Learning English is a rewarding journey, but let's be honest – it comes with its tricky spots! Making mistakes is a natural and essential part of the learning process. The goal isn't to never make errors, but to recognise common pitfalls and learn how to correct them.

This guide highlights some of the most frequent mistakes English learners encounter, covering grammar, vocabulary, and usage. Understanding these points and practicing the correct forms will significantly boost your fluency and confidence. Let's dive in!

Grammar Goofs

1. Subject-Verb Agreement

The verb must match its subject in number (singular/plural).

• Incorrect: She don't like pizza.
• Incorrect: My friends is coming over.
• Correct: She doesn't like pizza.
• Correct: My friends are coming over.
• Remember: Singular subjects (he, she, it, Anna) usually take verbs ending in -s in the present simple. Plural subjects (they, we, friends) take the base form.

2. Incorrect Verb Tenses

Using the wrong tense can change the meaning or sound unnatural.

• Incorrect: I am living here since 2020. (Common mistake mixing present continuous with a duration)
• Correct: I have lived here since 2020. (Use Present Perfect for actions started in the past and continuing now).
• Incorrect: Yesterday, I go to the store.
• Correct: Yesterday, I went to the store. (Use Past Simple for completed past actions).

3. Article Errors (a/an/the)

Knowing when (and when not) to use articles is challenging.

• Incorrect: I want to be engineer.
• Correct: I want to be an engineer. (Use 'a/an' with singular countable nouns, especially professions).
• Incorrect: Sun is very bright today.
• Correct: The sun is very bright today. (Use 'the' for unique things like the sun, the moon, the internet).
• Incorrect: I like the dogs in general.
• Correct: I like dogs in general. (Don't use 'the' when talking about general concepts or plural nouns in a general sense).

4. Preposition Problems (in/on/at)

These small words cause big confusion, especially with time and place.

• Incorrect: I will meet you on 5 PM.
• Correct: I will meet you at 5 PM. ('At' for specific times).
• Incorrect: She lives at London.
• Correct: She lives in London. ('In' for cities, countries, large areas).
• Incorrect: The book is in the table.
• Correct: The book is on the table. ('On' for surfaces).

5. Incorrect Question Formation

Remember to invert the subject and auxiliary verb (or use 'do/does/did').

• Incorrect: You are tired?
• Correct: Are you tired?
• Incorrect: He went to the party?
• Correct: Did he go to the party?

6. Double Negatives

Unlike some languages, standard English avoids using two negative words in the same clause.

• Incorrect: I don't know nothing.
• Correct: I don't know anything. OR I know nothing.

Vocabulary Vexations

7. Your vs. You're

• Your is possessive: Is this your bag?
• You're is a contraction of "you are": You're going to be late.

8. Its vs. It's

• Its is possessive: The dog wagged its tail.
• It's is a contraction of "it is" or "it has": It's raining. / It's been a long day.

9. There vs. Their vs. They're

• There indicates place or existence: Put the book there. / There is a cat on the roof.
• Their is possessive (plural): That is their house.
• They're is a contraction of "they are": They're happy.

10. Affect vs. Effect

• Affect (usually a verb) means to influence: The weather will affect our plans.
• Effect (usually a noun) means a result or consequence: The drug has side effects.
• (Tricky Note: 'Effect' can sometimes be a verb meaning 'to bring about': to effect change, but this is less common).

11. Loose vs. Lose

• Loose (adjective) means not tight: My shoes are loose.
• Lose (verb) means to misplace something or not win: Don't lose your keys. / We might lose the game.

12. Advice vs. Advise

• Advice (noun, uncountable) is the recommendation: Can you give me some advice? (Not 'an advice').
• Advise (verb) is the act of giving the recommendation: I advise you to study more.

13. Much vs. Many / Less vs. Fewer

Use much and less with uncountable nouns (water, time, information). Use many and fewer with countable nouns (books, people, mistakes).

• Incorrect: How much apples did you buy? / There is less people here today.
• Correct: How many apples did you buy? / There are fewer people here today.

Usage and Style Slips

14. Adjective vs. Adverb Confusion

Adjectives describe nouns; adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs (often ending in -ly).

• Incorrect: He speaks English good.
• Correct: He speaks English well. ('Well' is the adverb corresponding to the adjective 'good').
• Incorrect: She runs quick.
• Correct: She runs quickly.

15. Overusing "Very"

While not strictly incorrect, relying too much on "very" makes writing weak. Try stronger adjectives.

• Instead of: very happy -> try thrilled, elated, delighted
• Instead of: very big -> try huge, enormous, massive
• Instead of: very tired -> try exhausted, weary

Keep Practicing!

Recognising these common mistakes is the first step. The next is conscious practice! Pay attention when reading and listening, try to notice these patterns, and don't be afraid to correct yourself or ask for feedback. Every correction helps solidify the right usage in your mind.

Want structured lessons and expert feedback to accelerate your English learning? Explore Sprachlingua's comprehensive English courses.