This week, because it’s the holiday period and I’m guessing you won’t have much time for English, I’m going to present you with two kinds of common errors people make in Taiwan.
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Frequent Error Box 1: agree
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Wrong
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Right
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I agree you.
I’m agree.
I’m agree to you.
I’m not agree.
I’m not agree to you.
Are you agree?
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I agree with you.
I agree.
I agree with you.
I don’t agree.
I don’t agree with you.
Do you agree?
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Notes:
* ‘Agree’ in English is a verb.
* Don’t use ‘I am agree.’ It’s wrong.
* Don’t use ‘I am not agree.’ It’s wrong.
* Don’t use ‘Are you agree?’ It’s wrong.
* Use ‘Do you agree?’ for questions.
* Use ‘I don’t agree.’ for negatives.
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Frequent Error Box 2: talk about
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Wrong
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Right
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The article talks about the economy.
The movie talked about a fish.
The book talks about management theory.
The report talks about the Asian market.
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The article is about the economy.
The movie was about a fish.
The book is about management theory.
The report is about the Asian market.
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Notes:
* Don’t use ‘talk about’ for impersonal things. Only people can talk!
* Use ‘is about’ or ‘was about’ for impersonal things.
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