These
are common mistakes at C1 level. Ideally you will not make all of these
mistakes. I would, however, greatly prefer you to make a few of them
rather than use too simple sentences.
1.
TIME
FRAME errors – We need to get rid of the present-perfect-used-in-the past. (NO:
Yesterday I have finished the exam.)
We need to get rid of past tenses in the middle
of a present-tense paragraph.
We need to use past simple for past time when
there is a series of events (the first in a series is not past perfect.).
We need to work on “the future as seen from the
past” as in I knew I wouldn’t be able to finish on time. (NO: I knew I will
not..)
2.
GERUND
– INFINITIVE errors – These include both distinguishing between cases in which
we need the former or the latter (a lot of that is memorization but there are
some rules) and remembering how to form a negative infinitive (NOT TO, as in “I
hope not to get sick.” You can practice here: http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/index.htm
3.
PREPOSITIONS
– Practise them here:
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/prepositions
4.
RELATIVE
CLAUSES – you need to use them, as they help avoid repetition and allow you to
write longer, more interesting sentences. Don’t use double subjects. Practice
here:
5.
LESS COMMON MODALS. There are some modals that
you really ought to know by now. Others (had better, may well, etc) are less
common. It means that you need to get used to using a variety of them.
6. HYPOTHETICAL FORMS this includes the 2nd,
3rd and mixed conditionals, as well as forms like “wish,” and “if only”
7. INVERSION : One example would be enough for
a page- two might be too much. The most common error is with Only. If you begin
with “Only by ..” or “Not only” you must invert the regular order of subject
and verb. Not only requires an auxiliary as well.
Only by remembering our mistakes CAN WE
AVOID making them again.
Not only DID HE lose his keys, he lost his car!
Practice this at :
http://eoimarisa.wordpress.com/2008/01/28/inversion-exercises-exercises/
8. LINKING WORDS: Like modals, there are some
that you really ought to know by now. While
C1 students may struggle with despite vs. although, it’s important to try to use these. Practice
them at : http://www.vivquarry.com/wkshts/linkwd.html
9. ELLIPSIS AND SUBSTITUTION – again, you need
to try to avoid repetition, and these are the techniques used by advanced
writers. Find excellent practice at http://aeo.sllf.qmul.ac.uk/Files/Cohesion/Cohesion.html
