Correcting common grammar mistakes
1. Warm-up discussion
Discuss these questions:
- What common grammar mistakes do you often hear or make in English?
- How important do you think correct grammar is when communicating?
- Have you ever been corrected on your grammar in an embarrassing situation?
2. Listening: Grammar Mistakes in Conversation
Watch the video and fill in the gaps with the exact words you hear, paying attention to the grammar points being discussed.
Full Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4vf8N6GpdM
1. "no no I I assure you there haven't been Jews in this Village"
2. "you see very important to the Nazi party."
3. "me and her surely you meant to say she and ."
4. "did you just end a sentence with a ?"
5. "I wouldn't recognize a ."
3. Key vocabulary from the video
Drag the terms from the word bank to match them with their correct definitions.
4. Grammar focus: Subject and Object Pronouns
In English, pronouns change form depending on whether they are performing the action (subject) or receiving the action (object). This is called pronoun case. It's a common area for mistakes, as highlighted in the video with "me and her" versus "she and I".
Subject Pronouns: I, you, he, she, it, we, they (used when the pronoun is the subject of a verb)
Object Pronouns: me, you, him, her, it, us, them (used when the pronoun is the object of a verb or a preposition)
Example: "She and I went to the market." (NOT "Her and me went...")
Example: "He gave the milk to her and me." (NOT "to she and I.")
Choose the correct pronoun:
1. My friend and _______ went to the cinema.
2. She gave the book to John and _______.
3. Between you and _______, I think she's wrong.
4. The teacher asked _______ to present our project.
5. _______ and my sister are planning a trip.
5. Practice with idioms
Colors are often used in idioms to describe feelings and situations. Complete the sentences using the idioms below.
2. When he saw the scratch on his new car, he started to .
3. She's been ever since she heard the sad news.
4. I was when I saw her beautiful new apartment.
6. Vocabulary in context
Use the vocabulary words from exercise 3 to complete the sentences below.
2. I was a bit by his complicated explanation.
3. I didn't her at first because she had changed so much.
4. There were opportunities for improvement.
5. In "on the table", "on" is a .
6. The word "running" in "running water" is a present .
7. Grammar Practice: Correcting Pronoun Mistakes
Rewrite the following sentences, correcting any errors related to subject and object pronouns.
(Correct)
2. (Incorrect) She gave the present to he.
(Correct)
3. (Incorrect) Between you and I, this secret is safe.
(Correct)
8. Speaking practice: What's in a grammar rule?
Discuss these questions with a partner. Use the vocabulary and phrases from this lesson.
- The video points out several common grammar errors. Which one do you find most difficult to avoid in your own English?
- Colonel Landa states that "grammar's very important to the Nazi party." In what real-life situations do you think perfect grammar is most important (e.g., job interview, academic writing), and when is it less critical (e.g., casual chat with friends)?
- If you were a "grammar enforcer" like Colonel Landa, what grammar rule would you insist on people following most strictly? Why?