Here is another writing practice where the goal is to find and correct the mistakes. Students can read the first text with all the mistakes and try to correct them by themselves. Afterwards, students can read the corrected version and compare it to theirs.

There are also downloadable worksheets and answers below each text and explanations for the corrections.

The Three Stories

1. Strange Night
2. Watching my Neighbor
3. Strange Video

Text 1 – Strange Night (13 mistakes)

It was a strange night, there seemed to be a chill in the air. I decided to make a delicious vegetable soap, my mom’s recipe, but when I tried to turn in my oven, I noticed that the gas had been cut off, it was very strange however I didn’t pay any attention to it.

I was in living room and choosing what film that I would like to watch, when I felt a bit cold. I went up at the attic to turn in my heater, but it didn’t work. What was it happening?

When I went back down, I saw my phone’s line had been cut off. I decided took my cellphone and rang up to my neighbor Mr. Paul, a known police officer that area. He picked up and looked to me through the window and said slowly: “Don’t move”.

Suddenly, I heard a loud noise that sounded like a gun firing, and it was! Mr. Paul had shot Manny Buffalo, a wanted robber.

I was relieved that nightmare was over, on the other hand I wondered, what Manny Buffalo want from me? Nobody will never know.

Corrections of Text 1 – Strange Night

It was a strange night, there seemed to be a chill in the air. I decided to make a delicious vegetable soup¹, my mom’s recipe, but when I tried to turn on² my oven, I noticed that the gas had been cut off, it was very strange, however, I didn’t care.

I was in the³ living room and choosing what film *⁴ I would like to watch, when I felt a bit cold. I went up to⁵ the attic to turn on⁶ my heater, but it didn’t work. What was *⁷ happening?

When I went back down, I saw my phone’s line had been cut off. I decided to take⁸ my cellphone and rang up *⁹ my neighbor Mr. Paul, known police officer in¹⁰ that area. He picked up and looked at¹¹ me through the window and said slowly: “Don’t move”.

Suddenly, I heard a loud noise that sounded like a gun firing, and it was! Mr. Paul had shot Manny Buffalo, a wanted robber.

I was relieved that nightmare was over, on the other hand I wondered, what Manny Buffalo wanted¹² from me? Nobody will ever¹³ know.

Explaining the mistakes

1. Soup (n) – A common misspelling which happens all the time.
2. turn on (phr. v.) – We turn on a TV and turn on a computer. Basically, all electronic devices you can turn on.
3. the (deter.) – When using singular nouns, you must use a/an/the, depending on the situation.
4. that (relative clause) – When we use “what” we don’t need “that”. We can rephrase the sentence: “I was in the living room choosing the movie that we wanted to watch”.
5. to (prep.) – This is a preposition of movement, as in “I’m going to school”.
6. turn on (phr. v.) – The same phrasal verb used in 2 for electronics.
7. it (pron.) – It is a personal pronoun and is not necessary in this sentence.
8. to take (v.) – When we have two verbs together, the second verb needs to be either infinitive or gerund. In this case, the first verb is “decided” and after infinitive “to take” not gerund.
9. to (prep.) – Rang up is a phrasal verb and doesn’t need the preposition “to”.
10. in (prep.) – This preposition is used to specify which area the person is located in.
11. at (prep.) – We use the preposition “to” for movement, in this case, the subject can “look at” someone not “look to”
12. wanted (v.) – This is a story told mostly in the past simple tense and so this verb needs to be in its past tense form.
13. ever (adv.) – This adverb is used in negative and questions. This sentence is negative:
    • Have you ever been to Japan?
    • I have never watched a Marvel movie.
    • Don’t ever talk to me like that!

Student and teacher worksheet

Text 2 – Watching my Neighbor (11 Mistakes)

One night, I looked out the window and saw my neighbor. He was sit on an old chair with sunglasses on. That was strange because it was the whole of the night.

I thought to me: “What crazy man…”. I didn’t care and went back to bed.

In the next morning, I was leaving my house to go to work, and I saw Mr. John, my crazy neighbor, he was still sitting on the same old chair with his sunglasses on. I wondered if he had spent all night there. Well, to each his own.

Surprisingly, when I arrived home, I can’t believe it, Mr. John was still there. I have never been a curious person, but that was unbelievable. How could somebody stand in the same position for so a long time?

I went to Mr. John’s house, when I touched him, he was cold and suddenly he fell on the ground.

I screamed such loudly that the whole neighborhood heard. At the same time, Mrs. Mary appeared and called the ambulance and the police. They were fast and arrived fifteen minutes later.

Poor thing, Mr. John pass away due to a heart attack and he was dead for 2 days. He had lived alone, and he was a very reserved person, perhaps this is the reason nobody had missed him.

Corrections of Text 2 – Watching my Neighbor

One night, I looked out the window and saw my neighbor. He was sitting¹ on an old chair with sunglasses on. That was very strange because it was the middle² of the night.

I thought to myself³: “What a⁴ crazy man…”. I didn’t care and I went back to bed.

*⁵ The next morning, I was leaving my house to go to work, and I saw Mr. John, my crazy neighbor, he was still sitting on the same old chair with his sunglasses on. I wondered if he had spent all night there. Well, to each his own.

Surprisingly, when I arrived home, I couldn’t⁶ believe it, Mr. John was still there. I have never been a curious person, but that was unbelievable. How could somebody stand in the same position for such⁷ a long time?

I went to Mr. John’s house, when I touched him, he was cold and suddenly he fell on the ground.

I screamed so⁸ loudly that the whole neighborhood heard. At the same time, Mrs. Mary appeared and called the ambulance and the police. They were fast and arrived fifteen minutes later.

Poor thing, Mr. John had passed away⁹ due to a heart attack and he had been¹⁰ dead for 2 days. He had lived alone, and he was a very reserved person, perhaps this was¹¹ the reason nobody had missed him.

Explaining the mistakes

1. was sitting (v.) – Past continuous verb. When telling a story, the past continuous helps explain the context of a story.
2. The middle of the night (phr.) – A common expression when talking about a time, late at night.
3. myself (reflexive pron.) – When talking about an action you did, you must use a reflexive pronoun.
4. a (deter.) – A singular noun needs a determiner such as a/an/the.
5. In (prep.) – The next morning doesn’t need the preposition “in”.
6. couldn’t (modal v.) – This modal verb should be in its past form.
7. such (pred.) – We use such when we have an adjective and a noun:
   • It was such a good party.
   • Acapulco is such a nice holiday destination.
8. so (pred.) – We use so when we have an adjective but no noun.
   • She’s so nice, isn’t she?
   • My homework is so difficult!
9. passed away (phr.) – We always use this expression in the past simple.
10. had been (v.) – When talking about an action which occurred before another action in the past, we must use the past perfect.
    • Before he arrived, I had already finished my dinner.
    • By the time the movie was over I had finished my drink.
11. was (v.) – When talking about something that has already happened, we should use the past simple.

Student and teacher worksheet

Text 3 – Mystery Video (12 Mistakes)

Arthur and Madeline sat down together and was about to watch TV when Madeline said she was a surprise. She had gotten the security tapes from her dad which worked as security in their neighborhood. It wasn’t common to watch camera footage, however, they didn’t have anything to do, so they turned on the TV and started watching the houses, the street and all the people that were walked there.

These tapes were using by police officers when they wanted to look for anything suspicious. Madelaine had asked her father and anything she asks, she gets. Her father spoils her and never says no to nothing.

When the video started, Arthur started sweating and didn’t seemed to like what he was seeing. Madeline asked him what his problem was, but he just got up and left her alone.

That was so stranger, despite she pretended not to notice and kept watching. Suddenly, she noticed why her boyfriend didn’t like the video. He was in the video and kissing another girl! She couldn’t believe, but she would never put up with that. She was sad but had an idea.

Instead of ringing up Arthur, she was calling her best friend Claire, they decided to go on a big trip and Madelaine posted a lot of fun photos on social media showing that she was having a great time. That wasn’t the perfect way to forget him, but she was surely that was the best revenge!

Correction of Text 3 – Mystery Video

Arthur and Madeline sat down together and were¹ about to watch TV when Madeline said she had² a surprise. She had gotten the security tapes from her dad who³ worked as security in their neighborhood. It wasn’t common to watch camera footage, however, they didn’t have anything to do, so they turned on the TV and started watching the houses, the street and all the people that were walking⁴ there.

These tapes were used⁵ by police officers when they wanted to look for anything suspicious. Madelaine had asked her father and anything she asks, she gets. Her father spoils her and never says no to anything⁶.

When the video started, Arthur started sweating and didn’t seem⁷ to like what he was seeing. Madeline asked him what his problem was, but he just got up and left her alone.

That was so strange⁸, however⁹ she pretended not to notice and kept watching. Suddenly, she noticed why her boyfriend didn’t like the video. He was in the video and kissing another girl! She couldn’t believe it¹⁰, but she would never put up with that. She was sad but had an idea.

Instead of ringing up Arthur, she called¹¹ her best friend Claire, they decided to go on a big trip and Madelaine posted a lot of fun photos on social media showing that she was having a great time. That wasn’t the perfect way to forget him, but she was sure¹² that was the best revenge!

Explaining the mistakes

1. were (aux.) – When using plural, we should use the auxiliary “were”, not “was”.
2. had (v.) – We should use the verb “had” when referring to possession.
3. who (relative clause) – In this case, the subject is the police officer and so we should use the relative clause “who”.
   • It was that man who told me to get a new job.
4. were walking (v.) – In a past continuous sentence we should use the auxiliary was/were + v(ing).
5. were used (passive v.) – The past passive also uses the same auxiliary but follows it up with the past participle.
6. anything (pron.) – When making negative sentences, we can use “anything” but not “nothing”.
7. didn’t seem (aux. + v.) – In the past simple, after an auxiliary, the verb must remain in its infinitive form.
8. strange (adj.) – There is no comparative in the sentence so we should use the adjective form.
9. however (adv.) – When trying to show contrast we can use both “despite” and “however”, they are used in different ways, though:
   • Despite having a lot of money, Johnny wasn’t happy.
   • Johnny had a lot of money; however, he had a lot of money.
10. believe it (v. + prep.) – Some students forget to include the preposition, but it is important for the meaning of the sentence.
11. called (v.) – This story is told in the past, so it is important to take into consideration what tenses to use. In this case, past simply makes more sense than past continuous.
12. sure (adj.) – It’s important to distinguish the adjective and the adverb. The adjective describes the noun and the adverb describe a verb.
    • This child is genuinely nice.
    • This is a nicely behaved child.

Student and teacher worksheet

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