基于礼貌，如果你说出的英文句子有误，对方通常会在心中努力猜测你的意思，而不会直接点出来。要找到自己的英文盲点，求人不如求己！
1 已经10点了，却只有我开始认真工作。
（×）It was nearly 10：00 am, but only I had started to work seriously.
（○ ）It was nearly 10：00 am, but only I had got down to work .
get down to work的意思是“以严正的态度开始认真工作”，这是相当口语的用法。原来的说法暗示着，我之前不认真，10点才开始认真，并不恰当。
2 张先生即将接任王先生的副总职位。
（×）Mr. Zhang is going to overtake Mr. Wang's position as vice president.
（○ ）Mr. Zhang is going to take over Mr. Wang's position as vice president.
take over的意思是“原有的工作或职务由另一个新来的人接手”，而overtake则是指“赶上、超过”。
3 容我介绍一下新同事约翰，他来自加拿大。
（×）Allow me to introduce our new colleague, John. He is coming from Canada.
（○ ）Allow me to introduce our new colleague, John. He comes from Canada.
用现在进行时的话，这个句子的意思会变成约翰正从加拿大赶来，所以用一般现在时即可。
4 银行经理很乐意借钱给公司。
（×）The bank manager is happy to borrow the money to our company.
（○ ）The bank manager is happy to lend the money to our company.
lend和borrow同样有“借”的意思，但前者是“借出”，后者是“借入”，银行当然是“借出”钱给公司，所以要用lend。
5 乔迪因为工作不力被解雇了。
（×）Jody received the sack for not taking enough care with her work.
（○ ）Jody got the sack for not taking enough care with her work.
get the sack是口语的用法，意指雇主不满意你的工作表现或态度，而要你卷铺盖走人，正式的说法是be dismissed。