Glossary and lists

Common English mistakes Spanish speakers make

Grammar errors that come from Spanish, and pronunciation habits, with a fix for each.

Grammar and wording

Common mistakes
Common error	Natural	Why
I have 30 years.	I am 30 years old.	In English, age uses be, not have.
Is raining.	It is raining.	The subject it is required.
I depend of my boss.	I depend on my boss.	Depend takes on.
Explain me the plan.	Explain the plan to me.	Explain needs to before the person.
I am agree.	I agree.	Agree is a verb, it does not take be.
I made a photo.	I took a photo.	Photos are taken: take a photo.
I live here since 2020.	I have lived here since 2020.	Since needs the present perfect.
The people is nice.	The people are nice.	People is plural.
He said me that it was late.	He told me that it was late.	Tell takes a person, say does not.
I want that you come.	I want you to come.	Want + person + to + verb.
I went to home.	I went home.	Home does not take to.
Can you make me a favor?	Can you do me a favor?	A favor is done with do.
I have a doubt.	I have a question.	Doubt means not being sure. For tengo una duda, use question.
I am boring.	I am bored.	Boring describes what causes it. Bored is how you feel.
Informations and advices.	Information and advice.	They have no plural.
More better.	Better.	Better is already a comparative.

Pronunciation habits
Word	Habit	Say	Tip
school	Adding an e before: eschool	skool	Start with s. No vowel before it.
think	Saying t or f	thingk	Tongue between the teeth, then blow.
very	Saying b	veri	Top teeth touch the lip. Feel the buzz.
worked	Saying ed	workt	After k, ed is a quick t.
wanted	Skipping ed	wontid	After t or d, ed is an extra syllable.
ship	Saying sheep	ship	Short and relaxed. Do not stretch it.
comfortable	Four syllables	KUMF-ter-bul	Three syllables. Stress the first.
yes	Saying shes (Rioplatense)	yes	Start with the glide of ee, then the vowel. No sh.
you	Saying shu (Rioplatense)	yoo	Start with the glide of ee, then oo.
yellow	Saying shello (Rioplatense)	yellow	Glide of ee first. Keep it apart from sh.

In Rioplatense Spanish, y and ll sound like sh. In English, y at the start of a word is a soft glide, so yes is not shes.

Error correction: gap fill and key word transformation

Complete each sentence with the natural English. In the last two, use the word in capitals and write two to five words.

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Book a trial class. She writes back with times in Buenos Aires time.