English language is not difficult to learn. Well, at least native speakers think so... Every educator can easily find the examples of English grammar, vocabulary, or spelling that always cause troubles and problems for students who learn this language. We've tried to gather the most common of them for you to avoid. Check if you make them
Which vs. That
This is one of the most common mistakes. THAT is a restrictive pronoun, and WHICH is a relative pronoun that implies the options to use. So, WHICH defines, THAT limits
Example
I don't trust fruits and vegetables that aren't organic. = I trust ONLY organic fruits and vegetables
I eat only organic fruits and vegetables, which are available in area grocery stores. = I choose from organic fruits and vegetables in my store, and I do not need to go to a special shop for that
Who vs. Whom
WHO is a subjective pronoun along with "he", "she", "it", "we" and "they". This word is used when a pronoun acts as a subject of a sentence. WHOM applies to objective pronouns along with "him", "her", "its", "us" and "them". This word is used when a pronoun acts as an object of a sentence
Who = she, he, it, we, they
Whom = him, her, its, us, them
Envy vs. Jealousy
ENVY implies the pursuit to someone else's success. JEALOUSY has a more negative meaning, as it is a fear of competition, which is often present in personal relationship
Envy = when you want to look as good as your friend
Jealousy = your feelings when your partner admires another person
May vs. Might
MAY implies the possibility, MIGHT goes for uncertainty
Example
You may get drunk if you have two shots in ten minutes. = a real possibility of intoxication
You might get a ticket if you operate a tug boat while drunk. = a likelihood that can occur in general
Premier vs. Premiere
Premier = the first one, the most important one, the best in status
Premiere = the opening night of a movie
Example
The soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev was ecstatic and milked all the propaganda he could from the flight
Local premiere of I Love You Two draws crowds and celebrities at Brisbane's Portside Wharf including the film'
Fewer vs. Less
LESS is used for hypothetical quantities, while FEW and FEWER are used for things you can count
Example
The firm has fewer than ten employees
The firm is less successful now that we have only ten employees
Since vs. Because
SINCE refers to time, BECAUSE refers to causality
Example
Since I quit drinking I've married and had two children. = time
Because I quit drinking I no longer wake up in my own vomit. = cause of reason
Bring vs. Take
To use the words BRING and TAKE correctly, an author should know whether the object moves toward or away from the subject. If toward - use BRING, if from - use TAKE
Example
A husband says to his wife: take your clothes to the cleaners
A cleaner says to this woman: bring your clothes to the cleaners
Adverse vs Averse
These two words have different meaning: ADVERSE = unfavorable, AVERSE = reluctant
Example
AXIS Hov Housing VT protects the Axis Network Camera in outdoor and adverse indoor conditions
No wonder people are averse to doodling at work
Than vs. Then
Learners often misspell these two words, changing the meaning of a whole sentence in result. THEN is used in conditionals and subjunctives, while THAN serves as a comparative conjunction
Example
If it rains, then I prefer to stay home. (condition)
These apples are bigger than apricots (comparison)
Affect vs. Effect
To cope with this problem, a simple hint can be used: AFFECT is almost always a verb, and EFFECT is a noun
Affect = influence or create an impression
effect = result
Example
Facebook affects people's attention spans
Facebook's effects can also be positive
There are some exceptions anyway. AFFECT may be used as a noun, and EFFECT is used as a transitive verb that means "to make something" or "to happen"
Example
My new computer effected a much-needed transition from magazines to Web porn
His lack of affect made him seem like a shallow person
Some vs. Any
It's quite easy to remember the rule: SOME is used in affirmative sentences, ANY is used in interrogative and negative sentences
Example
?Do you have any books
No, I don't have any
Yes, I have some books
Insure vs. Ensure
Ensure = to guarantee, to persuade
Insure = a verb for "insurance"
Example
One of the most fundamental acts of civilization is to ensure people can get enough food
I would bet many more of you insure your iPhone
It's vs. Its
ITS is a possessive pronoun, while IT'S is a shortcut of "it is". English learners often forget using an apostrophe here, making a huge grammar mistake in result
Example
It's a great day! = It is a great day
Its day was great! = (Whose/Which) day was great
Do vs. Make
DO is often used to describe undefined actions, and MAKE is used when we speak about creating or shaping something specific
Example
?What do we do now
Let's make some noise
Say vs. Tell
TELL refers to a whole story, SAY refers to mentioning something. Plus, SAY is usually used with direct speech, and TELL - with indirect speech
Example
!Tell me everything you know about this, Mom
?What did you say
Learn vs. Teach
LEARN means the process of acquiring knowledge, and TEACH refers to transferring knowledge
Example
?I do not want to learn how to drive, can you teach me how to use bicycles instead
Excuse me vs. Sorry
The rule is very simple here: say EXCUSE ME before you do something, use SORRY after you've done something
Example
Excuse me, I'm going to kill you
I'm so sorry I've killed you ...
Farther vs. Further
FARTHER means a distance that can be measured. FURTHER refers to some abstract length that can not always be measured
Example
I threw the ball ten feet farther than Bill
The financial crisis caused further implications
Historic vs. Historical
Use HISTORIC when you speak about an important event. HISTORICAL refers to something that happened in the past
Example
!It's gonna be a historic party
So that was the phage phi X 174, which was chosen for historical reasons
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