Linking Immigrants

To New Communities

March 20th: Beginners

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Linking Immigrants to New Communities

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Overview

1. Wrong order for questions

Asking Questions requires changing the order of questions!

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1. Start with a question word – These words help ask for specific information.
• Example: What, Where, How, etc.
2. Use an auxiliary verb – This is a helping verb that helps form the question. NOT MAIN VERB
• Examples: do, does, did, is, are, was, etc.
3. Follow with the subject – This is the person or thing the sentence is about.
• Examples: he, she, it, they, we, you.
4. End with the main verb – This is the action of the sentence, usually in its base form (without -s, -ed, or -ing).

Incorrect: You like pizza?� Correct: Do you like pizza?�

Incorrect: She is coming to the meeting?� Correct: Is she coming to the meeting?�

Incorrect: Why you are late?� Correct: Why are you late?�

Incorrect: Where he went?� Correct: Where did he go?�

Incorrect: What she wants for dinner?� Correct: What does she want for dinner?�

Incorrect: When we can meet?� Correct: When can we meet?�

Incorrect: How you do that?� Correct: How do you do that?

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2. Subject-verb Agreement

Subject and verb must match

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Subject-verb agreement means that the verb must match the subject in number:

• Singular subjects take singular verbs (often with -s or -es at the end).
• Plural subjects take plural verbs (without -s at the end).

Basic Rules:

1. Singular subject → Singular verb
• He/She/It likes ice cream.
• The dog barks at night.

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• Plural subject → Plural verb
• They like ice cream.
• The dogs bark at night.

Common Mistakes & Fixes:

1. Incorrect: She go to school.� Correct: She goes to school.� (“She” is singular, so we add -es to the verb “go.”)�
2. Incorrect: My friends likes football.� Correct: My friends like football.� (“Friends” is plural, so we don’t add -s to the verb.)�
3. Incorrect: He have a car.� Correct: He has a car.� (“He” is singular, so “have” changes to “has.”)

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Singular = One person, place, or thing.�Example: dog, apple, she, he

Plural = More than one person, place, or thing.

Example: dogs, apples, they, we

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3. Misuse of Articles

Subject and verb must match

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Articles (a, an, the) help us specify whether we are talking about something general or specific.

1. Indefinite Articles: "a" and "an." Used for something non-specific or general.
• Use "a" before words that start with a consonant sound.
• Example: a book, a car, a dog
• Use "an" before words that start with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u).
• Example: an apple, an elephant, an hour (Note: "hour" starts with a vowel sound even though "h" is a consonant.)

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• Definite Article: "the"
• Use "the" when talking about a specific or already known thing.
• Example: I saw the sun today. (There is only one sun, so we use "the.")
• Example: She found the book she lost. (A specific book that was already mentioned or known.)

Incorrect: I saw a bird in the park.� Correct: I saw a bird in the park. (Not referring to any specific bird.)

Incorrect: She is a university student.� Correct: She is a university student. ("University" starts with a "yoo" sound, so use "a.")

Incorrect: He bought a orange.� Correct: He bought an orange. ("Orange" starts with a vowel sound, so use "an.")

(Harder) examples

Incorrect: We went to a beach we always visit.� Correct: We went to the beach we always visit. (It's a specific beach that you know.)

Incorrect: She is a best player on the team.� Correct: She is the best player on the team. (Superlatives like "best" always take "the.")

4. Countable/Uncountable Mixups

Examples

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1. Countable Nouns
1. These are nouns that can be counted (1, 2, 3, etc.).
2. They have both singular and plural forms.
3. Can be used with a/an (for singular) and many, few, some, or a number of (for plural).

🔹Examples of Countable Nouns:

• Singular: a book, an apple, a chair
• Plural: books, apples, chairs

2. Uncountable Nouns

• These nouns cannot be counted individually.
• They usually refer to substances, concepts, or categories.
• They do not have a plural form.
• Cannot use a/an but can use some, much, little, or a lot of instead.

🔹Examples of Uncountable Nouns:

• Substances: water, milk, rice, sugar
• Concepts: advice, knowledge, happiness, information
• Categories: furniture, luggage, homework, equipment

❌ Incorrect: I need a advices about my studies.

✅ Correct: I need some advice about my studies. (Advice is uncountable.)

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❌ Incorrect: I saw a birds in the tree.

✅ Correct: I saw a bird in the tree. (Use "a" for singular countable nouns.)

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❌ Incorrect: She gave me a great news.

✅ Correct: She gave me great news. (News is uncountable, so no "a.")

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❌ Incorrect: She needs a new furnitures for her apartment.

✅ Correct: She needs new furniture for her apartment.

(Furniture is uncountable, no "s.")

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(Hard)

❌ Incorrect: We saw a deers in the forest.

✅ Correct: We saw deer in the forest.

(“Deer” is the same in singular and plural.)

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❌ Incorrect: She has less pencils than me.

✅ Correct: She has fewer pencils than me.

(Use "fewer" with countable nouns, “less” with uncountable nouns))

5. Wrong Proposition

Examples

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Prepositions are small words (like "at," "in," "on," "by") that show relationships between words in a sentence. They help describe time, place, and method. Using the wrong preposition can change the meaning or make a sentence sound unnatural.

1. Prepositions of Time (When?)
1. "At" → for exact times (at 3 PM)
2. "In" → for months, years, or long periods (in July, in 2020)
3. "On" → for specific days and dates (on Monday, on January 1st)

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• Prepositions of Place (Where?)
• "At" → for a specific spot (at the bus stop)
• "In" → for inside a space (in the room, in a car)
• "On" → for surfaces (on the table, on the floor)

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• Prepositions of Method (How?)
• "By" → for travel or means (by car, by plane)
• "With" → for tools or objects (with a pen, with a spoon)

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Incorrect: I will meet you on 3 PM.� Correct: I will meet you at 3 PM.� (Use "at" for exact times.)

Incorrect: She is sitting at the car.� Correct: She is sitting in the car.� (Use "in" for enclosed spaces.)

Incorrect: The keys are at the table.� Correct: The keys are on the table.� (Use "on" for surfaces.)

(Hard)

Incorrect: We went to the party in Saturday.� Correct: We went to the party on Saturday.� (Use "on" for days of the week.)

Incorrect: He travels at bike to work.� Correct: He travels by bike to work.� (Use "by" to describe transportation method.)

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Test

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Common English Mistakes Test

Instructions: Choose the correct sentence for each question. Circle the correct answer.

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1. Wrong Order for Questions�A) You are going to the store?�B) Are you going to the store?

2. Subject-Verb Agreement�A) She go to school every day.�B) She goes to school every day.

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3. Misuse of Articles�A) He adopted a cat from shelter.�B) He adopted a cat from the shelter.

4. Countable/Uncountable Mixups�A) I need many informations before I decide.�B) I need a lot of information before I decide.

5. Wrong Preposition Usage�A) We will meet on 5 PM.�B) We will meet at 5 PM.

Bonus: Rewrite these incorrect sentences correctly.

1. I saw the dog in park.
2. He travel at bus to school.

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Answers

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1. Wrong Order for Questions�
• Incorrect: You are going to the store?
• Correct: Are you going to the store?
• Explanation: In English, yes/no questions follow the auxiliary verb + subject + main verb structure. "Are" should come before "you" to form a proper question.
2. Subject-Verb Agreement�
• Incorrect: She go to school every day.
• Correct: She goes to school every day.
• Explanation: The subject "she" is singular, so the verb "go" needs an -es ending to match the singular subject.
3. Misuse of Articles�
• Incorrect: He adopted a cat from shelter.
• Correct: He adopted a cat from the shelter.
• Explanation: "Shelter" is a specific place in this context, so we use "the" instead of leaving the article out.

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• Countable/Uncountable Mixups�
1. Incorrect: I need many informations before I decide.
2. Correct: I need a lot of information before I decide.
3. Explanation: "Information" is an uncountable noun, so we don’t use "many." Instead, we use "a lot of" or "some."
• Wrong Preposition Usage�
• Incorrect: We will meet on 5 PM.
• Correct: We will meet at 5 PM.
• Explanation: "At" is used for exact times, like "at 3 PM" or "at midnight." "On" is used for dates and days (e.g., "on Monday").

Bonus Answers:

1. Incorrect: I saw the dog in park.�
• Correct: I saw the dog in the park.
• Explanation: "Park" is a specific place, so we need "the" before it.
2. Incorrect: He travel at bus to school.�
• Correct: He travels by bus to school.
• Explanation: "By" is the correct preposition to describe a mode of transportation (e.g., "by car," "by plane").

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LINKING IMMIGRANTS TO NEW COMMUNITIES

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