Common English Mistakes in Creative Nonfictions by Slovak Speakers

This page focuses on errors typically made by native Slovak speakers from Slovakia when writing a Creative Nonfiction in English.

Mistake Example #1

Incorrect placement of adjectives ('The car red' instead of 'The red car')

In thesmall villagesmall, nestled between the tallmountainstall, lived a happyfamily happy. The oldhouseold, with its red roof redandwide windowswide, stood proudly at the end of the roadwindingroad. Every morning, the sunbrightsun would peek over the greenhillsgreen, casting a warmglowwarm on the vastfieldsvast, where the playfulchildrenplayful would run and laugh.

Text corrected by:
Camille, Maryland, USA

"In English, adjectives are almost always placed before the noun they describe."

In the small village, nestled between the tall mountains, lived a happy family. The old house, with its red roof and wide windows, stood proudly at the end of the winding road. Every morning, the bright sun would peek over the green hills, casting a warm glow on the vast fields, where the playful children would run and laugh.

In the village small, nestled between the mountains tall, lived a family happy. The house old, with its roof red and windows wide, stood proudly at the end of the road winding. Every morning, the sun bright would peek over the hills green, casting a glow warm on the fields vast, where the children playful would run and laugh.

Mistake Example #2

Struggles with perfect tenses ('I am here since three years')

I hamve been living in this small village since I wams a child, surrounded by thegentle hills andthe whispering trees. The stories of my grandmother, who istellings me tales of the old times, areechoing in my mind like they arehappeninged just yesterday. I am always feeling a deep connection to this land, as if it iscallings me back every time I am away.

Text corrected by:
Vince, United States

"Overall your writing was very creative; it just needed a few tweaks to make things consistent. Good job! "

I have been living in this small village since I was a child, surrounded by gentle hills and whispering trees. The stories of my grandmother, who tells me tales of the old times, echo in my mind like they happened just yesterday. I always feel a deep connection to this land, as if it calls me back every time I am away.

I am living in this small village since I am a child, surrounded by the gentle hills and the whispering trees. The stories of my grandmother, who is telling me tales of the old times, are echoing in my mind like they are happening just yesterday. I am always feeling a deep connection to this land, as if it is calling me back every time I am away.

Mistake Example #3

Omitting 'it' as a subject in dummy subject sentences ('Is raining' instead of 'It is raining')

Walking through the ancient streets of Bratislava, Ifeel the history whispering from every corner. It is amazing how the old castle stands proudly, watching over the city as it has for centuries. In the early morning, when it is still quiet, you can almost hear the echoes of the past mingling with the soft rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze.

Text corrected by:
Jennifer, Detroit, Michigan USA

"Very nice! I just added the subject to the sentences."

Walking through the ancient streets of Bratislava, I feel the history whispering from every corner. It is amazing how the old castle stands proudly, watching over the city as it has for centuries. In the early morning, when it is still quiet, you can almost hear the echoes of the past mingling with the soft rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze.

Walking through the ancient streets of Bratislava, feel the history whispering from every corner. Is amazing how the old castle stands proudly, watching over the city as it has for centuries. In the early morning, when is still quiet, you can almost hear the echoes of the past mingling with the soft rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze.