Daily English Sentence Corrections – Episode 5

Shaktimatha 369 – Learn English • Improve Daily

Welcome to Episode 5 of our English learning series! Today we focus on new common mistakes, simple rules, correct examples, and a phonetics tip.

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1. “Used to” – Common Confusion

❌ Wrong: I use to play cricket when I was a child.
✔️ Correct: I used to play cricket when I was a child.

Rule: “Used to” = past habit. Always add “-d”.

2. “According to” Misuse

❌ Wrong: According to me, this is not right.
✔️ Correct: In my opinion, this is not right.

Rule: “According to” is used only for others’ statements.

3. “Revert Back” Error

❌ Wrong: Please revert back soon.
✔️ Correct: Please revert soon.

4. “Discuss About” Error

❌ Wrong: We will discuss about the plan.
✔️ Correct: We will discuss the plan.

5. “Prefer A than B” Error

❌ Wrong: I prefer tea than coffee.
✔️ Correct: I prefer tea to coffee.

6. Present Perfect vs Past Simple

❌ Wrong: I have seen him yesterday.
✔️ Correct: I saw him yesterday.

7. Word Order in Questions

❌ Wrong: Why you are late?
✔️ Correct: Why are you late?

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Practice Section

1. I use to watch cartoons.
2. According to me, she is honest.
3. Please revert back soon.
4. We will discuss about the trip.
5. I have finished it yesterday.

Type: “Show Answers Episode 5”

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 Mini Phonetics Master Tip – Episode 5

🎧 Understanding the Difference Between /s/ and /ʃ/ Sounds (“s” vs “sh”)

Many English learners confuse the /s/ sound (as in sun, sip, see) with the /ʃ/ sound (as in ship, shine, she). These two sounds change both the pronunciation and meaning of words.

1. How the sounds are produced

• /s/ sound: Air flows sharply between the tongue and the teeth. It is a “thin” sound.
  Example: sip, sell, send, sister
• /ʃ/ sound: The tongue is slightly raised, and air flows over a wider area, creating a “sh” sound.
  Example: ship, shell, shine, sugar

2. Minimal Pairs (Words that differ by only one sound)

Practice these pairs slowly:

• sip — ship
• see — she
• sell — shell
• sack — shack
• sin — shin
• so — show

3. Common mistakes learners make

• Using /s/ instead of /ʃ/: ❌ I saw a sip on the beach. ✔️ I saw a ship on the beach.
• Using /ʃ/ instead of /s/: ❌ I sheen a movie. ✔️ I seen / I saw a movie.

4. Daily practice technique (1 minute)

Repeat this sentence slowly:

“She sells sea shells by the sea shore.”

This improves speed, clarity, tongue control, and distinction between /s/ and /ʃ/.

5. Real-life speaking improvement

When you pronounce these two sounds correctly, your English becomes:

• Clearer
• More natural
• Easier for native speakers to understand
• More professional in interviews and presentations

Practice Daily for 7 Days:

• 30 seconds minimal pairs
• 30 seconds tongue twisters

Result: Your pronunciation improves automatically within a week. 

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Shaktimatha 369 – Learn English • Improve Confidence Daily