Common English Mistakes in Vocabulary Building Exercisess by Cantonese Speakers

This page focuses on errors typically made by native Cantonese speakers from Hong Kong when writing a Vocabulary Building Exercises in English.

Mistake Example #1

Overuse of 'very' to emphasize adjectives

In this exercise, you will learn how to use adjectives to describe things in a verhighly effective way. For example, when you want to say something is very big, you can use words like enormous or gigantic. Similarly, instead of saying very happy, you can say ecstatic. Try to think of other words that can replace very tired, very small, or very interesting. This will help you to make your writing vextrya colorful and vextremely engaging.

Text corrected by:
Gregg, Los Angeles, CA

"This needed tweaking to address overuse of the word "very.""

In this exercise, you will learn how to use adjectives to describe things in a highly effective way. For example, when you want to say something is very big, you can use words like enormous or gigantic. Similarly, instead of saying very happy, you can say ecstatic. Try to think of other words that can replace very tired, very small, or very interesting. This will help you to make your writing extra colorful and extremely engaging.

In this exercise, you will learn how to use adjectives to describe things in a very effective way. For example, when you want to say something is very big, you can use words like enormous or gigantic. Similarly, instead of saying very happy, you can say ecstatic. Try to think of other words that can replace very tired, very small, or very interesting. This will help you to make your writing very colorful and very engaging.

Mistake Example #2

Confusion with countable vs. uncountable nouns ('She has much friends')

In this exercise, you will learn new words to improve your English vocabulary. First, think about how manyuch advices you receive from your teachers. Is there manylot of advices that you find useful? Next, consider how much informations you gather from reading books. Do you think reading provides you with manyuch informations to help your learning?

Text corrected by:
Jennifer, Detroit, Michigan USA

"Good job overall! I fixed some grammatical issues, including some involving countable/uncountable nouns."

In this exercise, you will learn new words to improve your English vocabulary. First, think about how much advice you receive from your teachers. Is there a lot of advice that you find useful? Next, consider how much information you gather from reading books. Do you think reading provides you with much information to help your learning?

In this exercise, you will learn new words to improve your English vocabulary. First, think about how many advices you receive from your teachers. Is there many advices that you find useful? Next, consider how much informations you gather from reading books. Do you think reading provides you with many informations to help your learning?

Mistake Example #3

Overuse of direct translations from Cantonese

In order to improve your English vocabulary, you should increaddse yoilur effort and practice every day. When you see new words, you can write them down and remember them by heart. This way, youwill kill two birds with one stone and your English will become more powerful.

Text corrected by:
Gregg, Los Angeles, CA

"This needed some tweaking to sound more native and natural."

In order to improve your English vocabulary, you should increase your effort and practice every day. When you see new words, you can write them down and remember them by heart. This way, your English will become more powerful.

In order to improve your English vocabulary, you should add oil and practice every day. When you see new words, you can write them down and remember them by heart. This way, you will kill two birds with one stone and your English will become more powerful.