OVERCOMING GRAMMATICAL STUMBLING BLOCKS IN ENGLISH (N°3)

Pitfalls to avoid when mastering English grammar (N°3)

- At the moment means at the time of speaking (= at the present time, here and now, forthwith)  

- In the moment means engaging fully in the present, regardless of what happened in the past and not thinking about what will happen in the future 

- I'm experienced (= I have long standing knowledge about something) not: I'm experimented. But you can say I experimented something or I experimented with somebody (= you tried something in an attempt to find out what it was like)

- In a moment means in a short time, very soon

- In point of fact, there's a marked difference between experience and experiment: experience focuses on someone's previous activity in an area or something that happens to us (= I gained valuable experience working in a team); whereas experiment focuses on something we do in order to see the results (= I would like to experiment with a new fragrance)

- What are you doing that for? = Why are you doing that?

- At the University of Paris = at Paris University

- A 40-year-old  not: a 40-years-old; but we say he is 40 years old

- Two 40-year-old men = two men aged 40 = two men in their forties

- I took a four-hour English course not: I took a four-hours English course

- In compliance with not: in compliance to

- According to the rules not: according the rules

- In accordance with the rules not: in accordance to the rules

- On the contrary not: at the contrary

- I'll cross that bridge when I come to it (= don't worry about a possible problem until it actually happens) not: I'll cross that bridge when I will come to it

- She has gone to Leffrinckoucke (very beautiful little town in the North of France) and will be back at the end of the week not: she has been to Leffrinckoucke = she is still there

- She has been to Leffrinckoucke and she is back with us today = she is back

- The United States wants to strengthen its military arsenal in Africa not: the United States want to strengthen

- At the same time not: in the same time

- Actually   = In actual fact / In point of fact / In fact / In reality / As a matter of fact / Indeed

- Currently = Presently / At present / For the time being / Right now

- I'm working on a project this year not: I work on a project this year

- I arrived in Lille not: I arrived to Lille (there's no more movement because we have reached our destination hence the use of in instead of to)

- The right solution is to postpone our investment until next month because the stock market is bearish not: the good solution is to postpone until next month …

- Even if the two terms refer to a moral evaluation in the main, there is a difference between right and good actually: right represents something that is compulsory, something that we can't dodge (= she is the right applicant for the sales position), unlike good which represents something that is worth doing or having (= he is a good person on whom we can count)

- She has the same tastes as me not: she has the same tastes that or than me

- Compared to not: compared at

- If need be not: if need is

- I'm teaching English this week at the university (= sharing skills with others) 

- My students are learning English this month (= acquiring skills from me)

- I forgot to do it = something you need to do and you forgot to do

- I forgot doing it = you did something but you have no memory that you did it

- I'll remember to do it = something you need to do and you remember to do

- I remember doing it = you remember something you have done

- I'll stop to speak to him = stop doing something to do something else

- I'll stop speaking to him = action or event that is no longer continuing