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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