Sports vocabulary and common grammar mistakes

Today we will look at some sports vocabulary and common grammar errors when speaking about sports. We will also look at some useful expressions.

Top 10 grammar mistakes in sports

1. Using “play” incorrectly with sports names:
   • Incorrect: I play badmintoning.
   • Correct: I play badminton.
   • Correct: I am playing badminton this evening.
2. Using incorrect prepositions with sports:
   • Incorrect: I’m good in soccer.
   • Correct: I’m good at soccer.
   • Correct: She excels at football.
3. Misusing “team’s” and “teams”:
   • Incorrect: The two teams uniforms were very colorful.
   • Correct: The two teams’ uniforms were very colorful.
   • Correct: All the teams in the league are competitive.
4. Incorrect use of “versus” or “vs.”:
   • Incorrect: The match was between Team A versus Team B.
   • Correct: The match was between Team A and Team B.
   • Correct: The match-up of Team A vs. Team B was entertaining.
5. Using “do” instead of “play” for sports:
   • Incorrect: She does tennis.
   • Correct: She plays tennis.
   • Correct: He plays soccer every weekend.
6. Incorrect verb form for “win”:
   • Incorrect: My team winned the football match.
   • Correct: My team won the football match.
   • Correct: They have won two matches in a row.
7. Using “lose” instead of “lose out on”:
   • Incorrect: They lose the championship opportunity.
   • Correct: They lost out on the championship opportunity.
   • Correct: We didn’t want to lose out on the playoffs.
8. Using the word “score” incorrectly:
   • Incorrect: What’s the score of the player?
   • Correct: What’s the player’s score?
   • Correct: What’s the score of the game?
9. Misusing “field” and “court”:
   • Incorrect: The basketball field is wet.
   • Correct: The basketball court is wet.
   • Correct: The soccer field is ready for the match.
10. Confusing “tournament” and “championship”
    • Incorrect: The local teams are playing in the state championship this weekend before competing on the national stage.
    • Correct: The local teams are playing in the state tournament this weekend before competing on the national stage.

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Related Vocabulary

Court: A court is a rectangular area, usually flat and hard, where games like basketball, tennis, badminton, and volleyball are played. Courts can be both indoors and outdoors, and their sizes and markings vary depending on the specific sport.

Field: A field is a large open area, usually covered with grass, where sports like soccer, football, baseball, and rugby are played.

Tournament: Typically refers to a series of games where multiple teams or individuals compete over a set period to determine a single winner or a ranking of participants.

Championship: Refers to the final competition or game(s) that determine the ultimate winner of an entire league or category, often following regular season play or preceding tournaments

Final Thoughts

As a life-long English learner myself, I find myself making many mistakes when talking about sports. Only continuous practice will help you understand the nuances of sports terminology and confidently use sports terminology without making the common mistakes we’ve discussed in this article. Tune into sports broadcasts, commentaries, or podcasts to learn how professionals talk about sports. Don’t be scared to make mistakes!