Are you making these everyday English mistakes without even realizing it? Don’t worry; you’re not alone! English learners around the world often stumble over the same grammar and usage problems. The good news? Most of them are easy to fix once you know what to watch out for. In this article, we’ll break down ten common English mistakes and show you exactly how to correct them. Whether you’re writing emails, studying for a test, or just chatting with friends, these tips will make your English smoother and more natural.
1. Mixing Up “Your” and “You’re”
Mistake: Your welcome to join us.
Fix: You’re welcome to join us.
Tip: “You’re” is short for “you are.” If you can replace it with “you are” and it still makes sense, use “you’re.”
2. Confusing “Its” and “It’s”
Mistake: The cat licked it’s paw.
Fix: The cat licked its paw.
Tip: “It’s” = “it is.” “Its” shows possession.
3. Saying “I have 22 years”
Mistake: I have 22 years.
Fix: I am 22 years old.
Tip: In English, we use “am” for age, not “have.”
4. Overusing the Present Continuous
Mistake: I am knowing the answer.
Fix: I know the answer.
Tip: Some verbs (like “know,” “like,” and “want”) don’t usually take the -ing form.
5. Using “Much” with Countable Nouns
Mistake: How much apples do you want?
Fix: How many apples do you want?
Tip: Use “much” for uncountable nouns, “many” for countable ones.
6. Forgetting the Subject
Mistake: Is raining outside.
Fix: It is raining outside.
Tip: English needs a subject in every sentence, even if it’s just “it.”
7. Misplacing Adverbs
Mistake: He speaks English very well always.
Fix: He always speaks English very well.
Tip: Place adverbs like “always” before the main verb or after the verb “to be.”
8. Incorrect Question Word Order
Mistake: What he is doing?
Fix: What is he doing?
Tip: In questions, use the auxiliary verb before the subject.
9. Wrong Prepositions
Mistake: She married with a doctor.
Fix: She married a doctor.
Tip: Some verbs like “marry” don’t need prepositions.
10. Using “Too” Instead of “Very”
Mistake: The movie was too good.
Fix: The movie was very good.
Tip: “Too” suggests a negative excess (e.g., too hot), while “very” just means “a lot.”
Final Thoughts
Improving your English doesn’t mean being perfect; it means catching those little errors before they become habits. Now that you know these 10 common mistakes, you can keep an eye out for them in your own speech and writing. Practice a little every day, and soon these fixes will feel natural.
Which mistake have you made before? Let us know in the comments or share your own tips!