Is English Your Second Language?

​English is a challenging language to learn and get right, even for native speakers who grow up hearing it from birth.  It must be a minefield for anyone who learns it as an adult.  I take my hat off to anyone who even attempts to learn English as a second language and am in awe of anyone who manages to reach a level of proficiency in speaking, reading and writing it.   

I have had the pleasure of working with many clients who have an amazing command of English but who still trip up on certain aspects.  More often than not they are the usual culprits. 
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Five Common Errors

​1. Articles

There are three articles in English.
One definite - the.  The is used when referring to something specific.
Two indefinite – a and an.  A and an are used when referring to something in general. 

These are three of the smallest words in the English language, yet they create some of the biggest problems for ESL writers who routinely use the wrong article, or omit them entirely. 

a is used before a word beginning with a consonant - a car, a star, a tree.
an is used before a word beginning with a vowel - an eagle, an orange, an eye.

the is used before singular or plural nouns and adjectives when referring to something specific that the author and reader are both aware of - the book, the chair, the horse.

Example: 

 I want to ride the horse you rode yesterday. (A specific horse we both know of.)
 I want to ride a horse tomorrow. (Any horse, we don't know which one.)

Note:  You should use an before a word starting with the consonant h if the h is silent.
e.g. an hour, an honour

You should use a before a word starting with the consonant h if the h is pronounced. 
e.g. a hotel, a hospital, a horse.

Never say or write an hotel, an hospital, an horse.  Never!
To be fair, many native English speakers make this mistake. 

Incorrect: an hotel
​Correct: a hotel

2. Prepositions

Not using prepositions is common with native speakers of the Romance languages such as Spanish or French.  This is because their prepositions are often built into their verbs. They also often use the incorrect preposition.

Incorrect: When I arrived to the birthday party, the cake was all gone.
​Correct: When I arrived at the birthday party, the cake was all gone. 

Incorrect: I want know how I can get London. 
​Correct: I want to know how I can get into London.

3. Verb Tenses 

Getting verb tenses right can be tricky. Getting them wrong can change the meaning of a sentence. 

Incorrect: I walk my dog to my friend's house yesterday. 
​Correct: I walked my dog to my friend's house yesterday. 

Incorrect: I eat my Easter egg yesterday.
Correct:  I ate my Easter egg yesterday. 

​4. Homophones 

Homophones are those pesky words that are pronounced the same when spoken, but are spelt differently when written, and have completely different meanings. 
Annoying - I know!

Incorrect: The bridesmaids all had a flour in their hair. (Surely not - unless it's Halloween.)
​Correct: The bridesmaids all had a flower in their hair.  (That's better - much prettier.)
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5. Subject-Verb agreement

In English, the subject and verb must agree.  They must either both be singular, or both be plural.

Incorrect: The dogs next door is barking. (dogs - plural / is - singular)
Correct: The dog next door is barking. (dog - singular / is - singular)
​Correct: The dogs next door are barking. (dogs - plural / are - plural)
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 So, if you're an ESL writer, get in touch, and let's work together to perfect your English.