51. Use whether, not if, after prepositions.
We talked aboutwhether 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 ifwe have enough time.
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 beingdecorated this week. (NOT Our flat is decorated this week.)
Your bill is just being prepared, sir. (NOT Your bill is just prepared, sir.)
53. We don’t normally use must to talk about the past.
I had to see thedentist yesterday. (NOT I must see the dentist yesterday.)
When I left school, young men had to do military service. (NOT When I leftschool, young men must do military service.)
54. When you put two nouns together, be careful to get the right order.
I like eating milkchocolate. (NOT I like eating chocolate milk.)
What’s your phone number? (NOT What’s your number phone?)
55. Use the whole of, not whole, before the name of aplace.
The whole of Pariswas celebrating. (NOT Whole Paris was celebrating.)
He knows the whole of South America very well. (NOT He knows whole SouthAmerica very well.)
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?)
57. Don’t use in front of to mean ‘facing’ or ‘opposite’.
She sat down facingme and looked into my eyes. (NOT She sat down in front of me and looked intomy eyes.)
There’s a hotel opposite our house. (NOT There’s a hotel in front of ourhouse.)
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.’)
59. People (meaning ‘persons’) is a plural word.
The people in thistown are very friendly. (NOT The people in this town is very friendly.)
Who are those people? (NOT Who is that people?)
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.)
61. With if, we normally use the present to talk about thefuture.
If I have time, I’ll phone you. (NOT If I’ll have time, I’ll phoneyou.)
I’ll be surprised if she answers my letter. (NOT I’ll be surprised ifshe’ll answer my letter.)
62. Use almost, not nearly, to say that one thing is verylike 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 stayedat home.)
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 stopto smoke.)
I’m going to stop working so hard. (NOT I’m going to stop to work sohard.)
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?)
65. We don’t often use would in subordinate clauses; instead, weuse past tenses.
Would you follow me wherever I went? (NOT Would you follow mewherever I would go?)
I would tell you if I knew. (NOT I would tell you if I would know.)
66. With when, use the past perfect to make it clear that onething finished before another started.
When I had written my letters, I did some gardening. (NOT When Iwrote my letters, I did some gardening.)
When he had cleaned the windows, he stopped for a cup of tea. (NOT Whenhe cleaned the windows, he stopped for a cup of tea.)
67. Don’t use can to talk about the chance that something willhappen.
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 cancome tomorrow.)
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 togo home this weekend?)
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 everychildren …)
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 studyingto be engineer.)
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!
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.)
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?)
74. One negative word is usually enough.
She looked, but shedidn’t see anything. (NOT She looked, but she didn’t seenothing.)
I have never heard of him. (NOT I haven’t never heard of him.)
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 fatherhas travelled to many countries.)
