Common errors by Spanish Speakers

The following list outlines some of the most common problems for Spanish speakers caused by direct translation.

To depend of something To depend on something

To spend money in something To spend money on something

To pay something To pay for something

To buy to someone To buy from someone

To work in something To work on something

To focus in something To focus on something

To know to do something To know how to do something

To be related with something To be related to something

To be committed with something To be committed to something

Near of/ from somewhere Near somewhere

Close of/from somewhere Close to somewhere

To be based in something To be based on something

To be responsible of something To be responsible for something

To be the guilty (I´m the guilty) To be one´s fault (It´s my fault)

According with someone According to someone

I must to study I must study (Never to!)

I can to swim I can swim (Never to!)

I will to go I will go (Never to!)

Tell to us Tell us (Never to!)

Ask to him Ask him (Never to!)

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 Common errors by Spanish Speakers

Call to Mary Call Mary (Never to)

I am agreed I agree

Are you agreed? Do you agree?

To explain you To explain to you (ALWAYS to someone)

To listen me To listen to me (ALWAYS to someone)

To listen it To listen to it (ALWAYS to something)

To propose them To propose to them (ALWAYS to someone)

An important problem A big problem

The best important The most important

The important is… The important thing is…

To do a purchase To make a purchase

To make a travel To make/ take a trip

To make a question To ask a question

To make business To do business

To make research To do/ carry out research

To take a drink/ meal To have a drink/ meal

To arrive to an agreement To come to/ reach an agreement

To get an objective To reach/ achieve an objective

To have sense To make sense

People is People ARE

Persons People

We are three There are three of us

Avda. de España, 133. Local 6. “Urb. Apartovillas”. 28231 Las Rozas. Madrid. Telf.: 91 638 92 80. e-mail: info@one2one-es.com. web: www.one2one-es.com
 Common errors by Spanish Speakers
Actually (=actualmente) Currently/ presently

Illusioned (=ilusionado) Hopeful/ excited

Really (=en realidad) Actually

Impressing Impressive

How curious! (=Qué curioso) That´s funny/ interesting

In a future In the future

Question (=asunto) issue/ matter

To discuss (=disputar) To argue

May I take lent your pen? May I borrow your pen?

To count a history To tell a story

To assist to class To attend class

To remember someone to do something To remind someone to do something

The competence (=competencia) The competition/ competitors

Nothing of nothing Nothing at all

Particular lessons Private lessons

To learn English is funny Learning English is fun

Customer fidelity Customer loyalty

A familiar car A family car

Tonight (=anoche) Last night

This night (=esta noche) Tonight

All the days Everyday

All the day All day (long)

Avda. de España, 133. Local 6. “Urb. Apartovillas”. 28231 Las Rozas. Madrid. Telf.: 91 638 92 80. e-mail: info@one2one-es.com. web: www.one2one-es.com
 Common errors by Spanish Speakers
During 4 years For 4 years

It´s for this reason that… That´s why…

It´s the same It doesn´t matter

The same than/ that The same as

Different that Different than

I have 21 years I am 21 years old

10% of discount A 10% discount

10 thousands of people 10 thousand people

1 thousand million (=1000 million) 1 billion (USA)

Avda. de España, 133. Local 6. “Urb. Apartovillas”. 28231 Las Rozas. Madrid. Telf.: 91 638 92 80. e-mail: info@one2one-es.com. web: www.one2one-es.com