100 Mistakes #21 - Doubts

Let's imagine a nightmare situation...

Your boss holds a meeting to explain her plans for next year. There's something you don't understand, so you say: "I have a doubt."

Your boss looks very angry and says "Well, if you have a better idea, let's hear it!"

Oh dear. Something went wrong there. That's not what you meant. You were trying to say that you didn't fully understand.

Let's imagine a problem-free situation...

Your boss holds a meeting to explain her plans for next year. There's something you don't understand, so you say: "I'm not sure I follow you."

Your boss looks apologetic and says "Sorry, I know there are a lot of changes. Which part didn't you understand?"

That's better. That's what we wanted.

The problem is the word "doubt" and English politeness.

In English, if you say "I have some doubts", you think that the proposal is not very good. You have doubts about the plan, not about your own understanding. In fact, you probably hate the plan, but you're just being polite.

(When there's a big problem, English people will tell you that there's a small problem. We don't want to hurt your feelings.)

If you doubt your understanding, there are lots of phrases you can use. For example:

• I'm not sure I follow you.  √
• I have a question.  √
• Could you just explain the last part?  √
• Could you go over the first part again?  √
• I didn't really get the bit about...  √

The only people who use the phrase "I have a doubt" are Spanish speakers!

100 Mistakes #20 - Safety and Security

It can sometimes look like "safety" and "security" are the same thing.

Have you thought about data security? Is your data safe?

But sometimes they seem to be something different.

The new Yakuski 4x4 is extremely safe but not particularly secure.

So how does it work?

In short, safety is about avoiding harm or risk, while security is about preventing unwanted change or theft (things being stolen).

This car is not safe = you could get hurt

This car is not secure = someone could break in and steal your things

Safety glass should be used in glass doors = it won't cause injury if it breaks

Security glass should be used in shop windows  = to prevent anyone from breaking in

The shelf doesn't look secure = it looks like it might fall down

The shelf doesn't look safe = it might hurt someone

The safe option = the option without risk
We need some kind of security = a guarantee that if things go wrong, the changes won't affect us

If something happens to you, will your family be secure? = if you are killed, will Timmy still be able to go to private school? = buy insurance, NOW!

(Note that an insurance policy makes your family more secure but it doesn't necessarily make them safer. All the insurance in the world can't prevent an earthquake!)

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Now it's your turn. In one of the sentences, both options are correct.

1. Road safety / security is taken very seriously in our town.
2. This ladder doesn't feel very safe / secure.
3. Car alarms may offer extra safety / security but will certainly annoy the neighbours.
4. New health and safety / security regulations have forced restaurant owners to clean up their act.
5. By the time I retire, my pension will be so low that it doesn't offer me much safety / security.

100 Mistakes #19 - Concentrate and Focus

I usually write these blog posts in a quiet café because I need to concentrate. If it's too noisy, I can't focus on what I'm writing. I lose my focus. I lose my concentration.

focus can be a noun or a verb

concentrate is a verb

concentration is a noun

In my classes, I often hear the expression, "I was concentrated". Unfortunately, this is not an English sentence.

Although a person can concentrate, they cannot "be concentrated." We use "concentrated" as an adjective to describe something that has been intensified.

Washing-up liquid is concentrated when its water content has been reduced.

A campaign can be concentrated when an organisation targets a particular area or audience.

But you cannot 'be concentrated' because no one has concentrated you!

Here are some examples:

New Bio concentrated washing-up liquid lasts longer and cleans better! √
The Labour party's campaign was short but extremely concentrated, targetting poorer communities. √
I have been concentrated on this problem all morning. X
I have been concentrating on this problem all morning. √

On the other hand, people can be focussed (and so can a political campaign.)

For example:

She was focussed on winning the tournament. √
The campaign was poorly focussed so voters stayed at home. √

But washing-up liquid cannot be focussed. That's why it's not very good at winning tennis tournaments or elections!


Have you been concentrating?

One of the following statements is incorrect. Which one?

Michael didn't go out because he was concentrating on his exams.
Michael didn't go out because he was focussing on his exams.

Michael didn't go out because he was concentrated on his exams.

Michael didn't go out because he was focussed on his exams.

100 Mistakes #18 - In The End, Eventually, At Last, Finally

If English is not your first language, you probably use "finally" more often than you should. It's not that we don't use it, we do! Just not as often as you do. Here's why...

in the end = how a situation is resolved or concluded; the important thing when all things are considered

eventually = after a long time

(not used with perfect tenses)

at last! = An exclamation showing relief or excitement after waiting a long time

(usually used with perfect or present tenses)

finally = after a series of incidents or attempts

In some situations, more than one is possible. In others, only one. It depends on whether you want to comment on the time taken, the number of attempts or the way the situation is concluded.

Situation 1: your journey to England was delayed by bad weather.

In the end, I arrived at my hotel.
(the conclusion of the story)

Eventually, I arrived at my hotel.
(after a long time)

At last, I've arrived at my hotel!
(it has taken a long time)
Finally, I arrived at my hotel.
(after a series of incidents: my train was delayed, my bus broke down, the taxi driver got lost, the road was flooded...)

Situation 2: Your brother was staying at your house for a week and you told him not to touch your expensive vase because it was very fragile. He was very careful not go near the vase all week.

In the end, the neighbour's dog knocked it over and it smashed into pieces.
(the conclusion of the story)

Eventually, the neighbour's dog knocked it over and it smashed into pieces.
At last, the neighbour's dog knocked it over and it smashed into pieces.
Finally, the neighbour's dog knocked it over and it smashed into pieces.

Situation 3: Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-2.

In the end, Barcelona beat Real.
(the result of the match)

Eventually, Barcelona beat Real.
(it took a long time to beat Real, perhaps several seasons)

At last, Barcelona have beaten Real!
(it has taken a long time to beat Real, perhaps several seasons)

Finally, Barcelona have beaten Real!
(it has taken a lot of attempts to beat Real)

Note that "at the end" is a simple time expression. So I can say:

At the end of the 90 minutes, Ronaldo scored with a penalty to pull one back for Real. But in the end, it was Barcelona who went home with all three points.

100 Mistakes #17 - Politics, Politicians and Policies

If you're a Spanish speaker, it's easy to get mixed up when you're looking for the English words for la politica, las politicas or los politicos. So here's a quick reminder.

If you go to a bookshop, you will see signs showing different subject areas or fields of interest: literature, history, psychology, politics...

So politics is the world of political affairs: how society is controlled and directed.

This is a politician:

Note: the "-ician" ending is always a person.

Eg. mathematician, musician, physician, magician

His name is David Cameron.

His policies are:

1. Look important

2. Make Britain look important

3. Find ways for a few people to make a lot of money
4. Try to look like an average person by:
  i) sometimes drinking a beer
  ii) pretending to have eaten a Cornish Pasty

5. Stop poor people from spoiling the party

6. Simultaneously like and dislike the EU

7. Sell anything owned by the state

You don't want to see these guys without their masks on.

So now you can test yourself.

1. David Cameron is a...

a) politician
b) twit
c) robot

This was a trick question. All of the answers are true!

100 Mistakes #16 - Usually, used to, be used to

Click picture for creative people's daily routines
on infowetrust.com

Usually, used to and be used to are all related to routine.

Usually - Present routine

I usually go to the cinema at the end of the road.

The cinema at the end of the road is the one I go to most often.

Used to - Past routine

I used to do gymnastics.

I regularly did gymnastics in the past (implying that this is not my routine now.)

Be used to - Familiarity (the consequence of routine)

I am used to exploring foreign cities without a guide.

I am familiar with exploring foreign cities without a guide because I've done it plenty of times before.

Notice that used to is followed by the verb in its basic form (the infinitive) but be used to is followed by the -ing form. This helps us to be more certain of what people are saying. Of course, that also makes it a very important 'ing'!

I am used to use a PC so Macs confuse me. 

(Your listener won't know if you mean I used to or I am used to.)

I am used to using a PC so Macs confuse me. √

A common mistake is to think that 'use to' can be used to mean routine in the present... but it can't!

I use to go swimming with my brother-in-law
(Your listener will think you're saying 'used to', that it's a past routine, not a current one.)
I usually go swimming with my brother-in-law. √

Logically, the negative of used to is didn't use to (on the grounds that the negative of 'used' is 'didn't use') but some people think it's didn't used to. In real life, it's not easy to tell the difference when people are speaking, and most native speakers have probably never thought about it.

I didn't use to like jazz but now I'm becoming a real fan. √


Get used to is used when something starts to feel normal.

I'm getting used to the new flat now that I've been living here for two weeks. √
I don't like the new rules but I suppose I'll get used to them. √

100 Mistakes #15 - Get

The verb 'get' can be confusing, because it seems to have lots of different meanings. If you translate it into your language, you may need several different words.

In English, it has a meaning similar to bring, find, receive, obtain, reach, take, become or understand, depending on the situation.

Here are some examples:

Oh, you've been shopping! What did you get?
Get is similar to bring, find or obtain

What are you getting for Christmas?
Get is similar to receive 

Could you tell me how I can get to the station?
Get to is similar to reach or go to
(Note: we do not use arrive in this context)

How did you get here?
Get is similar to reach or come to

I got the bus.
Get is similar to take

He got on the train at St Pancras, and got off at Luton Airport Parkway.
Get on is similar to board = enter (transport)
Get off is similar to leave = exit (transport) 

I'm getting old.
Get is similar to become = start to be

I don't get why you didn't say anything before!
Get is similar to understand

She's got three younger brothers.
Have got is similar to have

So how can one verb mean so many different things?

Well, we have to ask ourselves how different these meanings really are.

Is bring similar to take?
The difference between bring and take depends on whether you are coming or going.
Compare these sentences:

I'll bring my laptop (with me when I come)
I'll take my laptop (with me when I go)

Is receive similar to take?
When my neighbour goes away on holiday, she brings me her cat. I take her cat. I receive her cat.

Is reach similar to obtain or have?
When you reach the summit of a mountain, do you feel like you now have something that you didn't have before? Not convinced? What about reaching an agreement?

Is understand similar to receive?
When you understand something, have you received something? Do you now have something that you didn't have before?

Words usually mean more than one thing, and get is particularly flexible. It allows us to unite things that feel similar, without changing the verb.

Try to work out which verb 'get' is similar to in this conversation:

Boy: How did you get here?

Girl: I got the train.

Boy: Yes but I don't get how you got from the station to the city centre so quickly?
Girl: Oh, I got lucky. There was a bus there as soon as I got out of the station. I only managed to get on because there was a long queue.
Boy: So, did you get me anything from Paris?

Girl: Of course. I thought of you as soon as I got there.

Here! I got it in a little shop in the Latin quarter. I hope you haven't already got one.
Boy: Oh, thank you! No, I haven't got one like this; it's beautiful!

Girl: I tried to get one last time I was there but they hadn't got any.

So what do you think she got him?

Notes for Spanish speakers

If you're Spanish, think about the verbs "coger" and "tomar", and whether they also have different meanings in different contexts. Do they sometimes translate as "get"?

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Be careful with translating "llegar a" into English. Try to avoid the verb "arrive" and use "get to" instead. "Llegar a ser" translates as "become".

I arrived to Porto at about half past three.
I got to Porto at about half past three.

He arrived to be a monk at the age of 33.
He became a monk at the age of 33.

 - - - - -

In Spanish you use "tomar algo/una copa" in the context of going out for a drink. But in English we do not use "take something"! Here are some better ideas:

Go for a drink - I went for a couple of drinks after work.
Go out for a drink - Do you fancy going out for a drink this weekend?
Get a drink - Shall we get another drink?

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