Many people think that they can �speak English just fine� (actually, the grammatically correct phrase is �speak English well�). But here are some mistakes that even fluent English speakers make. See how well you do, and whether or not it�s time to enroll in a grammar course: scuole inglese dublino.

I, Me, He and Him

What�s correct, �John and I went on a date� or �John and me went on a date�?
You need to know whether or not your pronoun is the subject of the sentence (i.e., the doer or the action) or the object of the sentence (i.e., the receiver of the action).

If the pronoun is the subject, then the correct use is I/He. (So, yes, it�s �John and I went on a date.�

If the pronoun is the object, then the correct use is I/Him. For example, �I gave the bag to her.�

Should of, Could Of, Would Of

This is wrong, wrong, and oh so wrong. The correct is should�ve, could�ve, would�ve. Even if it sounds like �of� it�s not written that way.

To, Too, Two

These words may sound alike but they are used very differently. �To� is a preposition (e.g., I went to the market). �Too� means also (e.g., I went to the market too�). And �two� is a number (e.g., I went to two markets�). While most people know this on a logical level sheer carelessness makes them overlook it while writing. Word processors won�t always correct it so always read your letter/manuscript over again.

Lie/Lay

So is it �lie down on the table� or �lay down on the table�? When you do the action yourself, it�s lie, e.g. �I was eager to lie down in bed after a long day at work.� When you do it to another object, it�s lay, e.g. �I lay the pillow on the bed.� However, lay is the past tense of lie (e.g. �He lay in bed for hours that night, thinking about her.�)

Dangling Modifiers

This all boils down to dependent and independent clauses. The independent clause contains a complete thought in a form that can stand on its own, for example �The soldiers ran into the shelter.� But if you insert a dependent clause there (which is an additional thought that gives additional information�descriptions, etc�but can�t stand as a complete sentence) then you�re in trouble. �Running into the shelter, the exploding grenades dropped nine of the soldiers.� Uh, say what? The grenades didn�t run into the shelter, the soldiers did, but the location of the dependent clause confuses everyone.