Improve your English with this guide to grammar mistakes

In English Teaching, L1 means our first language (e.g. Indonesian) and L2 means our second language (e.g. English). When we try to learn a second language (L2), sometimes the rules from our L1 cause us to make mistakes. 

Our expert teachers have extensive experience working with Bahasa learners. This means we have a good idea of what mistakes you will probably make, and can help you improve your English by avoiding these common errors. 

Mistake: Due to I am busy, so I can’t meet you tomorrow.

Correction: 
Formal English: Due to my heavy schedule, I will be unable to join the meeting tomorrow
OR in every day English: Sorry, I’m busy tomorrow so I can’t meet you tomorrow

Explanation:
If we use due to to mean because, it tends to be in a more formal situation. 
Use due to as follows: Due to + noun + result

Mistake: I love to swimming

Correction: I love to swim OR I love swimming

Explanation:
Some stative verbs like love, like and hate can be followed by the infinitive (to+verb) or the gerund (verb + ing). So, in the example above, you could use to swim OR swimming, but you can't use both the infinitive AND the gerund.

Mistake: Today’s lesson was great because teacher was very funny

Correction: Today’s lesson was great because the teacher was very funny

Explanation:
The is called the definite article. We use it with some nouns when we want to show that we are talking about one noun in particular. For example, The teacher = the teacher who taught me, but a teacher = any teacher.

Mistake: How about go to see a movie?

Correction: How about going to see a movie?

Explanation:
When we use 'How about' to make suggestions, we use the gerund (verb+ing). E.g. 'How about going…' 'How about doing…' 'How about playing…'

Mistake: Oh yes, I agree you.

Correction: Oh yes, I agree with you.

Explanation:
Agree can be used as a transitive verb (T = followed by an object) or an intransitive verb (I = not followed by an object). When used as a transitive verb, we need to use with.

Mistake: I very like this song.

Correction: I really like this song.

Explanation: 
We can use very to modify an adjective (e.g. very good), but we can’t use very to modify a verb (very like, very want). However, we can use really to modify verbs.

Mistake: That’s a good advice

Correction: That’s good advice OR That’s a good piece of advice 

Explanation:
Advice is an uncountable noun, so we can’t use the indefinite article a. We can just say advice, or, we can add a countable noun before it piece = a piece of advice. 

Mistake: I suggest you to ask him.

Correction: I suggest you ask him/ I suggest that you ask him/ I suggest asking him.

Explanation:
Suggest is a transitive verb (T = followed by an object). it can be followed like this: 
suggest + that + pronoun + verb –I suggest that you ask… 
suggest +  pronoun + verb – I suggest you ask…
suggest +  verb – ing – I suggest asking
However, we do not use the infinitive form of the verb (to + verb).

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