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The 50 Most Common English Mistakes with Clear Examples.

 

The 50 Most Common English Mistakes With Clear Examples.

Learning English is a long journey, and making mistakes is a natural and necessary part of the process. However, some mistakes appear again and again among English learners of all levels. Understanding these common errors, and why they happen, can dramatically improve accuracy, confidence, and fluency.

This article breaks down the 50 most common English mistakes, grouped by category, with clear explanations and corrected examples you can immediately apply in the classroom or real life.

A. Grammar Mistakes

1. Using the Wrong Verb Tense

Yesterday I go to school.

Yesterday I went to school.

Explanation: Past time expressions require the past simple tense.

2. Forgetting the Third Person “-s”

She work very hard.

She works very hard.

Explanation: In the present simple, verbs add -s for he, she, and it.

3. Confusing Present Perfect and Past Simple

I have seen him yesterday.

I saw him yesterday.

Explanation: Use past simple with finished time expressions like yesterday.

4. Using “Is” Instead of “Are”

There is many students here.

There are many students here.

Explanation: Match the verb with the real subject, not the word “there.”

5. Double Negatives

I don’t know nothing.

I don’t know anything.

Explanation: Standard English uses only one negative per clause.

6. Incorrect Question Formation

You like pizza?

Do you like pizza?

Explanation: English questions usually require an auxiliary verb.

7. Forgetting the Auxiliary Verb

She not understand.

She does not understand.

Explanation: Negatives in the present simple require do / does.

8. Confusing “Much” and “Many”

How much people are there?

How many people are there?

Explanation:

Much → uncountable nouns

Many → countable nouns

9. Incorrect Use of Comparatives

This is more better.

This is better.

Explanation: Do not combine more with comparative adjectives.

10. Using Adjectives Instead of Adverbs

She sings beautiful.

She sings beautifully.

Explanation: Adverbs describe verbs; adjectives do not.

B. Article Mistakes (a / an / the)

11. Missing Articles

I am teacher.

I am a teacher.

Explanation: Singular countable nouns require an article.

12. Using “A” Instead of “An”

A apple

An apple

Explanation: Use an before vowel sounds, not letters.

13. Overusing “The”

I like the music.

I like music.

Explanation: Do not use the when speaking generally.

14. Forgetting “The” with Superlatives

She is best student.

She is the best student.

15. Using Articles with Uncountable Nouns

A advice

Some advice

C. Preposition Mistakes

16. Confusing “In,” “On,” and “At” (Time)

In Monday

On Monday

17. Confusing “In” and “At” (Place)

I am at Lima.

I am in Lima.

18. Using the Wrong Preposition After Verbs

Listen music

Listen to music

19. Using Prepositions Unnecessarily

Discuss about the problem

Discuss the problem

20. Confusing “For” and “Since”

I lived here since five years.

I have lived here for five years.

D. Word Choice & Vocabulary Errors

21. Confusing “Make” and “Do”

Do a mistake

Make a mistake

22. Confusing “Say” and “Tell”

She said me the truth.

She told me the truth.

23. Confusing “Fun” and “Funny”

The movie was very fun.

The movie was very funny.

24. Using False Friends

I am sensible. (meaning “sensitive”)

I am sensitive.

25. Confusing “Borrow” and “Lend”

Can you borrow me a pen?

Can you lend me a pen?

E. Sentence Structure Errors

26. Word Order Problems

Always I eat breakfast.

I always eat breakfast.

27. Run-On Sentences

I was tired I went home.

I was tired, so I went home.

28. Fragment Sentences

Because I was late.

I missed the bus because I was late.

29. Missing Subjects

Is raining.

It is raining.

30. Incorrect Use of “Very”

Very I like it.

I like it very much.

F. Plural & Countability Errors

31. Pluralizing Uncountable Nouns

Informations

Information

32. Forgetting Plural “-s”

Two dog

Two dogs

33. Using “Much” with Countable Nouns

Much apples

Many apples

34. Confusing “Few” and “Little”

Few water

Little water

35. Using “One of” Incorrectly

One of the student

One of the students

G. Pronunciation & Spelling Mistakes

36. Silent Letters

Listen (pronounced “lis-ten”)

“Lis-É™n”

37. Confusing Homophones

Their is a problem.

There is a problem.

38. Incorrect Stress

pho-TO-graph

PHO-to-graph

39. Adding Extra Vowels

Eschool

School

40. Confusing “-ed” Endings

 I walk-ed (/walk-ed/)

/walk-t/

H. Advanced & Fluency Errors

41. Overusing Passive Voice

The homework was done by me.

I did the homework.

42. Literal Translation from L1

I have 20 years.

I am 20 years old.

43. Overusing Fillers

Like, you know, like…

Clear, direct speech

44. Incorrect Collocations

Strong rain

Heavy rain

45. Mixing Formal and Informal Language

Dear Sir, what’s up?

Dear Sir, I hope you are well.

I. Common Communication Errors

46. Using “Please” Incorrectly

Please can you close the door?

Could you please close the door?

47. Overusing Direct Language

Give me that.

Could you give me that, please?

48. Confusing “Hope” and “Wish”

I wish you come tomorrow.

I hope you come tomorrow.

49. Incorrect Tag Questions

You like it, isn’t it?

You like it, don’t you?

50. Fear of Making Mistakes

Not speaking at all

Speaking, correcting, improving

Explanation: Mistakes are essential for progress.

Final Thoughts

Mastering English is not about avoiding mistakes—it’s about recognizing patterns, understanding why errors happen, and actively correcting them. This list can be used as:

A reference guide

A classroom worksheet source

A diagnostic checklist

A self-study review tool


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