         Un-English expressions
Mistakes often result from too close a translation into English of foreign idiomatic expressions. The following are examples of such mistakes:
186. Take an exam, not give an exam
Don’t say: The pupil gave his exam.
√ Say: The pupil took his exam.
Note: The teacher gives or sets the exam. The student takes the exam ox sits due exam.
187. To be right or wrong, not to have right or wrong
Don’t say: You’ve right or You’ve wrong.
√ Say: You’re right or You’re wrong.
188. To be busy, not to have work
Don’t say: I have much work this morning.
√ Say: I’m very busy this morning.
Note: We can say –> I have a lot of work to do this morning.
189. It’s cold, etc., not it has cold, etc.
Don’t say: It has cold this winter.
√ Say: It’s cold this winter.
190. Go for a walk, not make a walk
Don’t say: We made a walk along the river.
√ Say: We went for a walk along the river.
Note: We can also say –> We had a walk or We took a walk along the over.
191. Go for a ride on a bicycle, etc., not go for a walk on a bicycle, etc.
Don’t say: We went for a walk on our bicycles.
√ Say: We went for a ride on our bicycles.
Note:Â We ride on a bicycle, on horseback, etc., but we ride in a bus, tram, or other public vehicle.
192. Mount or get on a horse, etc, not ride a horse, etc.
Don’t say: Peter rode his horse and went home.
√ Say: Peter got on his horse and rode home.
Note: To ride denotes a continuous action. To mount or to get on denotes a simple action
193. Dismount or get off a horse, etc., not come down from a horse, etc.
Don’t say: They came down from their horses.
√ Say: They got off their horses.
Note: We get out of a taxi or a car. We get on or off me van, the bus, etc
194. Go on foot, not go with the feet
Don’t say: Shall we go there with the feet?
√ Say: Shall we go there on foot?
195. Take or have a shower, not make a shower
Don’t say: I make a shower every morning.
✓ Say: I take a shower every morning.
Or I have a shower every morning.
Note: When speaking of the sea or the rivet, say to bathe, to have a bathe, to go for a bathe, to go bathing, to go for a swim or to go swimming
