Typical mistakes of German speakers. Learn English with Free English Study Pages from The Language Project UK

1. I have to say, that I'm interested in your idea. Tell me more.

1. I have to say that I'm interested in your idea. Tell me more.
There is no comma in the contruction "I have to say that...".

2. A month ago I've finished my studies at university. Now I want a job

2. A month ago I finished my studies at university.
"A month ago" puts this sentence into past time so we use the simple past tense.

3. You need a little bit money to enjoy yourself in a city like this.

3. You need a little bit of money to enjoy yourself in a city like this.
We need "of" to connect "a little bit" and "money".

4. I've got three brothers and sisters which are all younger than me.

4. I've got three brothers and sisters who are all younger than me.
Use the relative pronoun "who" to talk about people and "which" for things.

5. I'd like to be an actor, but I've got no experience to do that.

5. I'd like to be an actor but I've got no experience.
The word "experience" does not extra information. It is understood from the sentence.

6. My mther enjoys to sing in the bath. It can be embarrassing.

6. My mother enjoys singing in the bath. It can be embarrassing.
After enjoy we need the -ing form of the verb.

7. If you live in the country you need an own car to get around.

7. If you live in the country you need your own car to get around.
The determiner (or pronoun) "own" comes after a possessive adjective.

8. I think it's good if you can live in an other country for a time.

8. I think it's good if you can live in another country for a time.
In English, "another" is one word.

9. We always think about the future, but what's about the past?

9. We always think about the future but what about the past?
"What about" is a fixed expression without the verb be.

10. That suit is in the sale. Do you know how much it cost?

10. That suit is in the sale. Do you know how much it costs .
"Cost" is the past tense but we need the present tense "costs" for this sentence.

11. I'd love to come but I'm afraid that just won't be possible this time.

11. Correct.

12. Last year I made a course in Greek history.

12. Last year I did / took a course in Greek history.
Use "do" or "take" with the noun "a course".

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Typical Mistakes For German Speakers

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This page is to help English students from Germany or if your first language is German. In the past many German students have come to our school to learn English. These are some of their errors. Look through these sentences. Eleven of them contain typical mistakes that German learners make when they speak or write English. One of the sentences is correct. The mistakes are in grammar, vocabulary, spelling and logic. Some sentences have many mistakes and some sentences have only one error.
Try to find the mistakes in each sentence. Click the "Check" button to see the correct sentence and explanation. Please note: this page uses Java Script to display and hide the answers. If your browser doesn't have Java Script or if you have Java Script turned off on your browser, you will not be able to use this page.