Any Denglish in your English?

Let’s be honest, sometimes English can be confusing.  Sometimes when learning English it is easy to mix up words or be unsure when to use them.

I often hear German speakers who are learning English make mistakes with the words ‘look at’ and ‘watch’.

 

Take a look at the examples below.  Hopefully they will make things clearer for you.

 

To look at is a verb.  When we look at someone or something we are interested in the appearance (or the look) of that thing or person.  We usually use this with things that are static.

 

E.g.  Look at this diagram for further details.

He went to the museum to look at the exhibition of modern art.

Look at him.  What is he wearing?!

 

To watch is a verb.  When we watch someone or something we want to see how things develop or change.  We are interested in what happens.  We usually use it with things that move or change state.

 

E.g.  He watches television most evenings.

I enjoy watching live sport.

Let’s watch this short film and then I will take any questions.

 

Have fun learning English!

Louise

Let’s be honest, sometimes English can be confusing.  Sometimes when learning English it is easy to mix up words or be unsure when to use them.

I often hear German speakers who are learning English make mistakes with the words ‘lay down’ and ‘lie down’.

Take a look at the examples below.  Hopefully they will make things clearer for you.

 

To lay down has different meanings.

 

If you lay down your weapons, you stop fighting.

E.g.  The soldiers laid down their weapons and surrendered.

 

If you lay something down you establish rules, laws or instructions or the way in which something should be done officially.

E.g.  The rule book lays down what should happen in such a situation.

We should lay down some ground rules before we start.

Please adhere to the rules as laid down by our administrator.

 

To lie down means to move to a position where your body is flat.

E.g.  If you are tired, lie down and get some rest.

 

Have fun learning English!

Louise

Let’s be honest, sometimes English can be confusing.  Sometimes when learning English it is easy to mix up words or be unsure when to use them.

 

I often hear German speakers who are learning English make mistakes with the words ‘break’ and ‘brake’.  These words have the same sound but a different spelling.

 

Take a look at the examples below.  Hopefully they will make things clearer for you.

 

To break is a verb (break, broke, broken) and it means to separate or split a whole thing into several parts.

E.g.  When I dropped the plate it broke into several pieces.

 

Break can also be a noun and refers to the act or action of breaking.

E.g.  We’ve been working hard all morning.  Shall we take a break?

 

To brake is verb and is used to describe the action of stopping or slowing something down.

E.g.  When approaching a red light you should brake gradually.

 

Brake as a nouns refers to the mechanism used to stop or slow something down.

When the horse ran into the road she hit the brakes hard.

 

Have fun learning English!

Louise

Let’s be honest, sometimes English can be confusing.  Sometimes when learning English it is easy to mix up words or be unsure when to use them.

 

I often hear German speakers who are learning English make mistakes with the words ‘much’ and ‘many’.

Take a look at the examples below.  Hopefully they will make things clearer for you.

 

Remember in English we differentiate between countable and uncountable nouns.

Many is used with countable nouns.  Much is used with uncountable nouns.

 

E.g.  How much money do you have?  (Money is uncountable.)

How many Euros do you have?  (Euros are countable.)

 

How much work does he have today?  (Work is uncountable.)

How many tasks does he have today?  (Tasks are countable.)

 

How much time does she have to work on the project?  (Time is uncountable.)

How many hours / days / weeks / months does she have to work on the project?  (Hours, days, weeks and months are all countable.)

 

Have fun learning English!

Louise