Common mistakes in First-B2 (Part 2)

Can you spot the mistakes?

Altavoz, Hombre, Gesticulando, Gesto

X “He explained us why he didn’t agree with the proposal.”

Clue: What preposition would you need after explained?

Key: explain to somebody.

“He explained to us why he didn’t agree with the proposal.”

 

 

Cámara, Viejo, Retro, Viaje, FotoX “Can I make a picture of your garden?”

Clue: think of another verb, make is not the right one here.

Key: “take” collocates with picture

“Can I take a picture of your garden?”

 

 

Tienda De Comestibles, ComprasX “Could you tell me where is the supermarket?”

Clue: use the inversion only once in this question

Key: “where the supermarket is” (no inversion in the indirect question)

“Could you tell me where the supermarket is?”

 

 

Linda, Pequeño, Mamífero, AnimalX “They had got a pet hamster when they were little.”

Clue: we use have got for possession in the present but, what about the past?

Key: we don’t need got.

“They had a pet hamster when they were little.”

 

Regreso A La Escuela, Bordo, Negro, TizaX “Susan is the headteacher since 2020.” 

Clue: what tense do you need to talk about something that started in the past and continues now?

Key: present perfect

“Susan has been the headteacher since 2020.”

 

Celebración, Decoración, SerpentinasX “It is going to be a surprise party so you don’t have to tell her.” 

Clue: “don’t/doesn’t have to” expresses a lack of obligation; in other words, we use it to say that something is not necessary. “I don’t have to commute to work as I work from home.”

Key: you need a modal that expresses “prohibition”. 

“It is going to be a surprise party so you mustn’t tell her.”

Extra tip: the “t” in mustn’t is silent but remember to write it.

 

Bosque, Árboles, Naturaleza

X “It wasn’t easy to find the way but finally, we could make it back to the B&B before dark.” 

Clue: we use can for ability in general in the present and could in past, but in this example, we are referring to a particular situation. The idea here is: we managed.

Key: use be able to

“It wasn’t easy to find the way but finally, we were able to make it back to the B&B before dark.”