Four patterns worth cleaning up. Read the rule, check the examples, then work through the exercises in each tab.
Explainer
Some English verbs are transitive — they take their object directly, with no preposition in between. "Discuss" is the one you use most, but it's part of a bigger family, and it's easy to accidentally add a preposition because the equivalent verb in Russian/Kazakh often needs one.
Let's discuss about the budget.
Let's discuss the budget.
They reached to an agreement.
They reached an agreement.
Here's the fuller picture — some verbs never take a preposition before the object, but a few look-alikes do. Mixing them up is the real trap:
✓ No preposition
discuss the plan
explain the issue
mention the risk
enter the room
request a refund
reach a decision
approach the client
describe the problem
answer the question
✗ Needs a preposition
talk about the plan
respond to the question
ask for a refund
listen to the explanation
attend to the client (= take care of)
Tricky pair: "attend the meeting" (no prep) vs. "attend to the client" (= handle their needs) — different meaning, different structure.
Exercise 1 — Choose the Correct Sentence
Tap the correct version. (10 items, mixed verbs)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Exercise 2 — Fix the Sentence
Read each sentence, say the fix out loud, then check. (10 items, mixed verbs)
1. Let's discuss about the roadmap.
Let's discuss the roadmap.
2. He mentioned about the issue in the meeting.
He mentioned the issue in the meeting.
3. She entered into the office.
She entered the office.
4. We requested for more time.
We requested more time.
5. They reached to an agreement.
They reached an agreement.
6. Can you explain about this chart?
Can you explain this chart?
7. He answered to my question.
He answered my question.
8. I need to approach to the client carefully.
I need to approach the client carefully.
9. She described about her experience.
She described her experience.
10. Let's discuss about next steps.
Let's discuss next steps.
Exercise 3 — Spot All the Errors
This paragraph has 8 mistakes from today's pattern. Read it, find as many as you can, then reveal the corrected version.
Yesterday we discussed about the new roadmap for almost two hours. The team mentioned about a few risks, and I explained about our plan to handle them. Afterward, Dana entered into my office to ask about the timeline. She requested for an extra week, and after some discussion, we reached to an agreement. I answered to all her questions, and she described about her concerns in detail before leaving.
Yesterday we discussed the new roadmap for almost two hours. The team mentioned a few risks, and I explained our plan to handle them. Afterward, Dana entered my office to ask about the timeline. She requested an extra week, and after some discussion, we reached an agreement. I answered all her questions, and she described her concerns in detail before leaving.
Explainer
Time expressions with next, last, this, every don't take a preposition before them when they refer to a specific period.
on next week / in next week
next week
in last month
last month
on this week
this week
Same pattern for next/last/this + Monday, year, quarter, etc.
Exercise 1 — Choose the Correct Sentence
Tap the correct version. (10 items)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Exercise 2 — Fix the Sentence
Read each sentence, say the fix out loud, then check. (10 items)
1. We're meeting on next Tuesday.
We're meeting next Tuesday.
2. I finished the report in last week.
I finished the report last week.
3. He's starting on next month.
He's starting next month.
4. She traveled in last year.
She traveled last year.
5. Let's catch up on next week.
Let's catch up next week.
6. The launch is in next quarter.
The launch is next quarter.
7. I saw him on last Friday.
I saw him last Friday.
8. We're doing this on this week.
We're doing this this week.
9. The meeting is on next Monday at 10am.
The meeting is next Monday at 10am.
10. I'll send it in next week.
I'll send it next week.
Explainer
Might have is followed by the past participle (V3) — not the base form, not the past simple. It expresses a past possibility: something that was possibly true, seen from now.
He might have go. / He might have went.
He might have gone.
She might have forget the meeting.
She might have forgotten the meeting.
Same pattern for may have / could have + V3.
Exercise 1 — Choose the Correct Sentence
Tap the correct version. (10 items)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Exercise 2 — Fix the Sentence
Read each sentence, say the fix out loud, then check. (10 items)
1. He might have forget to send it.
He might have forgotten to send it.
2. They might have went to the wrong room.
They might have gone to the wrong room.
3. I might have make a typo.
I might have made a typo.
4. She might have see the email.
She might have seen the email.
5. We might have took too long.
We might have taken too long.
6. He might have leave already.
He might have left already.
7. They might have miss the call.
They might have missed the call.
8. I might have give the wrong answer.
I might have given the wrong answer.
9. She might have do it wrong.
She might have done it wrong.
10. He might have ate before the meeting.
He might have eaten before the meeting.
Explainer
Two article rules, often mixed up in the same sentence:
Our product was Map.
Our product was the map. (common noun — needs an article)
This is for the Egor.
This is for Egor. (personal name — never takes an article)
I talked to the Dana about Map.
I talked to Dana about the map. (both rules, one sentence)
Before you fix anything, ask: is this word a thing (needs a/the) or a person's name (needs nothing)?
Exercise 1 — Choose the Correct Sentence
Tap the correct version. Some test the object rule, some the name rule — a couple test both at once. (10 items)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Exercise 2 — Fix the Sentence
Read each sentence, say the fix out loud, then check. A couple have more than one error. (10 items)