Funny mistakes in English that can accidentally offend your interlocutor

Sometimes the smallest errors in grammar, pronunciation and spelling can lead to very big and very funny consequences. For those who don’t want to accidentally thank your colleagues for sex in a work chat and explain to the social service that you didn’t intend to eat your children, we have prepared a small cheat sheet. Learn the rules, read the transcriptions, and may he be with you English grammar.

We have already shared a selection top 40 errorsthat Russian-speaking Americans make on the way to their perfect English. Now let's add a few more phrases to the collection that can put you in an awkward position.

Chicken, chicken or maybe an egg?

If you say 'Let's go to KFC to get some chicken' - everyone will understand that you are hungry and want some company on your way to get chicken at KFC. But when you say 'Lit's go to KFC to get some chickens', then questions may arise.

It is unlikely that you are going to buy a dozen chickens, most likely just a few servings of meat. Then it is better to remember that meat is not countable. You don’t say that you want to eat a lot of cows, but just beef. It's the same with chicken: no matter how many servings you take, there will still be 'chicken'. But if we are talking about certain parts of the bird, for example, wings or legs, then these are pieces, which means they can be counted and taken at least 100 pieces.

Thank you

'Thanks always for helping me' – this is what we say when we want to express our gratitude for the constant help and support that a person provides us. But if you replace always on anyway, then there may be a misunderstanding.

For example, if you ask someone for directions and they don't know where to go, you can thank them for their time. 'Thanks anyway' – this will be correct and polite. When a person really helped, then a simple 'Thanks'. But if they are constantly rushing to your aid, like Chip and Dale, then it will obviously come in handy 'Thanks always'.

On the subject: How to memorize words in English: 6 effective ways

Dangerous couple

This is where you need to be extremely careful - we train the articulatory apparatus so as not to get into an awkward situation.

'Thank you for your cooperation' – thank you for your cooperation.

'Thank you for your copulation' - this is also a thank you, but for intercourse.

The problem is that the two words sound very similar. Cooperation means working with other people, and copulation is the formal term for having sex.

Be very careful with these two words. Remember: co- in a word 'cooperate' means jointly, and 'operate' – do some action. You can also give thanks for joint 'copulation', but that's a different conversation.

4. Execution cannot be pardoned.

It's funny how one small comma can make a very big difference in meaning. A young, growing body needs to eat a lot. In the case of the phrase 'Time to eat, children' you call the children to the table. Usually, we use a comma to separate an address to someone. But if you lose this comma, then the children will definitely not like this lunch. 'Time to eat children' - This is the time to eat children. Watch your pronunciation, articulation and intonation, otherwise your neighbors may call social services right before lunch.

5. Board of Directors or Stifled?

Well, the last couple'Executive board room'and'Executive bored room'. Board and bored They sound the same, but their meanings are radically different. 'Board room' is a meeting room where people, such as members of a company's board of directors, gather. A 'bored room' – boring room. If such a place existed, then all the boring people in the city would gather there. Some board meetings can be boring, of course, but it's best not to write about it in the work chat unless you plan to quit in the next couple of hours.