COMMON VOCABULARY MISTAKES

Part I

1. I am very ________ about going to Mexico.

excited
exciting
excitable

2. One of my teeth is ________.

lose
loose
loss

3. I always get ________ when I have to speak in front of a large crowd.

embarrassed
ashamed
shame

4. I am an ________ person. I don't like to rely on others.

independence
independent
dependent

5. This news might ________ the outcome of the election.

inflict
effect
affect

6. I was very ________, but I pretended that I was interested.

boredom
boring
bored

7. Can you ________ me one of your pens?

lend
borrowed
borrow

8. James had ________ with his friend today.

the lunch
lunch
on lunch

9. My brother ________ know how to ski.

not
don't
doesn't
10. ________ Polish people eat meat.
Most
Almost
The most

Part II

1. This is such an ________ time for me.

exciting
excited
excitable

2. I'd rather ________ a book than surfing the web.

reading
be reading
read

3. She is very rich. She has ________ money.

a lot of
much
lots

4. Sorry, I can't visit you on Saturday. ________ dinner with some friends.
I'll have
I have
I'm having

5. One of my two sisters is coming to visit tomorrow. ________ is staying at home.

Another one
The other one
Other one

6. P1: What language do you speak at home? P2: I ________ Korean at home.
am speaking
do speak
speak

7. When did she get married ________ him?

to
with
on

8. I'm reading ________.

the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
a Los Angeles Times

9. Why ________ tell me?

 you not
didn't you
you didn't

10. You must ________ the book that you borrowed from the library.
return back
return again
return

Part III

This exercise will help you eliminate some of the common mistakes made by people who
study English as a second language. For each of the questions below, choose the most
natural-sounding option:

1. Which sentence sounds more natural?

The flight to Bangkok takes 12 hours.
The flight to Bangkok lasts 12 hours.

2. Which sentence is correct?

This movie takes 3 hours.
This movie lasts 3 hours.

3. Which sentence sounds more natural?

I will come for you at 7.
I'll pick you up at 7.

4. Which sentence is correct?

Atlanta is not as big as New York City.
Atlanta is not so big as New York City.

5. Which sentence is correct?

My bank is near the park.
My bank is nearby the park.

6. Which sentence is correct?

I like looking at films.
I like watching films.

7. Which is better?
My boyfriend is very handsome.
My boyfriend is very pretty.

8. Which sentence is correct?

I am born in Taipei.
I was born in Taipei.

9. Which sentence is correct?

 We're making a party this Saturday.
We're having a party this Saturday.

10. Which sentence is correct?

We talked about a lot of topics.
We discussed about a lot of topics.