Aloha！
The IEP students wrote the following sentences. These show some of the common mistakes that students make. Take a look and see if you can find the error. If you find the error, do you know why it is wrong?

1. My bag was checked deeply by them.
2. A car hitted my left leg.
3. After my car accident, eventually I went to the hospital.
4. She faced completely the same situation.
5. I surprised a boarding time.
6. Rinka needed to go Japan.
7. On March this year we finished our Hula competition.
8. Can we meet in the Japan?
9. I was studying for passing the final exam.
10. I could take a three days off.
11. I got a car accident.
12. She has good grammar.
13. The goverment is starting a new program.
14. Vietnames eat Pho.
15. Indian people go into the river before preying.
16. I am so curious to this article.
17. When I go to a restaurant, I should leave tips for a staff.
18. During biking, I was hit by a car.
19. I wanna visit the mainland.
20. I have allergy.
21. They want to complete control you.

Did you find errors? Here are the answers and some notes.

1. My bag was checked carefully by them. – “Deeply” is how to think Japanese. Usually, Americans use “carefully” when talking about general ideas. (Hiromi)
2. A car hit my left leg. – The correct past tense sentence. There are many irregular verbs. (Fumi)
3. Finally, I went to the hospital. – “Finally” is often used to introduce the last in a series of statements. (Ai)
4. She completely faced the same situation. – Most adverbs usually have to be put before verbs. (Ayaka)
5. I was surprised at the boarding time. – Verb + adjective + preposition. You need to pay attention to which verb takes which preposition. (Seiyu)
6. I needed to go back to Japan. – The correct grammar depends on the situation. “go back to” means ‘return’. Or “go to” means ‘travel’. (Rinka & Hami)
7. In March of this year we finished our Hula competition. – In March. When talking about months or years: in January, in February. In 2012, or in 1999. On Monday, On Tuesday. On December 26th, 1972. (Ai)
8. Can we meet in Japan? – The reason is “Japan “is a proper noun so it doesn’t use “the”.
   The only time to use “ The + a plural country”. “The United States of America.” / “The British Isles”/
   “The Hawaiian Islands” (Ayaka)
9. I was studying to pass the final exam. – Because “to + verb” and ”for + noun.” Ex. I was studying for the final exam.” (Taro)
10. I could take three days off. – Because ‘three days’ is a plural form, we cannot put ‘a’ in front of the word that is plural.(Fumi)
11. I got in a car accident. or I had a car accident. – Because “get” just doesn’t work. (Rinka)
12. She has good grammar. &  The government is starting a new program. – Watch your spelling. (Rinka)
13. Vietnamese eat Pho. – Nationalities & Country must be memorized: France – French/ Germany – German/ Ireland – Irish/ Japan- Japanese/ Holland- Dutch/ Italy- Italian/ America-American/Sweden-Swedish (Rinka)
14. Indians go into the river before praying. – There are many words (Homonyms) that sound the same but are spelled differently: Prey Vs Pray/ Their vs there vs they’re/ two Vs too vs to// Him vs hymn// Do vs due / through vs threw/ which vs witch/personal vs personnel (Hami)
15. “I am so curious about this article. – “To” is usually used for direction or destination. Always learn a preposition with the verb or noun beside it. (Koto)
16. I should leave tips for the staff. – “Staff” is a collective noun. There are many rules for “a”/ “the”. (Koto).
17. While biking, I was hit by a car. or During my bike ride, I was hit by a car. – “During + noun” vs “while + gerund or verb” “While I was biking, I was hit by a car.” (Koto)
18. I want to visit the Mainland. – “Wanna” is only used in spoken conversations. For example in a quotation. He said, “I wanna go to the Mainland.” (Rinka)
19. I have an allergy. – Because with “a” and “the” . First time you introduce a word, you use “a”. After that, use “the”. Ex: I saw a man. The man was tall. (Rinka)
20. They want to completely control you. – Use adverb before verbs. Adverbs usually have “ly” as an ending. (Zhengyu)

It’s best to learn from the actual students’ errors! Chances are you probably make similar errors as an English learner. Hope this was helpful and fun!