Common English Mistakes in Op-Eds by Slovak Speakers

This page focuses on errors typically made by native Slovak speakers from Slovakia when writing a Op-Ed in English.

Mistake Example #1

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

As a Slovak citizen, I am observing the political landscape in our country with great interest. I hamve livinged in Bratislava since I wasfive yearsold, and I have seen many changes in the government policies. It is crucial that we address these issues now, as they have been affecting our society for too long.

Text corrected by:
Michele A., Boston, Massachusetts; United States

"I changed some of the phrasing to reflect proper English grammar usage. Otherwise, the ideas in this text are clearly expressed."

As a Slovak citizen, I am observing the political landscape in our country with great interest. I have lived in Bratislava since I was five years old, and I have seen many changes in the government policies. It is crucial that we address these issues now, as they have been affecting our society for too long.

As a Slovak citizen, I am observing the political landscape in our country with great interest. I am living in Bratislava since five years, and I have seen many changes in the government policies. It is crucial that we address these issues now, as they have been affecting our society for too long.

Mistake Example #2

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

In recent years, the cityof Bratislava has seen a rise in the number of bicycles on the streets. This green initiativegreen aims to reduce pollution and promote healthier lifestyles among residents. However, the currentinfrastructurecurrent is not sufficient to support this growth, leading to concerns about safety and accessibility. It is crucial that the localgovernment localinvests in better bike lanes and facilities to ensure that the greenmovementgreen can continue to thrive.

Text corrected by:
Jennifer, Detroit, Michigan USA

"Great job! I just changed the order of some of the words."

In recent years, the city of Bratislava has seen a rise in the number of bicycles on the streets. This green initiative aims to reduce pollution and promote healthier lifestyles among residents. However, the current infrastructure is not sufficient to support this growth, leading to concerns about safety and accessibility. It is crucial that the local government invest in better bike lanes and facilities to ensure that the green movement can continue to thrive.

In recent years, the city Bratislava has seen a rise in the number of bicycles on the streets. The initiative green aims to reduce pollution and promote healthier lifestyles among residents. However, the infrastructure current is not sufficient to support this growth, leading to concerns about safety and accessibility. It is crucial that the government local invests in better bike lanes and facilities to ensure that the movement green can continue to thrive.

Mistake Example #3

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

In recent years,it has become clear that climate change is impacting our daily lives more than ever before. It is crucial for governments to take immediate action to reduce carbon emissions and invest in renewable energy sources. Without these efforts, itwill be difficult to ensure a sustainable future for the next generations.

Text corrected by:
Jennifer, Detroit, Michigan USA

"Great job! I just added the subject "it" to the sentences."

In recent years, it has become clear that climate change is impacting our daily lives more than ever before. It is crucial for governments to take immediate action to reduce carbon emissions and invest in renewable energy sources. Without these efforts, it will be difficult to ensure a sustainable future for the next generations.

In recent years, has become clear that climate change is impacting our daily lives more than ever before. Is crucial for governments to take immediate action to reduce carbon emissions and invest in renewable energy sources. Without these efforts, will be difficult to ensure a sustainable future for the next generations.