Question Formation Common mistakes -Be…? Do…? Have…?

June 10, 2021June 12, 2021 teacherjulieta3 Comments

Do have difficulties forming questions in English?

I know! Question forms are tricky. Sometimes we need to invert the subject and the verb, other times we need to add an auxiliary verb, and other times we need to invert the subject and the auxiliary.

Here there is a list of the most common English mistakes made by English learners. This list will help you avoid the typical mistakes so you can start speaking more confidently and fluently.

1. Using an auxiliary verb when you don’t need it

~~Do you are happy?~~

Are you happy?

~~Did you be at home last night?~~

Were you home last night?

~~Did your brother was hungry~~?

Was your brother hungry?

Verb be is a very important verb. If verb be is you main verb you don’t need to add an auxiliary verb

Do/Does/Did + verb be NEVER go together

2. NOT using a verb+ing after verb be

~~Are you study English now?~~

Are you studying English now?

~~Is he live in Canada now?~~

Is he living in Canada now?

~~Is she lived in England last year?~~

Was she living in England last year?

Verb be + verbing for present continuous and past continuous

3. NOT using a verb in the base form after do/does/did

~~Do you playing soccer twice a week?~~

Do you play soccer twice a week?

~~Does she usually going to the movies on Fridays?~~

Does she usually go to the movies on Fridays?

~~Did she studied English last night?~~

Did she study last night?

Do/Does/Did + verb in the base form

4. Using the main verb as the auxiliary

~~Have you a car?~~

Do you have a car?

~~Have you any siblings?~~

Do you have any siblings?

~~Did you yoga yesterday?~~

Did you do yoga every day?

Do and have can be both main verbs and auxiliary verbs. Make sure your question has a main or action verb.

5. NOT Using a verb

D~~o you happy?~~

Are you happy?

~~Do you from Australia?~~

Are you from Australia?

~~Did you hungry yesterday?~~

Were you hungry yesterday?

~~Do you in Canada?~~

Do you live in Canada?

6. NOT using past participle after have/has

~~Have you ate Japanese food?~~

Have you eaten Japanese food?

~~Has he do his homework yet?~~

Has he done his homework yet?

Have they work in an office?

Have they worked in an office?

Have/Has + past participle (p.p. or 3rd form)

Questions: Be…? Do…? Have…?

Wanna sound like a native?

March 27, 2021September 4, 2021 teacherjulietaLeave a comment

My apologies

There are several questions that come to my mind every time that I see ads, videos, and comments that promote nativespeakerism. I’m an advocate of critical thinking and I’m against nativespekerim and any form of discrimination.

Today I’ll start a thread of thought provoking posts with a public apology.

What's the difference between 'normal' and 'native'?

My dear English students,

I would encourage you to start questioning the ads of teachers and influencers who make you feel inferior, broken, unworthy, incapable and unintelligent just because of your English level or your accent.

You are capable of achieving great things. Don’t let anyone decide what you should say and how you should sound.

If I ever made you feel like that, I want to take this moment to apologize. If you have ever been humiliated or mistreated by an English or any other language teacher, I just want to say: ‘Forgive us. I’m deeply sorry for the pain you had to endure’

Don’t let anyone stop you becoming the best version of yourself.

I hope you achieve all your goals. I encourage you to speak like you and let others hear your voice.

With much love,

Julieta

P.S. You are worthy.

Do you think that speaking like a native is better than speaking normal English?/ Why? Why not?

The Tongue Twister Challenge (Intensity level 2)

November 20, 2020March 29, 2021 teacherjulieta2 Comments

Workout for your English muscles

A great way to improve your pronunciation and fluency is by saying tongue twisters as fast as you can. Tongue twisters are great to exercise your English muscles. Are you ready to complete this fun challenge?

Have you completed the Tongue Twister Intensity level 1? If not, click the button below.

If you are an intermediate/ pre-advanced student, you can use Intensity Level 1 as your warm up.

Complete Intensity Level 1

Let’s warm up

Say each of the following tongue twisters five times as fast as you can. If you are not sure about the correct pronunciation you can play the audio first and repeat after me. Then you can say the tongue twister slowly and when you feel confident about your pronunciation you increase the speed.