WRONG USE OF WORDS

- GATE academy

Parents, if your child often mix up words like “follow” and “accompany” or “hear” and “smell,” you're not alone. Language learning can be tricky for young minds, but catching these common errors early can improve their communication skills.

At GATE Academy, we understand the importance of building a strong foundation in language, and we’re here to guide your child every step of the way. Below are some common word mix-ups and how to correct them.

1. Follow and Accompany
- Wrong: I will follow you to Ilorin if there is room in your car.

- Correct: I will accompany you to Ilorin if there is room in your car.

Explanation: "Follow" means to go behind someone, whereas "accompany" means to go with someone.

2. Forget and Leave

- Wrong: I must have forgotten my book in the hostel.

- Correct: I must have left my book in the hostel.

Explanation: Forgetting means the item is no longer in your memory, while "leave" refers to physically leaving something behind.

3. Hear and Smell

- Wrong: I can hear the smell of gas.

- Correct: I can smell gas.

Explanation: You can't hear a smell; you detect it with your nose. "Smell" is both a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

4. Hire and Rent

- Wrong: He hires this house from Alhaji Suberu.

- Correct: He rents this house from Alhaji Suberu.

Explanation: "Hire" is used for portable items or labor. "Rent" applies to houses or fixed properties.

5. Help

- Wrong: Please help me pick up that piece of paper.

- Correct: Please pick up that piece of paper for me.

Explanation: “Help” is often used when one’s efforts aren't enough to complete a task. It's better to use "pick up for me" in simple tasks.

Correcting these common mistakes early will help your child express themselves clearly and confidently. We encourage you to provide them with consistent practice at home, or better yet, enroll them at GATE Academy where we focus on practical communication skills.

Want to help your child improve in English?

Contact us today to sign up for one of our personalized tutoring sessions at GATE Academy to give your child the best support in their learning journey.