50. Use like, not as, to give examples.
I prefer warm countries, like Spain. (NOT I prefer warm countries, as Spain.)
I eat a lot of meat, like beef or lamb.
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 326.
51. Use whether, not if, after prepositions.
We talked about whether it was ready. (NOT We talked about if it was ready.)
It’s a question of whether we have enough time. (NOT It’s a question of if we have enough time.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 453.
52. Use the present progressive passive, not the simple present passive, to talk about things that are going on just around now.
Our flat is being decorated this week. (NOT Our flat is decorated this week.)
Your bill is just being prepared, sir. (NOT Your bill is just prepared, sir.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 412.
53. We don’t normally use must to talk about the past.
I had to see the dentist yesterday. (NOT I must see the dentist yesterday.)
When I left school, young men had to do military service. (NOT When I left school, young men must do military service.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 358.
54. When you put two nouns together, be careful to get the right order.
I like eating milk chocolate. (NOT I like eating chocolate milk.)
What’s your phone number? (NOT What’s your number phone?)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 385.
55. Use the whole of, not whole, before the name of a place.
The whole of Paris was celebrating. (NOT Whole Paris was celebrating.)
He knows the whole of South America very well. (NOT He knows whole South America very well.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 40.
56. We don’t normally use progressive forms of believe.
I don’t believe him. (NOT I’m not believing him.)
Do you believe what she says? (NOT Are you believing what she says?)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 471.
57. Don’t use in front of to mean ‘facing’ or ‘opposite’.
She sat down facing me and looked into my eyes. (NOT She sat down in front of me and looked into my eyes.)
There’s a hotel opposite our house. (NOT There’s a hotel in front of our house.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 402.
58. Use it, not I, he, she etc to identify people.
(on the phone): Hello. It’s Alan Williams speaking. ((NOT Hello. I’m Alan Williams.)
‘Who’s that?’ ‘It’s John.’ (NOT Who’s that?’ ‘He’s John.’)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 428.
59. People (meaning ‘persons’) is a plural word.
The people in this town are very friendly. (NOT The people in this town is very friendly.)
Who are those people? (NOT Who is that people?)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 524.
60. Use although or but, but not both together.
Although it was late, she went out.
It was late, but she went out.
(BUT NOT Although it was late, but she went out.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 511.
61. With if, we normally use the present to talk about the future.
If I have time, I’ll phone you. (NOT If I’ll have time, I’ll phone you.)
I’ll be surprised if she answers my letter. (NOT I’ll be surprised if she’ll answer my letter.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 257.
62. Use almost, not nearly, to say that one thing is very like another.
She is almost a sister to me. (NOT She is nearly a sister to me.)
I almost wish I had stayed at home. (NOT I nearly wish I had stayed at home.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 43.
63. If you don’t do something any more, you stop doing it.
The doctor told me to stop smoking. (NOT The doctor told me to stop to smoke.)
I’m going to stop working so hard. (NOT I’m going to stop to work so hard.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 299.
64. A singular countable noun must normally have a determiner
(e.g. a/an, the, my, that).
She broke a/the/that/my window. (NOT She broke window.)
Where is the station? (NOT Where is station?)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 62.
65. We don’t often use would in subordinate clauses; instead, we use past tenses.
Would you follow me wherever I went? (NOT Would you follow me wherever I would go?)
I would tell you if I knew. (NOT I would tell you if I would know.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 580.
66. With when, use the past perfect to make it clear that one thing finished before another started.
When I had written my letters, I did some gardening. (NOT When I wrote my letters, I did some gardening.)
When he had cleaned the windows, he stopped for a cup of tea. (NOT When he cleaned the windows, he stopped for a cup of tea.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 424.
67. Don’t use can to talk about the chance that something will happen.
It may/might/could rain this evening. (NOT It can rain this evening.)
I think Jane may/might/could come tomorrow. (NOT I think Jane can come tomorrow.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 345.
68. Don’t use an infinitive after think.
I’m thinking of changing my job. (NOT I’m thinking to change my job.)
Are you thinking of going home this weekend? (NOT Are you thinking to go home this weekend?)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 588.
69. Use a singular noun after every.
I play tennis every Wednesday. (NOT I play tennis every Wednesdays.)
He wrote to every child in the village. (NOT He wrote to every children …)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 193.
70. When you say what somebody’s job is, use a/an.
My sister is a photographer. (NOT My sister is photographer.)
I’m studying to be an engineer. (NOT I’m studying to be engineer.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 62.
71. Use at last, not finally, as an exclamation.
At last! Where have you been? (NOT Finally! Where have you been?)
She’s written to me. At last!
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 204.
72. Get can mean ‘become’, but not before nouns.
It’s getting cold.
It’s getting to be winter.
(BUT NOT It’s getting winter.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 223.
73. Don’t use negative questions in polite requests or enquiries.
Could you help me, please? (NOT Couldn’t you help me, please?)
You haven’t seen John, have you? (NOT Haven’t you seen John?)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 368.
74. One negative word is usually enough.
She looked, but she didn’t see anything. (NOT She looked, but she didn’t see nothing.)
I have never heard of him. (NOT I haven’t never heard of him.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 370.
75. Much and many are unusual in affirmative sentences (except in a very formal style).
He has a lot / plenty of money. (NOT He has much money.)
My father has travelled to lots of countries. (More natural than My father has travelled to many countries.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 357.
76. Don’t use since to talk about the future.
I’ll be home from three o’clock. (NOT I’ll be home since three o’clock.)
The shop will be closed for two weeks from Monday. (NOT The shop will be closed for two weeks since Monday.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 308.
77. Singular fraction + plural noun: use a plural verb.
A third of the students are from abroad. (NOT A third of the students is from abroad.)
A quarter of the trees have been cut down.
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 389.
78. You listen to something.
She never listens to me. (NOT She never listens me.)
Listen to this! (NOT Listen this!)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 449.
79. Don’t use the past progressive for past habits.
When I was 20 I smoked / I used to smoke. (NOT When I was 20 I was smoking.)
I played / I used to play a lot of football at school. (NOT I was playing a lot of football at school.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 422.
80. Don’t use most of directly before a noun.
Most of these people agree with me.
Most people agree with me. (BUT NOT Most of people agree with me.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 356.
81. In ‘unreal’ conditions with if, use would, not will.
If I knew the price, I would tell you. (NOT If I knew the price, I will tell you.)
It would be better if he told the truth. (NOT It will be better if he told the truth.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 258.
82. Don’t use later with an expression of time to talk about the future.
I’ll see you later.
I’ll see you in a few days.
(BUT NOT I’ll see you a few days later.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 315.
83. Don’t use in case to mean ‘if’.
Compare:
I’ll take an umbrella in case it rains. (= ‘… because it might rain.’)
I’ll open the umbrella if it rains. (NOT I’ll open the umbrella in case it rains.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 271.
84. Use so before an adjective, but not before adjective + noun.
I love this country – it’s so beautiful. (NOT I love this so beautiful country.)
Thanks for your help. That was so kind of you. (NOT Thanks for your so kind help.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 538.
85. Only use unless to mean ‘except if’.
Compare:
I’ll see you tomorrow unless I have to work.
I’ll be really upset if I don’t pass the exam. (NOT I’ll be really upset unless I pass the exam.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 601.
86. Use be with adjectives, not have with nouns, to talk about physical sensations like cold, hunger, thirst etc.
I am thirsty. (NOT I have thirst.)
We are cold in this house. (NOT We have cold in this house.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 92.
87. Don’t use to-infinitives after can, could, will, would, may, might, shall, should or must.
I can swim. (NOT I can to swim.)
Must you make so much noise? (NOT Must you to make so much noise?)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 353.
88. Use not, not no, to make sentences negative.
I’m not asleep. (NOT I’m no asleep.)
We are open on Saturdays, but not on Sundays. (NOT … but no on Sundays.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 382.
89. We don’t usually use present tenses after past reporting verbs.
She told me she had a headache. (NOT She told me she has a headache.)
I asked him what he wanted. (NOT | asked him what he wants.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 275.
90. Use to after married, engaged.
He’s married to a doctor. (NOT He’s married with a doctor.)
My sister is engaged to a computer engineer. (NOT My sister is engaged with a computer engineer.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 449.
91. Use which, not what, to refer back to a whole sentence.
She passed her exam, which surprised everybody. (NOT She passed her exam, what surprised everybody.)
My father has just climbed Mont Blanc, which is pretty good for a man of 75. (NOT … what is pretty good for a man of 75.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 494.
92. Don’t use the with society when it has a general meaning.
We all have to live in society. (NOT We all have to live in the society.)
Rousseau said that society makes people evil. (NOT Rousseau said that the society makes people evil.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 68.
93. Use a to-infinitive after want.
I want to go home. (NOT I want go home.)
The children want to stay up late. (NOT The children want stay up late.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 613.
94. Use make, not do, with mistake.
I have made a mistake. (NOT I have done a mistake.)
You can’t speak a language without making mistakes. (NOT … without doing mistakes.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 160.
95. Don’t repeat a relative pronoun with another pronoun.
There’s the man that I work for. (NOT There’s the man that I work for him.)
She saw a doctor who sent her to hospital. (NOT She saw a doctor who he sent her to hospital.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 494.
96. After a superlative, use in with a place expression.
Which is the biggest city in the world? (NOT Which is the biggest city of the world?)
This is the best restaurant in the city. (NOT This is the best restaurant of the city.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 139.
97. You explain and suggest something to somebody.
Please explain to me what you want. (NOT Please explain me what you want.)
Can you suggest a good restaurant to us? (NOT Can you suggest us a good restaurant?)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition sections 198 and 570.
98. Work is an uncountable noun.
I’m looking for work. (NOT I’m looking for a work.)
My brother has found a new job. (NOT My brother has found a new work.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 148.
99. Be careful of the word order in negative infinitives.
It’s important not to work too hard. (NOT It’s important to not work too hard.)
I asked her not to make so much noise.
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 280.
100. Possessives replace articles.
We stayed in John’s house at the weekend. (NOT We stayed in the John’s house at the weekend.)
She’s been studying Britain’s foreign policy since 1980. (NOT She’s been studying the Britain’s foreign policy since 1980.)
For more details, see Practical English Usage 3rd Edition section 70.
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