Common English grammar mistakes

Mastering English grammar can be challenging, especially for non-native speakers. Even advanced learners often stumble over certain grammar rules. Understanding these common English grammar mistakes and learning how to avoid them can significantly improve your English communication skills. The Engvarta App, with its personalized learning sessions and expert tutors, is an excellent tool to help you tackle these errors effectively.

10 Common English Grammar Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Misusing Apostrophes

Apostrophes are often misused, especially in possessive forms and contractions.

Mistake: Confusing “its” (possessive) with “it’s” (contraction for “it is”).

Correct Usage:

• “Its tail is long” (possessive).
• “It’s going to rain” (contraction).

How to Avoid: Practice identifying and using possessives and contractions correctly. Engvarta’s tutors can provide exercises and feedback on apostrophe usage.

Confusing “Your” and “You’re”

These two words sound similar but have different meanings.

Mistake: Using “your” when “you’re” is needed.

Correct Usage:

• “Your book is on the table” (possessive).
• “You’re going to love this movie” (contraction for “you are”).

How to Avoid: Remember that “you’re” is short for “you are.” Engvarta sessions can include practice sentences to reinforce this distinction.

Incorrect Use of “Their,” “There,” and “They’re”

These homophones can be tricky.

Mistake: Mixing up “their” (possessive), “there” (location), and “they’re” (contraction for “they are”).

Correct Usage:

• “Their house is big” (possessive).
• “The book is over there” (location).
• “They’re coming to the party” (contraction).

How to Avoid: Engvarta tutors can provide targeted exercises to practice using these words in context.

Subject-Verb Agreement

Ensuring that subjects and verbs agree in number is crucial.

Mistake: “The list of items are on the table.”

Correct Usage: “The list of items is on the table.”

How to Avoid: Regular practice with sentences that involve subject-verb agreement can help. Engvarta offers real-time feedback to correct these errors.

Using “Me” vs. “I” Incorrectly

Choosing between “me” and “I” can be confusing.

Mistake: “Me and my friend went to the store.”

Correct Usage: “My friend and I went to the store.”

How to Avoid: Remove the other person from the sentence to check if “me” or “I” fits. Engvarta tutors can offer exercises to reinforce this rule.

Overusing Commas

Commas are often used incorrectly, leading to comma splices and run-on sentences.

Mistake: “I went to the store, I bought milk.”

Correct Usage: “I went to the store, and I bought milk.” or “I went to the store. I bought milk.”

How to Avoid: Learn the rules for comma usage. Engvarta sessions can include punctuation practice to help you master this.

Misplacing Modifiers

Modifiers should be placed next to the word they modify.

Mistake: “She almost drove her kids to school every day.”

Correct Usage: “She drove her kids to school almost every day.”

How to Avoid: Practice placing modifiers correctly in sentences. Engvarta’s interactive sessions can help identify and correct misplaced modifiers.

Using Double Negatives

Double negatives create a positive statement, which can confuse the meaning.

Mistake: “I don’t need no help.”

Correct Usage: “I don’t need any help.”

How to Avoid: Recognize and avoid double negatives. Engvarta tutors can provide exercises to practice forming negative statements correctly.

Incorrect Pronoun Usage

Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number and gender.

Mistake: “Each student must bring their book.”

Correct Usage: “Each student must bring his or her book.”

How to Avoid: Ensure pronouns agree with their antecedents. Engvarta offers detailed explanations and practice sentences to master this.

Using “Fewer” vs. “Less” Incorrectly

“Fewer” is used for countable nouns, while “less” is used for uncountable nouns.

Mistake: “There are less people here today.”

Correct Usage: “There are fewer people here today.”

How to Avoid: Practice distinguishing between countable and uncountable nouns. Engvarta sessions can include exercises to reinforce this rule.

How Engvarta Can Help

Engvarta offers a range of features that can help you avoid these common grammar mistakes:

• Personalized Learning: Engvarta provides one-on-one sessions with expert tutors who can tailor lessons to your specific needs.
• Real-Time Feedback: During your practice sessions, tutors offer immediate corrections and explanations, helping you learn from your mistakes.
• Interactive Exercises: Engvarta includes exercises that focus on common grammar mistakes, allowing you to practice and improve continuously.
• Convenience and Flexibility: You can schedule sessions at your convenience, making it easier to integrate English practice into your daily routine.

Additional Tips for Avoiding These 10 Common English Grammar Mistakes

Read Regularly

One of the best ways to improve your grammar is to read regularly. This exposes you to correct grammar usage in context, helping you internalize the rules.

Write Often

Practice writing to reinforce grammar rules. Whether it’s journaling, writing essays, or even composing emails, the more you write, the better you’ll become at avoiding common mistakes.

Use Grammar Check Tools

There are several online tools like Grammarly that can help you catch mistakes. While they shouldn’t be relied upon exclusively, they can be a great supplementary resource.

Engage in Conversations

Speaking regularly with native speakers or proficient English users can help you identify and correct your grammar mistakes. Engvarta provides a perfect platform for this kind of practice.

Review Grammar Rules

Regularly reviewing grammar rules can help keep them fresh in your mind. Make use of grammar books, online resources, and educational apps to keep learning. Two patterns most learners get wrong are voice and tense—our guide on active and passive voice in English grammar walks through both with side-by-side examples.

Seek Feedback

Don’t hesitate to ask for feedback on your writing and speaking. Engvarta tutors are there to provide constructive criticism and help you improve.

Benefits of Improving Grammar with Engvarta

Engvarta stands out as a robust platform for improving your English grammar. Here’s how:

Structured Learning Path: Engvarta offers a structured learning path that helps you progress from basic to advanced levels systematically. This ensures that you build a solid foundation and then refine your skills progressively.

Practical Applications: Engvarta’s approach is not just theoretical but also practical. You engage in real conversations, write essays, and practice through interactive exercises, which helps in better retention of grammar rules.

Expert Tutors: The tutors at Engvarta are experienced and trained to handle common grammar issues faced by learners. They provide personalized feedback, which is crucial for overcoming specific challenges.

Flexibility and Accessibility: With Engvarta, you can learn at your own pace and schedule sessions at times that suit you. This flexibility is especially beneficial for working professionals and students with busy schedules.

Confidence Building: Regular practice and feedback help in building confidence. As you see improvement in your grammar, your overall communication skills also improve, making you more confident in speaking and writing English.

Customized Sessions: Engvarta allows you to customize your learning sessions based on your specific needs and goals. Whether you need to focus on writing, speaking, or specific grammar rules, the platform adapts to your requirements.

Continuous Improvement: Engvarta tracks your progress and adapts the difficulty level accordingly. This ensures that you are always challenged and continue to improve without getting overwhelmed.

Conclusion

Avoiding 10 common English grammar mistakes is essential for effective communication in English. By understanding these mistakes and practicing regularly, you can significantly improve your language skills. The Engvarta App is an excellent resource for personalized learning and expert guidance, helping you overcome these challenges and become more confident in your English proficiency. With its structured learning path, practical applications, expert tutors, and flexibility, Engvarta provides a comprehensive solution to mastering English grammar.

Frequently Asked Questions about Common English Grammar Mistakes

What are the most common English grammar mistakes?

The most common grammar mistakes English learners make include: subject-verb agreement errors (“She don’t” instead of “She doesn’t”), wrong preposition (“good in English” instead of “good at English”), tense confusion (“I am living here since 2020” instead of “I have been living here since 2020”), article misuse (“I love the music” instead of “I love music”), pronoun confusion (“Me and him went” instead of “He and I went”), and double negatives (“I don’t know nothing” instead of “I don’t know anything”). These six categories cover ~70% of all grammar errors in spoken English.

Why do Indian English speakers make grammar mistakes?

Common reasons: (1) Hindi/regional language structures don’t perfectly map to English (e.g., Hindi doesn’t have articles like a/an/the). (2) Translating mentally from Hindi to English instead of thinking directly in English. (3) Learning English mostly through writing/reading without speaking practice. (4) Repeating mistakes that local English speakers also make (some “Indian English” patterns are actually consistent regional usage rather than mistakes). (5) Lack of feedback — most Indian learners study English without anyone correcting them in real time.

How can I avoid common grammar mistakes when speaking English?

Five practical strategies: (1) Identify your top 3 grammar mistakes and target them deliberately — don’t try to fix everything at once. (2) Practice in real conversation with someone who corrects you in the moment (not just written drills). (3) Read English aloud — your ear catches errors your eye misses. (4) Record yourself speaking, listen back, note errors. (5) Use grammar correction apps for written work but pair with spoken practice for the lasting fix. Daily live practice with a TESOL/ESL-certified Expert (like EngVarta‘s $1 refundable trial) catches grammar errors in real time and fixes them faster than self-study.

What is the difference between ‘less’ and ‘fewer’?

Use “fewer” with countable nouns (things you can count individually): fewer people, fewer mistakes, fewer apples. Use “less” with uncountable nouns (substances, abstract concepts): less water, less time, less stress. Common error: “10 items or less” at supermarkets — should be “10 items or fewer” because items are countable. Modern usage often relaxes this rule, but professional writing should distinguish.

What is the difference between ‘since’ and ‘for’?

Use “since” with a specific point in time when something started: since 2020, since Monday, since I graduated. Use “for” with a duration of time: for two hours, for five years, for a week. Common Indian English error: “I am here since two days” — should be “I have been here for two days.” If you can answer “starting when?” use since. If you can answer “how long?” use for.

When should I use ‘I’ vs ‘me’?

Use “I” when it’s the subject (the one doing the action): “I went to the office.” “Rishish and I went to the meeting.” Use “me” when it’s the object (receiving the action): “He gave the book to me.” “Rishish and me went to the meeting” is incorrect. Test: take out the other person — would you say “Me went to the meeting”? No — you’d say “I went to the meeting.” So “Rishish and I.” Same test for “me”: “He gave the book to me” — works alone.

Is it ‘who’ or ‘whom’?

Use “who” for the subject: “Who is at the door?” Use “whom” for the object: “Whom did you call?” Quick test: replace with he/him. If “he” fits, use “who.” If “him” fits, use “whom.” Modern English: “whom” is increasingly rare in spoken English, but “who” replacing “whom” can sound informal in formal writing. For most spoken English, “who” is acceptable everywhere.

What’s the difference between ‘their’, ‘there’, and ‘they’re’?

“Their” = possessive (belongs to them): “Their car is red.” “There” = location or existence: “There is a problem.” “It’s over there.” “They’re” = contraction of “they are”: “They’re coming tomorrow.” These are homophones (sound the same) but mean completely different things. Test: can you replace it with “they are”? If yes → “they’re.” Does it show ownership? → “their.” Does it show location/existence? → “there.”

How long does it take to fix grammar mistakes?

Fixing a single grammar mistake takes 4-8 weeks of deliberate practice with feedback. Fixing all your top 5-10 mistakes takes 6-12 months of consistent daily practice. Most learners can hear their grammar improving in 30-60 days if they get real-time correction in conversation. Without feedback, errors persist for years — many people speak English their whole life with the same recurring mistakes because no one corrects them.