English bloopers: 'She is very proudy!

'
English can be a tricky language to master. There are a number of words that sound the same but
mean different things or that are spelled differently, and it's easy to get confused.

Another problem area is when people translate sentences from Hindi to English. Sentences in English are
structured differently and a direct translation is often incorrect and can even be misleading.

To help you improve your English-speaking skills, we invited GA readers to send in bloopers they've
heard or read in their everyday lives.

Praveen Madhukar Naik, from Bangalore, sends us some examples of bloopers he has heard.

1. Order of words

WRONG: My all relatives are coming.

CORRECT: All my relatives are coming.

WRONG: She is absent always.

CORRECT: She is always absent.

WRONG: What I can do for you?

CORRECT: What can I do for you?

WRONG: Where you are going?

CORRECT: Where are you going?

WRONG: There is anything left?

CORRECT: Is there anything left?

WRONG: These all are mine.

CORRECT: All these are mine.

2. Repeating certain words for emphasis

WRONG: Morning morning jogging is a good habit.

CORRECT: Jogging early in the morning is a good habit.

WRONG: The flowers are of different different colors

CORRECT: The flowers are of many different colors.
WRONG: Small small mistakes are forgivable, not big big blunders.
CORRECT: Small mistakes are forgivable, not big blunders.

Sanjeev Bedi, a 37-year-old chartered accountant based in Ludhiana, shares some bloopers he has
come across.

1. I have given the exams.

This is one of the most common mistakes people commit. This is translated from Hindi: 'Maine exams
diye hain.'

~ The correct usage is: "I have taken the exams."

2. He was both his father as well as his mentor.

This is another very common error. When you use 'both', the 'as well as' is unnecessary or redundant.
Use either of the two.

~ He was both his father and his mentor

~ He was his father as well as his mentor.

Krishna Chandra Tripathi, a 28-year-old from Allahabad, sends in these examples.

1. She is very proudy.

The dictionary does not have a listing for the word 'proudy'. The correct usage is:

~ She is very proud. (This can be both negative and/ or positive.)

~ She is arrogant. (If intended to be used in a negative sense.)

2. Often 'advice' and 'advise' are confused and misused by people. 'Advice' is a noun, while
'advise' is a verb.

WRONG: Please advice me on the issue

RIGHT: Please advise me on the issue

WRONG: What is your advise?

RIGHT: What is your advice?

English bloopers: Those pesky prepositions

Have your friends and colleagues been giving you a hard time about your English speaking skills? Don't
fret, help is at hand!
We asked readers to send in English bloopers they've come across in their everyday life and how to avoid
them. And in response a number of you have sent in oft-heard errors that people make in written or
spoken English.

In this edition of our blooper series, Praveen Madhukar Naik, a software engineer from Bangalore, shares
some valuable advice on the correct use of prepositions and how to avoid some very common mistakes.

1. Using prepositions where not required.

WRONG: Please don't make me to do it.

CORRECT: Please don't make me do it.

WRONG: Don't let him to go.

CORRECT: Don't let him go.

WRONG: There is so much of noise in this room.

CORRECT: There is so much noise in this room.

WRONG: Let's go for shopping.

CORRECT: Let's go shopping.

WRONG: I am hungry. Please order for some food.

CORRECT: I am hungry. Please order some food.

2. Omitting prepositions where they are required.

WRONG: Please convey her my condolences.

CORRECT: Please convey my condolences to her.

WRONG: Can you drop me at Pizza Hut?

CORRECT: Can you drop me off at Pizza Hut?

3. Other instances of prepositions being used incorrectly.

~ WRONG: I have been working in this company since three years.

CORRECT: I have been working in this company for three years.

CORRECT: I have been working in this company since 2004.

When 'since' is used as a time preposition, it is used only with reference to a specific point of time (eg:
since 1995, since last Christmas, since yesterday) or with reference to a period of time that has already
elapsed (eg: since childhood, since the probation period).

~ WRONG: Please pay attention on this topic.

CORRECT: Please pay attention to this topic.

~ WRONG: I travel on bus.

WRONG: I came in bus.
CORRECT: I travel by bus.
CORRECT: I came by bus.

Mind your language: 'That person is very kiddish'

If English has you down, don't get discouraged!

The important thing is to practise every day. With time and effort, you'll soon become an English pro.

Our blooper series, observed and submitted by readers, highlights common mistakes that can easily trip
you.

So, keep reading these articles, and keep an eye out for your own bloopers and the bloopers of others.

Remember, a firm grasp of English is a valued skill for youngsters hoping to study abroad and to follow
the most sought after careers.

V D Manigandan, 27, a software engineer in London [ Images ], remembers a blooper he heard his entire
childhood.

1. That person is very kiddish; he doesn't know how to behave in the office.

Kiddish is not a word in the English dictionary. The correct word is 'childish.'

~ That person is very childish; he doesn't know how to behave in the office.

Anand Karve, 33 years, a government servant based in Pune, says that direct translations of Hindi sound
funny in English.

2. What is your good name?

3. May I know your good name?

This is a literal translation of the Hindi version, 'Aapka shub naam kya hai?' In English, we do not have
any 'bad names'.
~ What is your name?

~ May I know your name?

4. She is my real sister.

This is also the result of direct mother tongue to English translations. In English, you only call your
biological sister, 'sister'. Therefore, it's not necessary to add 'real'.

~ She is my sister.

Two words often confused with one another:

5. 'stationary' (not in motion)

~ 'stationery' (writing material)

A Matin, a 50 year old businessman in Mumbai [ Images ], has decades of bloopers under his belt. Here
are some of his best:

6. Have you catched a cold?

The past tense of the verb 'to catch' is 'caught'. English has many irregular verbs in the past tense.

~ Have you caught a cold?

7. Yes, he come yesterday.

8. He did not came yesterday.

This can be confusing. In the first example, it is necessary to use the past tense of the verb 'to come'; it is
'came'. In the second example, the 'did not' shifts the sentence to the past, and therefore, 'came' is no
longer needed. It should be:

~ Yes, he came yesterday.

~ He did not come yesterday.

Another common mistake is the inappropriate use of colour to describe people:

9. He was a black man.

The description is a direct translation of the word kaala. It should be:

~ He was dark-complexioned.

Vijay Jangam, working with Deloitte Consulting, sent this reminder: 'Making mistakes is pardonable.
Trying to sound 'hip' by deliberately talking rubbish has become a trend.'

Incorrect:
10. 'Any which ways you look at it, it's the same'.

Proper:

'Any way you look at it, it's the same' OR

'Whichever way you look at it, it's the same'."

English bloopers: 'Reply fastly!'

The Internet is a great tool, but is it hurting written English?

Continuing our series on English Bloopers documented by readers, today we look at how technology is
mangling the Queen's English! Suddenly, nearly all educated humans are making spelling errors, and
wilfully!

Blame this on heavy text messaging, chatting habits and lax Internet English standards. Nilovna Ghosh,
25, a rural development professional from Orissa, sent in this list to remind us that proper spelling still
exists:

Hai = HI
d, da, tha = THE
Ossum = AWESOME
mebbe = MAYBE
coz, cuz, bcos = BECAUSE
4m = FROM
spcl = SPECIAL
stategy = STRATEGY
gudnite = GOODNIGHT
accdg = ACCORDING
fx = EFFECTS
cncl = CANCEL
well come = WELCOME
thx = THANKS

Nilovna has also been compiling bloopers for years. Here are some of her favourites:

1. "Myself Miss Aarti Sinha."

"She cooked dinner for Tarika, Dipti and myself."
"Albert, Maria and myself went to the movies."

This one's an epidemic! More and more people academically, officially and professionally have been
using the word 'myself' instead of 'my name', 'me' and 'I'. They think it sounds 'cultured'; in reality, it
sounds foolish. The above should be:

~"My name is Miss Aarti Sinha."

~"She cooked dinner for Takirka, Dipti and me."
~"Albert, Maria and I went to the movies."

2. "Please go ahead. I am coming back of you."

"I finished the exam in front of her."

Back and front refer to direction, not length of time. Instead, use:

~ "Please go ahead. I will come after you."

~ "I finished the exam before her."

3. "Reply fastly!"

This one is rampant in chat windows and e-mail inboxes! In fact, there's no such word as 'fastly'.

~ "Reply quickly!" is the correct way of saying it.

4. "There is very much risk in this work."

"It is very much hot today."

These are sentences sound unnatural. Instead, try:

~ "There is a lot of risk involved in this work."

~ "It is very hot today."

The next one's a classic, and my all-time favourite!

5. "I am like this only."

"She is like that only."

The frequent misuse of the word 'only' in Indian English is astonishing! The above should be:

~ "This is the way I am."

~ "That is the way she is."

Sourav Shah, a 25-year-old marketing executive from Pune sent in the following English error, which we
come across rather often as well:
1. "I cannot cope up with this hectic schedule."
"I was stuck up in traffic."

'Up' should not be attached to verbs like 'cope' and 'stuck', but we Indians do it all the time!

~ "I cannot cope with this hectic schedule."

~ "I was stuck in traffic."

Nine common English bloopers

English mistakes can be humorous, annoying or both. One thing is sure, consistent bloopers will make
you seem foolish. Eventually, you may even lose confidence in speaking the language.

Therefore, it helps to practise everyday and work on improving even the smallest of gaffes.

Let's get started!

Snehal Roshan, from Mumbai [ Images ], hates seeing English used so casually and incorrectly. She
writes that she has come across these mistakes frequently:

1. I didn't knew her mother when I was young.

If it was affirmative, it would be 'I knew her mother when I was young.' In this case, the negative, past
verb 'did not' denotes the past tense, making 'knew' unneeded. It should be:

~ I didn't know her mother when I was young.

2. I prefer studying in the midnight.

3. I prefer studying at the morning.

In the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening all denote a general time. For a specific time, such as
noon and night, you must use 'at'. It should be:

~I prefer studying at midnight.

~I prefer studying in the morning.

4. I was excepting a better show.

5. No one showed up to the party, accept Dipti and Rishi.

6. Will you expect my sincere apologies?

These words are often confusing for some people: except, expect and accept. Except is to omit or leave
out. Expect is to demand or to count on. Accept means to acknowledge, admit.

~ I was expecting a better show.

~ No one showed up at the party, except Dipti and Rishi.

~ Will you accept my sincere apologies?

7. On what bases can you argue with me?

8. Where are the criminal basis in Mumbai?

Bases and basis essentially, mean the same but it is important to use the right word in the right place.
Base is a foundation (as in a building, structure). Basis is also a foundation in terms of a fundamental or
principle; it is abstract.

~ On what basis can you argue with me?

~ What are the criminal bases in Mumbai?

Nirpinder Singh, a 51-year-old teacher from Punjab [ Images ], discovered this howler on a recent
business trip. On the thermostat inside his hotel room, a sign read:

9. In case of feeling of Hot or Cold please to control yourself

This is all jumbled and makes no sense! Instead, it should be:

~ In case you find the temperature too hot or too cold, please turn the thermostat switch to the desired
setting to regulate the temperature.

English bloopers: 'I live backside of that building'

Perhaps the most difficult aspect of learning a language is changing tenses while staying grammatically
correct.

Verbs take on new forms and meanings and sentence structure is completely altered. It can be difficult to
keep track of all these variations. Thankfully, many of our readers catch these mistakes and want to help
others learn the proper format.

Today, we'll look at a few examples aof how changed verb tenses and inquisitive/ declarative statements
are easily jumbled!

And stay tuned, as every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, we'll post new editions of our
English Bloopers.

Ms Pritesh Dagur, a 26-year-old PhD student in Bangalore, sent in the following English errors:

1. 'I was wanting to learn piano for a long time.'

In the past-perfect tense, you use the past tense of the verb by itself.
In this case:
~ 'I wanted to learn piano for a long time.'

2. 'I must have done this long ago.'

'I should have made a mistake.'
'Should have' talks about an opportunity that has been missed. On the other hand, 'must have' talks about
a past event that went without notice. They should be written as follows:
~ 'I should have done this long ago.'
~ 'I must have made a mistake.'

Lakshman Raju, based in Bangalore and working with an ad agency, sent several bloopers our way:

1. 'Do you know who is she?'

In this case, the verb and the subject must switch places.
~ 'Do you know who she is?'

2. 'What nonsense you are talking?'

Though intended to be a question, the above is formed like a declaration. It should be:
~ 'Are you talking nonsense?'

3. 'I live backside of that building.'

This is a very common mistake in India [ Images ]. The sequence of words 'live backside of' is
grammatically incorrect. It should be:
~ 'I live behind that building.'

English bloopers: The girls are lying with me!

English is a language that has a lot of eccentric qualities. You have to be careful; one word can change
the whole meaning of the sentence.

In our ninth installment of English Bloopers, we highlight how many of our readers have noticed this
phenomenon. If you move a word or change a single letter, you can end up looking like a dunce!

Satyajit KC sent us the following:

1. I commonly notice pronunciation and pronounce misspelled and spoken incorrectly. The verb is
'pronounce' and the noun is 'pronunciation'.

Wrong: His pronounciation is wrong.

Correct: His pronunciation is wrong.

Wrong: How to pronunce this correctly?

Correct: How to pronounce this correctly?

This is just another example of how strange the English language is!

2. Wrong: I kindly request you to approve the leave

One does not need to be kind enough to request his or her boss for leave approval. It is his or her boss
who needs to be kind to approve the request (Though it's kind of old fashioned to make a request using
this kind of language, it still works in official lingo).

Correct: I request you to kindly approve the leave

Clement Fernando of Mumbai [ Images ], sent these bloopers that he's encountered through the years:

1. One of the professors in a college left the classroom angrily. He stormed into the principal's office.
Principal asked, 'Professor! What is the problem?'

The professor replied, 'The girls are lying with me and with you'. The principal could figure out what the
professor tried to convey but couldn't control his laughter.

Here, 'lying with' has an unwanted connotation. The professor meant to use the preposition 'to',
which makes sense in this situation.

~ The girls are lying to me

2. Today's date is on 28 May 2007.

A date is a date -- there is no need to indicate where or when.

~Today's date is 28 May, 2007.

3. ~ He gave the candy to you and I.

In this case, the subject is 'he' and the direct objects are 'you and I'. I, however, can only be used as a
subject. Therefore, it should be 'you and me'.

~ He gave the candy to you and me.