Most common English mistakes made by Dutch learners

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Test yourself 

You will see sentences that may (or may not)

 contain errors. 

Spot the mistake, if any!

They're the ones that went to Paris; their parents took them there.
-What's the mistake?-

1. They're
2. their
3. there
4. No mistakes!

 They're = they are

 Their  = possessive pronoun 

 There = location

They're / Their / There

They're (they are) the ones that went to Paris; their (possessive pronoun) parents took them there (location). 

Ik woon al twee jaar in Utrecht =
"I live in Utrecht for two years"
-What's the mistake?-

1. live
2. in
3. for
4. No mistakes!

'for' and 'since' = markers of present perfect! (extended time period)

*I live in Utrecht for two years*

Dutch tenses are used differently than English ones, even if they look similar. Beware! Whenever you have “for 3 months” or “since December” use the form “I have lived” and not “I live”

I have lived in Utrecht for two years.

English tense = present perfect 

form = have/has + voltooid deelwoord 

remember: verb+ed, unless irregular!

I am calling to inform about…

-What's the mistake?-

1. am calling
2. inform
3. about
4. No mistakes!

I am calling to inform about…

The English verb to inform doesn’t always work the same way as 'informeren' in Dutch. You can inform someone about events, but when you are looking for information about a topic, you cannot use the verb. Rather, you say "I would like to inquire about…" or "I am looking for more information about…"

We looked at many car’s.

-What's the mistake?-

1. looked
2. many
3. car's
4. No mistakes!

We looked at many car’s. 

You never use an apostrophe (‘) to make a noun plural in English. For possessive nouns (nouns showing ownership), you would use an apostrophe, for example That is my brother’s car, but NOT to say “My brother has two car’s.”

"I'm going to the pharmacy to get my medicine."
"Do you have your … ?"

1. receipt
2. prescription
3. subscription
4. recipe

Do you have your..... ?

A RECIPE you use for cooking and a SUBSCRIPTION you may have for a (digital) magazine. A RECEIPT is the paper you get when you buy something, but the paper you take to the pharmacy is a PRESCRIPTION.

I’ll be there in 10 minutes.
Sorry I’m too late.
-What's the mistake?-

1. I'll be
2. there
3. too
4. No mistakes!

Sorry I’m too late.

Don’t worry, you’re not too late, you’re just a little bit late. In English, too late would mean that you missed the event entirely. If you are just running behind schedule you are late. 

His teacher learns him English.

-What's the mistake?-

1. his
2. learns
3. him
4. No mistakes!

learn versus teach

learners try to learn - they are taught something by teachers

teachers try to teach - they teach learners something

A small percentage of these houses are new.
-What's the mistake?-

1. percentage
2. these
3. are
4. No mistakes!

subject-verb agreement

Only a small percentage IS allowed inside. (=singular)

Only small percentages ARE mentioned. (=plural)

I have seen that yesterday.

1. CORRECT
2. INCORRECT

*I have seen that yesterday.*

What should it be?

Fill in your answer in the next slide!

(n)

Yesterday, tomorrow, last week = markers of the simple past (past simple)

I ....……. that yesterday.
(n)

1. see
2. seen
3. saw
4. sawed

To play = regular verb 

(past = verb + ed)

--> play - PLAYED - played

To see = irregular verb 

(past = study the forms)

--> see - SAW - seen

While we're at it....

a few more irregular verbs

Irregular verbs

to fly - …... - …….

1. flied - flown
2. flewed - flown
3. flew - flewn
4. flew - flown

Irregular verbs

to break - ……. - …...

1. breaked - broken
2. broke - broken
3. broke - broked
4. break- break

Irregular verbs

To set - ….. - …...

1. set - set
2. setted - set
3. sat - sad
4. set - setted

Irregular verbs

To sleep - ….. - …...

1. sleeped - sleeped
2. slept - slept
3. sleeped - slept
4. slept - sleeped

Irregular verbs

To catch - ….. - …...

1. caught - caught
2. catched - caught
3. caught - catched
4. catched - catched

THE END

How did you do?

Do you make English mistakes that are typically Dutch?