
Right: I want you to openthe door.
In Spanish, Quiero que
abras la puerta,
que
subordinates the clause. InEnglish we use an infinitivephrase.
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It depends of
Wrong: I can see you, but itdepends ofmy time.
Right: I can see you, but itdepends on my time.
The tendency is to directly
translate a preposition, andmany times this createsconfusion.
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call to / ask to
Wrong: I will callto mymotherand askto herifshe is coming.
Right: I will call mymotherand ask herif sheis coming.
This one is also a directtranslation.
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I am agree
Wrong: I am agree with you.
Right: I agree with you.
Agree is a verb in English.It does not need an auxiliary.
The confusion again comes fromtranslation Estoy de acuerdocontigo.
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Se denominan false friends (falsos
amigos) o false cognates (falsoscognados) a las palabras que porescribirse de la misma forma o similar enespaol son confundidas, pero que en
realidad en ingls significan otra cosa.
FALSE FRIENDS OR FALSECOGNATES
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COGNADO-UNOConferencia
lectura
reading
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COGNADO-DOS
Dibujosanimados
Cartn
CARTOON
Cardboard
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COGNADO-TRES
Tristeza
Miseria
MISERY
Poverty
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COGNADO-CUATRO
Cena
Dinero
DINNER
Money
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FABRIC
Tela o Tejido
Fbrica
Factory
COGNADO-CINCO
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COGNADO-SEIS
Concurso
Contestar
answer
CONTEST
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Alfombra
Carpeta
CARPET
Folder
COGNADO-SIETE
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COGNADO-OCHO
Maldicin
Curso
CURSE
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THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOU
ATTENTION.
MUCHAS GRACIAS POR SU ATENCIN.
THE END
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