Common Mistakes : Be

verb

.BAD: Meanwhile, Sarah was beginning to be upset

.GOOD: Meanwhile, Sarah was beginning to get upset

.BAD: When she didn’t arrive, I started to be anxious

.GOOD: When she didn’t arrive, I started to become anxious

(When talking about a change in state, use get/become/grow +adjective (NOT be

.I’ve put a couple of apples in your bag in case you get hungry

.The children were growing impatient

.BAD: After six months he was the general manager

.GOOD: After six months he became the general manager

(When talking about a change in state, use become + noun phrase (NOT be

.In 1975 she became leader of the Conservative Party

.BAD: Nowadays is very difficult to get a job

.GOOD: Nowadays it is very difficult to get a job

.BAD: On Saturdays is usually a party at someone’s house

.GOOD: On Saturdays there is usually a party at someone’s house