Question about learning English
Hi! I've have a really important question to ask.
When I do English exercises sometimes I come across some sentences that I have no idea what word should I choose.
For example in a sentence "I think I’ve kept out / left out / missed out the full stop at the end o f the sentence" I only know that "missed out" is 100% correct but as for "left out" I have some doubts. So, I look at the key section of the book and it say "kept out" is wrong and both "left out" and "missed out" are correct. To come to this conclusion without consulting the key section I could spend a couple of hours browsing the dictionaries and in the end I would find the answer, but should I do it?
What is the correct strategy for doing suck kind of tasks?
What should I do in order to be able to make these exercises eazy-peezy for me (I want to make them without any mistakes like a native speaker, you know)?
What should I do to remember once and for all that "left out" and "missed out" are perfect in the sentence above?P.S.: I take a look at the other sentence, "You’ve made/done/performed a mistake somewhere in this paragraph." I know "made" is 100% correct and "done" is 100% wrong but as for "performed a mistake" I am not sure I have never heard people say that but it could be the same as with "left out" - I've never heard people say "I think I’ve left out the full stop at the end of the sentence, BUT still it's correct.

So, please give me some of your advice. I'd be a great help for me.

Question

Question about learning English
Hi! I've have a really important question to ask.
When I do English exercises sometimes I come across some sentences that I have no idea what word should I choose. 
For example in a sentence "I think I’ve kept out / left out / missed out the full stop at the end o f the sentence" I only know that "missed out" is 100% correct but as for "left out" I have some doubts. So, I look at the key section of the book and it say "kept out" is wrong and both "left out" and "missed out" are correct. To come to this conclusion without consulting the key section I could spend a couple of hours browsing the dictionaries and in the end I would find the answer, but should I do it?
What is the correct strategy for doing suck kind of tasks?
What should I do in order to be able to make these exercises eazy-peezy for me (I want to make them without any mistakes like a native speaker, you know)?
What should I do to remember once and for all that "left out" and "missed out" are perfect in the sentence above?P.S.: I take a look at the other sentence, "You’ve made/done/performed a mistake somewhere in this paragraph." I know "made" is 100% correct and "done" is 100% wrong but as for "performed a mistake" I am not sure I have never heard people say that but it could be the same as with "left out" - I've never heard people say "I think I’ve left out the full stop at the end of the sentence, BUT still it's correct.

So, please give me some of your advice. I'd be a great help for me.

Answer

Hi Sasha,

Firstly, I want to correct your first question: "1) What is the correct strategy for doing suck kind of tasks?" -- I think here instead of "suck" you are trying to say "such"? Also, I think perhaps a better way to phrase this would be to say: "1) What is the best strategy for doing these kinds of tasks?"

Next, Unfortunately there is no easy answer to your questions! Even for native speakers, these kinds of tasks and exercises can be boring and time consuming. I think the best strategy for you here is to just try your best to say them in your head and out loud and pick the ones that you think sound best, then compare them against the key. If you are correct or understand the correct answer, that's great! If the answer doesn't make sense to you, I think this would be the time to go look up why in your dictionary/textbook/ask your tutor/etc.

My overall advice to you is just to read. Read read read - a lot! The more you read the more you will pick up on the natural sounding language and conventions. Unfortunately this takes a lot of time, but I think it is the best strategy. In addition to reading, you can chat with a tutor, listen to podcasts, watch TV shows, etc. as these will all expose you to the natural form of language as well. Honestly though, my number one suggestion is just to read as much as you can, as often as you can. It's the number one way to learn in my books.

Answer

Hey, Sasha!

I agree with Ashley! In addition, I should say - as a non-native speaker - that the more we read and listen, the more we feel natural to choose the best option and then, we just say! There are some mistakes that always show that you are not a native speaker, and it's not bad, it means that you speak another language :)
As much as you read and read and study, you get closer to your target. I believe that the most important thing - if your point is to avoid mistakes - is to choose the option you are 100% it is correct, and then read more. This road has no end!

I hope this helps! :)

Answer

I think that you're asking about is "collocations" 
Some words can be understood even if it's wrong, but there're common words that you can be used to putting it with the suitable by training. 
Collocations may be strong or weak. Strong collocations are where the link between the two words is quite fixed and restricted. Weak collocations are where a word can collocate with many other words.
Try to search for the common collocations that you might have already known about it. 
Hope it helps you

Answer

1) What is the correct strategy for doing suck kind of tasks?
2) What should I do in order to be able to make these exercises eazy-peezy for me (I want to make them without any mistakes like a native speaker, you know)?
3) What should I do to remember once and for all that "left out" and "missed out" are perfect in the sentence above and not only this but all the other cases of vocabulary uses?

Answers · 8

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