Even after years of study, certain English errors persist in the speech and writing of advanced learners. The good news is that awareness is half the battle. By identifying these common mistakes, you can deliberately practice correct usage until it becomes second nature.

1. Confusing "its" and "it's"

This is one of the most common errors even native speakers make.

  • Its (without an apostrophe) is the possessive form: The dog wagged its tail.
  • It's (with an apostrophe) is a contraction of "it is" or "it has": It's going to rain today.

Quick Check: If you can replace the word with "it is" or "it has" and the sentence still makes sense, use "it's." Otherwise, use "its."

2. Misusing Articles (a, an, the)

Article usage varies greatly between languages, making this particularly challenging for English learners.

  • Use a/an for singular, non-specific nouns. Use "a" before consonant sounds and "an" before vowel sounds.
  • Use the for specific nouns (when both speaker and listener know which specific item is being discussed).
  • Use no article for generalizations with plural or uncountable nouns.

Incorrect: I bought car yesterday.

Correct: I bought a car yesterday.

Incorrect: The happiness is important in life.

Correct: Happiness is important in life.

3. Subject-Verb Agreement

The verb must agree with the subject in number (singular or plural).

Incorrect: The team are playing well.

Correct (American English): The team is playing well.

Incorrect: She don't like coffee.

Correct: She doesn't like coffee.

Note: In British English, collective nouns like "team" can take plural verbs when emphasizing the individual members.

4. Incorrect Preposition Usage

Prepositions in English often don't translate directly from other languages. Learning common preposition combinations is essential.

Incorrect: I'm interested about astronomy.

Correct: I'm interested in astronomy.

Incorrect: She arrived to the airport late.

Correct: She arrived at the airport late.

5. Confusing Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Some nouns in English cannot be counted (uncountable) and don't take plural forms.

Incorrect: I need some informations about the courses.

Correct: I need some information about the courses.

Incorrect: She gave me an advice.

Correct: She gave me some advice. (or: She gave me a piece of advice.)

6. Misplaced Modifiers

Word order matters in English. Modifiers should be placed close to the words they modify.

Unclear: Walking down the street, the trees looked beautiful.

Clear: Walking down the street, I thought the trees looked beautiful.

7. Double Negatives

In standard English, two negatives in the same clause cancel each other out or create a positive meaning.

Incorrect: I don't know nothing about it.

Correct: I don't know anything about it. (OR: I know nothing about it.)

8. Incorrect Verb Tense Sequences

Maintaining consistent and logical verb tenses is important, especially in complex sentences.

Incorrect: By the time he arrives, I already left.

Correct: By the time he arrives, I will already have left.

Incorrect: I am studying English for three years.

Correct: I have been studying English for three years.

9. Confusing Similar Words

English has many pairs of words that sound similar but have different meanings.

Affect vs. Effect: The weather affects my mood. / The effect of the medicine was immediate.

Accept vs. Except: I accept your apology. / Everyone went to the party except John.

Than vs. Then: She is taller than me. / We went to dinner, then to a movie.

10. Run-on Sentences

Two independent clauses cannot be joined with just a comma. Use a conjunction, semicolon, or period.

Incorrect: I went to the store, they didn't have what I needed.

Correct: I went to the store, but they didn't have what I needed.

Also correct: I went to the store; they didn't have what I needed.

Also correct: I went to the store. They didn't have what I needed.

Practice Makes Perfect

The best way to overcome these common mistakes is through deliberate practice and regular review. Consider keeping a log of your recurring errors and focusing on one or two areas at a time. Reading extensively and working with a qualified English teacher can also help you identify and correct these patterns in your own usage.

Want to improve your English accuracy?

Our Grammar Mastery course focuses on eliminating the most common errors made by English learners. Through targeted practice and personalized feedback, you'll develop more accurate and natural English usage.

Learn More About Our Courses