Common Beginner Mistakes

What you’ll learn

Check frequent mistakes in noun phrases, subject–verb forms, questions, and modal patterns.

ពិនិត្យកំហុសដែលជួបញឹកញាប់ក្នុងឃ្លានាម ទម្រង់ប្រធាន និងកិរិយាសព្ទ សំណួរ និង modal verbs។

Meaning and use

A useful correction starts by identifying the pattern, not only replacing a word. First check the subject and the intended time. Then look for a helper such as does, did, can, or will: these are followed by a base main verb in the patterns you studied. Check singular and plural nouns and whether an article or possessive word is needed. Finally, check question order and punctuation. Use this page as a checklist when you review your own writing.

ពេលកែប្រយោគ ត្រូវស្គាល់ទម្រង់មុននឹងប្តូរពាក្យ។ ពិនិត្យប្រធាន និងពេលវេលា រួចមើលថាមាន does, did, can ឬ will ឬអត់។ បន្ទាប់មកពិនិត្យនាមឯកវចនៈ និងពហុវចនៈ article និងលំដាប់ពាក្យក្នុងសំណួរ។ ប្រើបញ្ជីនេះពេលពិនិត្យការសរសេររបស់អ្នក។

Grammar patterns

Pattern	Example or form
Check the subject and be	She is happy. They are happy.
Check a helper plus a base verb	Does she work? Did he go? She can speak.
Check a noun phrase	a book; two books; my book
Check question order	Where do you live? Where is Dara?

Examples

1. She studies English every day.

   នាងរៀនភាសាអង់គ្លេសរាល់ថ្ងៃ។

2. He doesn’t like coffee.

   គាត់មិនចូលចិត្តកាហ្វេទេ។

3. Did they go home?

   តើពួកគេបានទៅផ្ទះហើយឬនៅ?

4. These books are mine.

   សៀវភៅទាំងនេះជារបស់ខ្ញុំ។

Everyday conversation

Maly: Is “Does she studies English?” correct?

Dara: Use Does she study English?

Maly: Why study?

Dara: Because does is followed by the base verb.

Common mistakes

Instead of	Use	Why
She are happy.	She is happy.	Match be to the subject she.
I have two book.	I have two books.	Use a plural noun after two.
Does she works here?	Does she work here?	Use a base verb after does.
He didn’t went home.	He didn’t go home.	Use go after didn’t.
She can to swim.	She can swim.	Do not use to after can.
This is mine bag.	This is my bag.	Use my before a noun and mine without that noun.
I am know the answer.	I know the answer.	Know normally uses the simple form in this meaning.
You mustn’t to open it.	You mustn’t open it.	Use a base verb after mustn’t.

Practice

Try these questions before opening the answers. Write or say each answer.

សាកល្បងឆ្លើយសំណួរទាំងនេះជាមុនសិន មុននឹងបើកមើលចម្លើយ។ អ្នកអាចសរសេរ ឬនិយាយចម្លើយរបស់អ្នក។

1. Correct: She doesn’t likes tea.
2. Correct: I have three childs.
3. Correct: They was tired.
4. Correct: He will comes tomorrow.

Answers and explanations

Show answers / បង្ហាញចម្លើយ

1. She doesn’t like tea.

   Doesn’t is followed by a base verb.

2. I have three children.

   Children is the irregular plural of child.

3. They were tired.

   Use were with they in an ordinary past statement.

4. He will come tomorrow.

   Use the base form come after will.

Quick recap

• Identify the pattern before correcting the word.
• Check be, helper verbs, noun number, and question order.
• Keep a small list of your own frequent mistakes with corrected examples.