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