Everyone learns English grammar in school. And yet, the same mistakes keep showing up—in emails, interviews, presentations, even from people who’ve “studied English for years.” That’s not because learners are careless. It’s because English grammar behaves differently when you’re speaking or writing in real life versus filling blanks in a textbook.
I’ve heard these mistakes from students, working professionals, and even fluent speakers under pressure. The good part? Most errors come from a small set of habits. Fix those, and your English instantly sounds clearer, sharper, and more confident.
Let’s break them down—plain and practical.
1. Mixing Up “He/She/They”
This one shows up everywhere, especially among non-native speakers.
Incorrect:
“She go to office every day.”
“They is coming tomorrow.”
Correct:
“She goes to the office every day.”
“They are coming tomorrow.”
Why it happens: Many languages don’t change verbs based on the subject.
How to fix it:
Train your ear, not rules. Say short patterns daily:
“He goes.”
“She works.”
“They work.”
The British Council explains subject–verb agreement clearly with real examples: https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar
2. Using the Wrong Tense (Past vs Present)
Students often mix time without realizing it.
Incorrect:
“Yesterday I go to the market.”
“I am living here since 2020.”
Correct:
“Yesterday I went to the market.”
“I have been living here since 2020.”
Why it happens: English uses time markers more strictly than many languages.
How to fix it:
Link time words to tenses.
- Yesterday → past
- Now → present
- Since/for → present perfect
Cambridge Dictionary gives excellent tense examples with usage notes: https://dictionary.cambridge.org
3. Overusing “Is / Am / Are”
This mistake makes sentences sound incomplete.
Incorrect:
“I am agree.”
“He is have a car.”
Correct:
“I agree.”
“He has a car.”
Why it happens: Learners think every sentence needs “is.”
How to fix it:
Remember: not all sentences need a helping verb.
Practice stripping sentences down:
“I think.”
“I want.”
“I need.”
Simple beats complicated.
4. Confusing “Do” and “Make”
Classic mistake.
Incorrect:
“Do a mistake.”
“Make homework.”
Correct:
“Make a mistake.”
“Do homework.”
Why it happens: In many languages, one verb covers both.
How to fix it:
Memorize phrases, not rules.
| Do | Make |
|---|---|
| Do work | Make money |
| Do homework | Make a decision |
| Do exercise | Make a mistake |
The BBC Learning English site has practical lists like this: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish
5. Missing Articles (A, An, The)
Articles cause silent confusion.
Incorrect:
“I bought car.”
“She is best teacher.”
Correct:
“I bought a car.”
“She is the best teacher.”
Why it happens: Many languages don’t use articles at all.
How to fix it:
Think this way:
- A / An = one of many
- The = specific or known
Don’t aim for perfection. Aim for improvement.
6. Using Plural and Singular Incorrectly
Small mistake. Big impact.
Incorrect:
“Many information.”
“These kind of problems.”
Correct:
“Much information.”
“This kind of problem.”
Why it happens: English has irregular count rules.
How to fix it:
Learn common uncountable nouns:
Information, advice, furniture, equipment.
The U.S. government’s ESL resources highlight these basics well: https://www.usa.gov/learn-english
7. Word Order Problems
English sentence order is strict.
Incorrect:
“I very like this.”
“Why you are late?”
Correct:
“I like this very much.”
“Why are you late?”
Why it happens: Direct translation from the native language.
How to fix it:
Stick to the core structure:
Subject + Verb + Object
Everything else comes after.
8. Confusing “Too,” “Very,” and “So”
These words aren’t interchangeable.
Incorrect:
“It is too good movie.”
“I’m very tired to walk.”
Correct:
“It is a very good movie.”
“I’m too tired to walk.”
How to fix it:
- Very = emphasis
- Too = excess/problem
- So = cause/result
One small change, huge clarity.
9. Using the Wrong Prepositions
In, on, at—every learner’s headache.
Incorrect:
“Discuss about the issue.”
“Married with him.”
Correct:
“Discuss the issue.”
“Married to him.”
Why it happens: Prepositions rarely translate cleanly.
How to fix it:
Don’t ask “why.” Learn combinations as fixed phrases.
Cambridge and Oxford dictionaries are reliable for checking usage quickly: https://dictionary.cambridge.org
10. Overcorrecting Grammar While Speaking
This is the hidden mistake nobody talks about.
Students pause too much trying to be perfect—and lose fluency.
Incorrect behavior:
Stopping mid-sentence.
Restarting repeatedly.
Avoiding speaking at all.
Better approach:
Speak first. Fix later.
The U.S. Foreign Service Institute confirms that fluency improves faster through active use, not constant correction: https://www.state.gov/foreign-language-training/
How to Fix Grammar Mistakes Without Overstudying
Here’s a simple weekly focus plan.
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Mon | Tenses |
| Tue | Articles |
| Wed | Sentence order |
| Thu | Prepositions |
| Fri | Common verbs |
| Sat | Speaking freely |
| Sun | Review mistakes |
Grammar improves fastest when tied to speaking, not notebooks.
FAQs:
Should I stop speaking to fix grammar mistakes?
No. Speaking builds fluency; correction comes after.
How many grammar rules should I study daily?
One small concept is enough—use it in speech the same day.
Are grammar mistakes a problem in job interviews?
Minor mistakes are acceptable. Clarity and confidence matter more.
