Mediation and Written Interaction task (Mistakes)
Here you have a list of mistakes made in the mediation and written interaction task. The objective of this entry is to choose a mistake and leave a comment with a possible correction.
Do not forget to revise the comments before writing yours in order to avoid choosing a mistake already corrected by someone else.
This is the input you were given
Mira. No estoy contento con TOM. Ya ha hecho dos fiestas y no ha recogido nada. Por favor, ¿Puedes pedirle que friegue los cacharros y que recoja y limpie la sala de estar, la cocina y el baño? Gracias
You need to transmit this information on the part of Andrés to Tom. TOM is untidy and ANDRÉS is not happy with that.
- When you have a party I went that you cleaner the plaits.
- I like that the bathroom and the kitchen and the salon are cleaner everyday.
- I am speaking with Andres because you have doing two party.
- You don´t clean here.
- Do you can clean the kitchen.
- Hellow Tom
- Andrés (?) your partner, he likes speak.
- I speak for here.
- He likes the parties.
- He don´t likes with you don’t have the housework/homework.
- Do you have the before the parties the housework.
- Thank you, very much.
- Andres have a problem.
- You make two partys and you don´t clean nothing the 2 times.
- Please (?) put glass in washing machine and clean (?) kitche and (?) bathroom.
- Tom:
- Andres isn´t happy with your, because you are doing two diner and you doesn´t clear the flat.
- Can you clean the flat, cooking at bathroom Please. Because we is leaving in the flat and we like is clean in the flat
- Andres, I will be sorry about this, I’m going to explain until possible
- In the last party, I won´t cleaned the rooms because I completely forgotten
- In the next year, I will promise that I will clean my room, the kitchen and the bathroom until finished the next party. (INCOHERENT)
- You can´t do party in the flat, because she don´t want to live with noise
- He like doing the homework, but you don´t clear the living room, kitchen, etc.
- Please, you call with your partner
- Andres like sharing a fat whit you (?) but he´s a person very tidy
- He doesn´t like being the kitchen not clean.
- Andres has disagree with you , because…
- You must wash your objects of the last week
- ¿Can you wash this please?
- If you can, clean you the living-room, the kitchen and the bathroom please
- The kitchen and the bathroom are dirty because you made two partys last week
- It’s important (?)have a good flat
- We would like that you will be a clean person
- Greetings
- Andres is very untidy (INCOHERENT)
- You are the celebration, but you can have the homeworks (INCOHERENT)
- Andres loves you but can you clean the living-room, the kitchen(?)
- That’s very important for his
- I have a Andres´s Whatsapp
- Andres says what you has been two meetings (?) but you don´t cleaning the sitting-room, as cooking, and as bathroom.
- I think what you have speak to him
- Andres didn´t happy with you
- You have a two parties7
- Please ¿Can you wash the _(?)___, clean de staff room, the kitchen and the WC.
- I talk you about any cuestions that are a problems for a god relations whit your rentmen.
- He need that you clean the disses
- He need that you clean the livin roon and, cookin and the bedroom
- Andres isn´t happy with your partys.
- He thinks what you are very intidy, because you did two partys
- When you do a party, you clean the living room, kitchen and bathroom, always
- Andrés doen´t speak english
- Andres needs to sends you and whatsapp message (INCOHERENT)
- He will like tidy in the home. He doesnlt happy (INCOHERENT)
- He wants a kitchen, taulo (INCOHERENT)
- I write this message, because I feel what there is a problem between Andres and you into flat.
- Excuse my (?) but I….
- I know what is possible be fine (INCOHERENT)
- If you put more care in the housework and you cleans the living roon, the kitchen and the bathroom always you uses
- Can you clean (?) plates, (?)kitchen and (?)toilet?
- You never do the houseworks
- He don´t like parties because he has to clean them
- Last week, you are doing two meeting
- You have two partys
1-When you have a party, I want you to clean the dishes
Hello Encarni,
Your sentence is grammatically correct, but not semantically speaking. Apart from that, there is a coherence mistake. Let me explain to you:
Firstly, we can’t use «I». Why? «I» is not coherent as (ya que) it’s Andrés who wants you to clean the dishes, not you!
Secondly, as I said to some of your partners, «Andrés wants you to clean the dishes» is very direct, so it can be rude. The task says «be polite». What I mean is that English speakers are not direct when speaking, that is to say, an English speaker would say «Can you clean the dishes?» rather than «Clean the dishes» or «Andrés would like you to clean the dishes» rather than «Andrés wants you to clean the dishes».
By the way, «clean the dishes» is not wrong, but I would have used «wash the dishes»
I hope you understand my explanation.
Regards,
Pilar
5-Can you clean the kitchen?
That´s correct!
Regards,
Pilar
46. He need that you clean the disses.
The mistake in this sentence is in the verb and the sustantive, is third person needs and the sustantive, dishes.
Hello again,
Can you write the new sentence after your correction, please?
Cheers
Pilar
46. He need that you clean the disses.
The correct sentence is He needs that you clean dishes.
Hi again,
Thanks for leaving a new comment with the new sentence. I am afraid your correction is not right. Why? Let me explain to you.
Before correcting, we need to know the verb in the sentence and find out the verb pattern of that verb. In this sentence the verb is «need». If we look up a good dictionary, we can check that «need that» doesn’t exist in English. One possible verb pattern of «need» is «need somebody to do something».
Go on this link to understand more about the verb patterns of «need» and other similar verbs like «want», etc.
Finally, you forgot to include «the» between «clean» and «dishes»
Taking into account my explanation, can you write another comment with a new correction please?
I am looking forward to your answer!
Regards,
Pilar
49. He thinks what you are very intidy, because you did two partys.
In this sentence, the mistakes are what, intidy, did, and partys, it should be, that, untidy and have two parties.
Hello Débora,
Can you write the new sentence after your correction, please?
Thanks in advance.
Pilar
49. He thinks what you are very intidy, because you did two partys.
He thinks that you are very untidy, because you have two parties. This is the correct sentence
Hello,
Thanks for your new comment!
Your sentence is not coherent. Why? this part of the sentence «because you have two parties» is not coherent as (ya que) a person is not untidy because of (debido a) a party. A person is untidy when he/she has a party.
Did you understand my explanation? I hope so.
Regards,
Pilar
13. Andres have a problem.
The verb is incorrect. Andres has a problem.
That´s right!
7. Andrés (?) your partner, he likes speak
The correct sentence: he likes to talk
Hello,
Firstly, Andrés is not Tom´s partner, Andrés is Tom´s flatmate. Then, it doesn´t make sense when the student writes «Andrés likes talking to you» as we are not talking about if Andrés likes talking to Tom or he doesn´t.
The correction, Rosa, would be «Andrés, your flatmate, would like to talk to you». Despite the correction, the sentence is not coherent as what Andrés really want is that Tom cleans the flat after having parties. So, the coherent sentence would be «Andres, your flatmate, would like you to clean the flat when you have a party».
I hope you understand my correction.
Regards,
Pilar
1. I went that you cleaner the plaits.
The correct:
I want you to clean the dishes
Hi Rosa,
Your correction is right grammatically speaking, but not semantically. Let me explain the mistake the student made and the reason why your correction is not semantically correct.
We can’t say «I want that you cleaner the plaits». Why?
Firstly, we can’t use «I». Why? Because it’s not coherent. It’s Andrés who wants Tom to clean the dishes, not you.
Secondly, «cleaner» is not a verb, it is a noun.
Thirdly, «plaits» doesn’t exist in English.
Forthly, the verbal pattern of the verb «want» is «want somebody to do something». The student who made this mistake translated literally. We say in Spanish «Yo quiero que tú limpies» and this would be in English «I want you to clean». Other examples with this structure:
I want her to do her homework (Yo quiero que ella haga los deberes)
I want him to study (Yo quiero que ella estudie)
I want them to follow the rules (Yo quiero que ellos sigan las reglas)
I want Peter to love me (Yo quiero que Peter me quiera)
As we can see after «want» we can use an object pronoun (me, you, him/her, us, you -plural, them) or a proper noun and then an infinitive with «to».
In conclusion, your correction, Rosa, is grammatically correct, but not semantically as the exact correction would be «Andres wants you to clean the dishes». But I must add something else to my explanation. «Andrés wants you to clean the dishes» is very direct. English speakers are not direct, they are very indirect when speaking. What I mean is that they prefer to say «Would you mind cleaning the dishes?» or «Can/Could you clean the dishes?» rather than «Clean the dishes» or «I want you to clean the dishes». If we are very direct in English, we can be rude especially with people we don’t know. The problem here is that Spanish speakers are very direct and English speakers are not.
I hope you understand my explanation.
Regards,
Pilar
2.- I want you to wash the dishes after every party and clean thebathroom, kitchen and living room.
Hello,
Let me explain to you some details:
Firstly, the use of «I» is not coherent. It’s Andres who wants Tom to clean the dishes, not you.
Secondly, you forgot the article «the» before «kitchen» and «living room».
The exact correction would be «Andres wants you to wash the dishes after very party and clean the bathroom, the kitchen and the living room.»
As I said to Rosa, one of your partners, the problem of «Andrés wants you…..and the living room» is that the sentence is very direct and it can be rude. The English language is very indirect. What I mean is that an English speaker would say «Andrés would like you to clean the dishes after every party….» rather than «Andrés wants you to clean», an English speaker would say «Can you clean the dishes?» rather than «Clean the dishes» due to a question of politeness.
I hope you understand my explanation.
Regards,
Pilar
4.-You never clean.
Your correction is right! By the way, it can be very rude if you say «you never clean» as an intermediary between two people. Remember that the activity says «be polite». English speakers are always polite, so they would not probably say «you never clean», they would say something like «Andrés thinks you should clean the flat after having a party».
I hope you understand my explanation.
Regards,
Pilar
10. He doesn’t like with you don’t do the housework
Hello Mª del Mar,
Your correction is not right! Why? Let me explain to you:
In order to correct this sentence appropriately, we need to look up the dictionary to know the possible verb patterns of the verb «like». You can use the online dictionary «Oxford Learner’s Dictionary» to find out the verb patterns of «like». One of this verb patterns is «like somebody (not) doing something» or «like it when». Taking into account these verb patterns, what would be the right sentence? Please can you try to correct it again?
I’m looking forward to your answer!
Regards,
Pilar
10. He doesn’t like doing housework with you
Hello,
There is a mistake. You forgot to include the article «the» between «doing» and «housework».
By the way, this sentence is not coherent as (ya que) the original text doesn´t say anything about if Andrés doesn´t like doing the housework with Tom. We cannot invent information in a mediation task. We need to transmit the information in the original text using our own words.
I hope you understand my explanation.
Regards,
Pilar
49. He thinks you are very untidy, because you had two parties.
Sorry.
49. He thinks that you are very untidy because you had two parties.
Hello Nani:
Your sentence is not coherent. Why? this part of the sentence «because you had two parties» is not coherent as (ya que) a person is not untidy because of (debido a) a party, two parties, or three parties. A person can be untidy because he/she doesn´t clean after having a party.
By the way, we can say «He thinks that your are very untidy…..» or «We think you are untidy…» as «that» is optional.
Did you understand my explanation? I hope so.
Regards,
Pilar
49. He thinks that you are very untidy because you had two parties and you didn’t do the housework after parties.
Nearly correct! Just add «the» between «after» and «parties».
6. Hello Tom.
Hello,
After «Hello Tom» we need to use a comma, that is «Hello Tom,»
7. Andres, your partner would like to (speak, more formal) talk to you.
Hello Nani,
Sentence number 7 has already been corrected. Anyway, as I said to Rosa, your partner, who tried to correct this sentence, Andrés is not Tom´s partner, Andrés is Tom´s flatmate. Apart from that, you need to use a comma after «flatmate» > «Andres, your flatmate, ….». Finally, the problem of this sentence is again coherence. What Andres really wants is that Tom cleans the flat after having a party.
I hope you understand my corrections.
Regards,
Pilar
9. He likes parties.
Good correction! However, (Sin embargo) the problem is that Andrés doesn´t say anything about if he
likes parties or he doesn´t. Again the student invents information which is not in the original text.
10. He doesn’t like that you don’t do the housework.
Hello Nani,
Your correction is not right! Why? Let me explain to you:
In order to correct this sentence appropriately, we need to look up the dictionary to know the possible verb patterns of the verb «like». You can use the online dictionary «Oxford Learner’s Dictionary» to find out the verb patterns of «like». One of this verb patterns is «like somebody (not) doing something» or «like it when». Taking into account these verb patterns, what would be the right sentence? Please can you try to correct it again?
I’m looking forward to your answer!
Regards,
Pilar
13. Andrés has a problem.
Great!
By the way, could you correct those sentences which have not been previously corrected?. Most of your corrections correspond to sentences other partners tried to correct. That makes me correct the same mistakes over and over again. Try to read the comments by other students in order to know which mistakes you shouldn´t correct again.
Thanks in advance,
Pilar
14. You had two parties and you did not clean anything the two times.
Correct!
15. Please, could you put the dishes in the dishwasher and clean the kitchen and the bathroom?
That´s simply perfect!
17. Andres isn´t happy with you, because you had two dinners and you didn´t clear the flat.
Hello,
First, we do not use a comma before «because». Apart from that, the original text doesn´t talk about «dinners», the text mentions «fiestas», that is, «parties». Finally, «clear the flat» doesn´t exist in English as a synonym of «limpiar el piso». How do we say «limpiar» in English?
Try to correct the sentence number 17 again, please.
I hope you understand my explanation.
Regards,
Pilar
17.Andrés isn´t happy with you because you had two parties and you didn’t do the housework after these.
That´s right! Anyway, I would have added «parties» after «these».
Regards,
Pilar
20. At the last party, I didn’t clean the rooms because I completely forgot.
Hello Nani,
I would have added the complement «about it» (=about cleaning) to «forgot. Anyway, the sentence is not coherent as this information is not in the original text. The text doesn´t say anything about you (the intermediary of the information by Andres) forgetting cleaning the rooms. Despite the fact that (A pesar de que) your correction is right, the sentence that the student wrote in the task is not coherent.
I hope you understand my explanation.
Regards,
Pilar
22. You can’t have a party in the flat, because he doesn’t want to live in a dirty flat
Hello Mª del Mar,
Firstly, the first problem with sentence number 22 is that that information is not said in the original text. Andres doesn´t want Tom not to have a party. He really wants Tom to clean when he has a party in the flat. So this information is invented. That´s the big problem of the sentence. Remember that we can´t invent information, we need to transmit the information we are given in the original text using our own words.
Secondly, let´s imagine that that information is in the original text we have to mediate. The first mistake is using «you can´t have a party». This is very direct and therefore rude. It would be more indirect and natural to use «you shouldn´t….». The second mistake is that the reason given in order not to have a party is that Andrés doesn´t want to live in a dirty flat. That reason is not coherent as (ya que) the fact that Tom has a party doesn´t have to mean «living in a dirty flat». Therefore, we need to change the reason, we could have said «you shouldn´t have a party in the flat because then you never clean or we can just change the end «you shouldn´t have a party in the flat if then you don´t clean it».
In short, as I said to you the big problem of this sentence is that the information in sentence 22 is not in the original text, so that information is wrong. The student is not mediating appropriately.
One last thing, we never use a comma before «because».
I hope you understand my explanation.
Regards,
Pilar
40.- Andres says what you has been two meetings but you don´t clearning the sitting room, as cooking, and as bathroom.
I think what the correct sentence is: Andres says what you have had two parties, but you don´t have cleaned the sitting room, the kitchen and the bathroom.
Hello Mª Luisa,
There are some mistakes in your correction:
1. Andrés says what > we never say «I think what», we say «I think that: «Andrés says that»
2. You don´t have cleaned > «have cleaned» is a tense in English, present perfect simple, which is made up of the auxiliary verb «have» and the past participle of the main verb. In this case the main verb is «clean» and its past participle is «cleaned». Taking into account (teniendo en cuenta) that this tense («have cleaned») has an auxiliary verb «have» we do not have to use another auxiliary for the negative sentence as you did («don´t have cleaned»). Consequently, the negative of «have cleaned» is not «don´t have cleaned» is…………….? What is the word we use in English to make the negative of auxiliary verbs like «be». If you know the answer, you will find out how to make the negative of «have cleaned».
I am looking forward to your answer!
Regards,
Pilar
Hello again, Pilar. Thank for you explanation.
The first mistake is a lapse of concentration. And over the second mistake, if I undestand, the negative form of «you don´t have cleaned» is «you haven´t cleaned». It´´s correct?
Thank you
62. Last week, you are doing two meeting
The correct sentence is «Last week, you had two meetings»
Hello Victoria,
Your new sentence is correct, but not coherent. Why? because the original text doesn´t say anything about «meetings» and when these «meetings» took place (tuvieron lugar). In conclusion, the right correction respecting coherence is «You have had two parties», which is what we can deduce from this part of the text «Ya ha hecho dos fiestas».
I hope you understand my correction.
Regards,
Pilar
30. If you can, clean you the living-room, the kitchen and the bathroom please
The correct sentence is «If you can, you clean the living-room, the kitchen and the bathroom please»
Hello Victoria,
Firstly, the main clause (oración principal) in the conditional sentence «you clean the living room…» is not correct.
Either use an imperative «clean the living room…» or a question «can you clean the living room…? «, that is,
either (o) «If you can, clean the living room,…. » or (o) » If you can, can you clean the living room…?». Taking into account politeness in English, I would use «If you can, can you clean…?» as the imperative can be considered rude.
Apart from that, don’t forget to write a comma before «please».
I hope you understand my correction.
Regards,
Pilar
30. If you can, clean you the living-room, the kitchen and the bathroom please
The correct sentences are «If you can, you clean the living-room, the kitchen and the bathroom, please?» or «If you can, clean the living-room, the kitchen and the bathroom, please»
Have I undestood well? It is right?
The first correction «if you can, you clean…» is still incorrect. The right correction is «if you can, you can clean…»
The other correction is correct. In order not to (para no) make mistakes here it is necessary to know the tenses in conditional sentences. The problem you still don’t know that grammar.
63. you have two parties
Hello Carmen,
You just corrected one of the two mistakes in «you have two parties», that is, the spelling of «parties».
You also need to correct the tense, which is not a present SIMPLE. What is the right tense?
I am looking forward to your answer.
Regards,
Pilar
63 you had two parties
That´s right!
62 Last week, you had two parties
Correct!
61. He doesn’t like parties because he has to clean it
12 Thank you very much
My pleasure!
Hello Carmen,
Your sentence has a mistake «it». Omit «it» as it is not necessary. Anyway, this sentence is incoherent because that information is not in the original text.
Regards,
Pilar
42. Andrés isn’t Happy with you
Right! Just change the capital letter of «Happy».
38.That’s very important for him
Correct!
51. Andrés doesn’t speak English
Right!
59. Can you clean the plates, the kitchen and the bathroom?
That correction is right!
60. You never do the housework.
Good! The only problem with this sentence is that it is very direct and consequently rude. Remember that the instruction of the mediation task recommends being polite. If you say to someone «you never do the housework», you can be considered to be rude.
Regards,
Pilar
55. I’m writing a message because Andrés isn’t happy with you because you don’t clean up after the parties you did.
Hello Nani,
One mistake to be corrected:
1. «…after the parties you did» > after the parties you have«. Remember «do a party» is not correct because it doesn´t exist.
Apart from that, taking into account the tense used previously «….because you don’t clean up» it is normal to use a present simple in «…after the parties you have». It doesn´t make sense if we say «porque no limpias después de las fiestas que tu celebraste», but «porque no limpias después de las fiestas que tu celebras (present simple/habit)».
I hope you understand my correction!
Regards,
Pilar
11-Can you do the housework after the parties, please?
12- Thank you very much (sobra la coma)
8- I speak for him (creo que quiere decir «hablo por él»)
47- He need that you clean the living room, the kitchen and the bathroom
Hello Encarni,
Sentence number 11 is correct and sentence 12 is also correct. The comma the student used «Thank you, very much» must be left out.
As for number 8, there are different possible interpretations of the sentence by the student. We could consider the possibility of «hablo por él». In this case, it would be correct and polite to say, «I would like to leave you a message on the part of Andrés», but not «I speak for him» as ( ya que) that´s not correct English. In any case we can say «I am speaking on the part of Andrés» but in a different context, for instance, in a meeting where you want to share one idea which belongs to another person who is not in the meeting and you want to make it clear that «you are speaking on the part of somebody».
I hope you understand my explanation.
As for sentence number 47, before correcting we need to know the verb in the sentence and find out the verb pattern of that verb. In this sentence the verb is «need». If we look up a good dictionary, we can check that «need that» doesn’t exist in English. One possible verb pattern of «need» is «need somebody to do something».Taking into account my explanation, can you write another comment with a new correction for sentence number 47, please?
I am looking forward to your answer!
Regards,
Pilar
Entonces según lo que me dices «need somebody to do something»
47-He needs you to clean the living room, the kitchen and the bathroom
Perfect!
58. You could be more careful with cleaning and you could clean the living room, kitchen and bathroom after your parties.
Correct!
56. Excuse me, but I ….
Good correction! The only problem with «Excuse me» is that it doesn´t make sense in writing except we are writing a dialogue. «Excuse me» is an interjection used when we speak to interrupt in a polite way. We can also use «Excuse me!» to show indignance ironically. We can even use «Excuse me?» to ask somebody to repeat something.
I hope you undertand my explanation on «Excuse me»
Regards,
Pilar
Ps. Thanks for your continuous participation! That’s very positive!
52. Andrés asked me to send you a whatsapp.
Perfect!
48. Andrés isn’t happy with your parties.
That´s right!
50. When you have a party, you should always clear the living room, the kitchen and the bathroom.
Right!
34. Regards.
The word «greetings» means different ways of greeting, but it is not a greeting itself.
Is my correction right?
Hello again,
Firstly, «Regards» is correct rather than «Greetings» at the end of a message (an email, a Whatsapp message, a post-it note, etc.)
Regarding your explanation, I must say to you that «greetings» makes reference to different ways to say «hello» (hi, hello, hey, good morning, good evening, etc.). «Greetings» is also a message of good wishes for somebody’s health, happiness, etc (e.g. Christmas/birthday, etc. greetings//
e.g. My mother sends her greetings to you all//e.g. We extend our greetings to you and thank you for listening to us. There is also another meaning for «greetings» but it is dated (=old-fashioned), that is, a way to say «hello» (e.g. Greetings, Harold! > !Hola, Harold!)
24. Can you speak with your partner, please?
We say «speak to somebody» not «speak with somebody».
24. Can you speak to your partner, please?
Now it is grammatically correct. However (Sin embargo) , in order for me to say (Para yo decir) that this question is semantically correct we must know why the intermediary (the student who writes the post-it note to Tom) asks Tom to speak to his partner (pide a Tom que hable con su compañero) . As (ya que) we don’t know why, I dare to say (me atrevo a decir) that this question is not complete.
In addition, (Además,) the intermediary must just transmit the information given by Andrés. Andrés doesn’t say anything in his note about the fact that (sobre el hecho de que) Tom speaks to him.
Do you understand my explanation, Loli? I hope so.
Yes!!! Thanks so much!
29. Can you wash those dishes, please?
Grammatically correct sentence!
I would have used «the dishes» instead of «those dishes» because if we use «those dishes» it seems that (parece que) you are pointing out (señalando con el dedo) the dishes to wash. We are just transmitting information on the part of Andrés.
Can you wash the dishes, please? 😂😂 Thanks Pilar!
Now it is grammatically and semantically correct.
43. Do you have two parties?
61. He doesn´t like parties because he must clean before.
Hello Diego,
With respect to sentence number 43, this sentence means «¿Celebras fiestas?» and this sentence doesn’t make sense (no tiene sentido) because that information is not relevant and it is not in the text given to mediate.
In relation to sentence number 61, it is grammatically correct, but it is not coherent because we don’t know if Andrés doesn’t like parties (that information is not said in the text). Apart from that, it is not coherent to say «he doesn’t like parties because he must clean before» (=A él no le gustan las fiestas porque debe limpiar antes»). In any case, we should say «He doesn’t like parties because he must clean afterwards» (=A él no le gustan las fiestas porque el debe limpiar después).
I hope you understand my explanations.
Regards,
Pilar
ok!! Then… 43. you celebrate two parties
61. He doesn´t like your parties because you don´t clean afterwards..
Hello again,
Number 43 still doesn’t make sense. We cannot write just «you celebrate parties» because that information is incomplete. We need to add something else, for instance, «Andrés thinks that you never clean when you have/celebrate parties, so can/could you clean the flat after your parties?