Title: Common errors in your texts - and how to avoid them

How to write dates in English

Drag the words into the correct boxes

Q: There are several ways to write the dates in English:

American:
She was born on March 14, 2006.

British:
She was born on 14 March 2006. or She was born on 14th March 2006.

You SAY (and can also write):
She was born on the 14th of May 2006.

(Check your grammar book p. 14-16)

Complete the following dates:

Olivia first met her future husband [...] 1998 [...] a party.
They fell in love and moved in together [...] December 1999.
They got married [...] May 3[...], 2002.
She got divorced [...] September 4[...], 2012.
One year [...] she met George.
Olivia got pregnant [...] 2013 and married George [...] December 1[...], 2013.
On March 30(th), she gave birth two twins.
A: in; at; in; on; rd; on; th; later; in; on; st

Writing dates

Fill in the missing words

Q: My birthday is [...] the 1[...] of April, but we always celebrate on [...] 2[...]. The first [...] April is my favourite day. I love hoaxes and tricking people.

Of course, I also like the 24[...] of December – everybody loves [...] 24th [...] December – it’s Christmas Eve! But I like [...] 31[...] even better. We always have a big party with fireworks [...] the 31st [...] December.

I will never forget [...] 3[...] [...] March 2003. That’s when my baby brother was born. He has a cool birthday date: 3/3/3

This year I’m also looking forward to June 9[...], that’s when the summer holidays start. [...] June 10[...] I am going to go to England to visit my grandparents.
A: on; st; the; nd; of; th; the; of; the; st; on; of; the; rd; of; th; On; th

Structuring your text

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Q: There are several ways to structure your text. You can use “firstly, secondly and last but not least (am Schluss, aber genauso wichtig).
Try to enter them in this text:

Jane Goodall is a person I admire for several reasons. [...] she managed to live her dream although she had to work really hard. [...] she never gave up, even if things got really difficult and [...] but not [...] she is still working hard to tell people about climate change and make the world a better place.
A: Firstly,; Secondly,; last; least

will / want / would like to

Fill in the missing words

Q: Remember:

I will do something. = I am going to do something in future.

I want to do something. = I would like to do something. (Deutsch: Ich will / Ich möchte)

Complete the sentences with will or would like to or want to

I had a fantastic time in school last month - I [...] tell you about a project we did in our English lessons because it really made me think about how I can become successful.

We read about famous people and how they never gave up. I [...] be successful myself so I decided that I [...] study hard this year and get good marks at school.

I heard about many different people but there are three that really stood out. I [...] tell you a little bit about those three and why I admire them.

I don’t [...] fail, so I [...] work hard.

If you [...] succeed, you have to know your goals.
A: would like to/want; want to/would like to; will; would like to/want to; want to; will; want to

Thing or think?

Fill in the missing words

Q: Remember:

think - I am thinking about you / He thinks that he is clever.

thing - The thing I like most about you is your smile

Complete the sentences with

thing(s) and think(s)

Just [...] about people like Jane Goodall. She is amazing! The [...] I like most about her is that she keeps working hard.

Beth Hamilton [...] that she can do [...] that other people [...] are impossible. She doesn't need easy, she only needs possible.

The [...] is that I never [...] I can be as successful as these people. And that's what's keeping me back. So in future I will [...] that I can do difficult [...]!
A: think; thing; thinks; things; think; thing; think; think; things

one woman - many women

Fill in the missing words

Q: Remember

One woman - many women

Marie Curie is one of the first [...] to win the Nobel Price. She is definitely the first [...] to win two Nobel Prices.

I think [...] have to work twice as hard to be accepted by society.

Malala is a [...] I admire. I admire her more than other [...] because she was so young when she started to fight for [...]'s rights.
A: women; woman; women; woman; women; women

discover or invent?

Fill in the missing words

Q: Remember

invent - you invent something that did not exist e.g. Edison invented the lightbulb.

discover - you discover something that already exists e.g. Marie Curie discovered radioactivity.

Complete the sentences with invent(ed) or discover(ed)

Jane Goodall [...] that chimpanzees use tools.

Most people think that Graham Bell [...] the telephone.

Charles Darwin [...] the law of evolution.

Many people believe that Crick and Watson [...] the DNA - the molecules of the human genes.

Johannes Gutenberg [...] the printing press so that we can print books.
A: discovered; invented; discovered; discovered; invented

then or than?

Fill in then or than

Q: Remember

We use "then" to say that something happens after something else. e.g. First everyone though Trump would win but then Biden won the election. YEAH!

We use "than" to compare things.

Biden is going to be a better president than Trump.

She was poorer [...] most of her classmates. She was bullied but [...] she changed schools and was happier [...] in her old school.

I think that learning about Martin Luther King is more important [...] learning about the Roman Empire.

I'm going to read about him first and [...] read a book about Rosa Parks.
A: than; then; than; than; then

life and lives / live and lives / live

Fill in the missing words

Q: Remember

to live - a verb

I live in Graz. My cousin lives in Germany.

one life and many lives - noun

She was afraid for her life.

She saved the lives of many people.

live - adjective

It was a live show.

Although her [...] was difficult, she always believed that [...] was beautiful.

I admire these people. If you look at all the bad things that happened their [...] it is amazing that they never gave up.

Jane Goodall [...] in England but she travels around 300 days a year. She spends her [...] fighting for the environment.

Malala's [...] in England too.
A: life; life; lives; lives; life; lives

he or his / she or her

Drag the words into the correct boxes

Q: Malala is an amazing person. I admire [...] because [...] is so brave.

Marie Curie was an important scientist. I admire [...] because [...] was so intelligent.

My personal hero is Jane Goodall. I like [...] because [...] never gave up [...] dreams.

But what about the men?
Thomas Edison was a brilliant man. I admire [...] because [...] was so focused on [...] work and he worked hard to be able to work on [...] discoveries.

My favourite scientist is Stephen Hawkings. I admire [...] because he fought bravely against his illness. I like [...] more than Thomas Edison who was not a very nice person.
A: her; she; her; she; her; she; her; him; he; his; his; him; him

Complete the text using the past tense correctly

Drag the words into the correct boxes

Q: Before you start, have a look at your grammar book p. 33+34

Jane Goodall [...] to [...] to Africa but she [...] afford to travel so she [...] to London and got a job to earn money.

It was difficult to earn enough money but she [...] [...] up.
She [...] to [...] a
scientist but she [...] afford to go to university.
She [...] to travel to Africa and get a job there.
She [...] work with chimpanzees at first.
A: wanted; go; couldn’t; went; didn’t/did not/didn´t; give; wanted; become; couldn't/could not/couldn´t; managed; didn't/did not/didn´t

Now fill in the missing words yourself

Q: Before you start, have a look at your grammar book p. 33+34

Jane Goodall [...] to [...] to Africa but she [...] afford to [...] so she [...] to London and [...] a job to earn money.

It was difficult to earn enough money but she [...] [...] up.
She [...] to [...] a
scientist but she couldn't/[...] [...] to [...] to university.
She [...] to travel to Africa and get a job there.
She [...] [...] with chimpanzees at first.
A: wanted; go; couldn’t/couldn't/couldn´t/could not; travel; went; got; didn't/didn’t/did not/didn´t; give; wanted; become; couldn't/could not/couldn´t; afford; go; managed; didn't/didn't/did not/didn´t; work