Common English Grammar Errors – How to avoid and fix?

When it comes to the English language in general and English grammar in particular, learners tend to think about the confusing situations or misunderstanding resulting from common English grammar errors. As this factor plays a very important role in not only daily usage of the language but also the skills for English proficiency exams like IELTS, TOEIC or PTE, this article will point out some of the most common errors English grammar and the way to avoid them. 

1. What are common English grammar errors? 

To address the question, “What are grammar errors?”, it is recommended that the definition of “grammar” be clarified first. In simple terms, grammar is defined as the collection of structural rules specifying how various sentence components work together in a given language. There are more aspects to approach to English grammar as Estudyme has focused on in the previous article about Basic English Grammar.

Based on that definition, common grammatical errors in English language can arise when someone deviates from accepted standards on sentence construction. Many of these common English grammar errors are overt and result in sentences that are impossible to understand, while others are more subtle and only alter the sentence’s meaning. 

2. What makes grammar errors crucial in TOEIC, IELTS and PTE?

Throughout the evolution of English, grammar rules require adaptation to adapt to the novel manners in which we use it, therefore, some formerly-rejected common grammatical errors in English language may now become acceptable. Despite that, grammar is still essential for success on English language exams such as the TOEIC, IELTS or PTE since these tests have a portion dedicated to assessing your grammatical proficiency, and the reading and listening comprehension sections also require your command of grammar. Especially for such a focused-comprehension test like TOEIC, the common English grammar errors can lead to misunderstandings in questions and answers, which brings about worse scores.

By getting hold of the most common errors English grammar, learners can deal with the evolving factors of the language and hereby, actively control rule-breaking to make their English flexible, vibrant or academic depending on the contexts and purposes of usage. 

3. Why do people make and repeat common errors English grammar? 

To better understand common errors in English grammar and how to cope with them, we take a look into some reasons why people can easily fall into these errors. 

• Lack of Exposure: If someone hasn’t had much exposure to the English language, they may not be familiar with its grammar rules and conventions.
• Native Language Interference: Speakers of languages with different grammar structures may apply rules from their native language to English, leading to errors.
• Incomplete Learning: English learners might not have fully learned or understood certain grammar rules, leading to mistakes in application.
• Lack of Practice: Without regular practice and usage, grammar skills can deteriorate or remain undeveloped.
• Overgeneralization: Learners might incorrectly apply a grammar rule in situations where it doesn’t apply, based on their limited understanding.
• Confusion with Similar Structures: English contains many structures that are similar but have different rules, leading to confusion and grammar mistakes (e.g., gerunds vs. infinitives).
• Carelessness: Sometimes errors occur due to carelessness or lack of attention to detail while speaking or writing.
• Influence of Colloquial Speech: Informal speech patterns and colloquialisms might not adhere strictly to grammar rules, leading to confusion for learners.
• Cultural Factors: Cultural differences in communication norms and expectations can also influence how grammar is used and perceived

4. Six common errors English grammar

4.1. Subject-verb agreement

Subject-verb agreement mistake occurs when the subject and the verb in a sentence do not match in terms of number (singular or plural). In English grammar, the verb in a sentence must agree with the subject in terms of whether it is singular or plural. Here are some examples of these common grammatical errors in English language: 

• Singular subject with a plural verb:
  • Incorrect: “The cat sleep in the bed.”
  • Correct: “The cat sleeps in the bed.”
• Plural subject with a singular verb:
  • Incorrect: “The cats is sleeping.”
  • Correct: “The cats are sleeping.”
• Indefinite pronoun disagreement:
  • Incorrect: “Everyone are excited about the news.”
  • Correct: “Everyone is excited about the news.”
• Collective nouns:
  • Incorrect: “The team are winning the game.”
  • Correct: “The team is winning the game.”

Subject-verb agreement errors can lead to confusion and affect the clarity of a sentence. To avoid such errors, always ensure that the verb agrees with the subject in terms of number. Pay attention to the subject’s number (singular or plural) and choose the appropriate verb form accordingly.

4.2. Incorrect verb tense 

A verb tense mistake occurs when the verb tense used in a sentence is incorrect or inconsistent with the intended meaning or timeframe of the action being described. English verbs can be conjugated into different tenses to indicate when an action occurred (past, present, or future), its duration, and its relationship to other events. Here are some examples of  verb tense-related errors:

• Incorrect tense usage:
  • Incorrect: “Yesterday, she go to the church.”
  • Correct: “Yesterday, she went to the church.”
• Inconsistent tense usage within a sentence:
  • Incorrect: “She is studying English, and then she will watch TV.”
  • Correct: “She is studying English, and then she watches TV.”

• Confusion between past tense and present perfect:
  • Incorrect: “I have dinner an hour ago.”
  • Correct: “I had dinner an hour ago.” or “I have had dinner an hour ago.”
• Confusion between past perfect and simple past:
  • Incorrect: “By the time I arrived, they already left.”
  • Correct: “By the time I arrived, they had already left.”

Verb tense confusion can make the conversation unclear and or cause misunderstanding. To avoid this confusion, learners should determine the appropriate tense for each action or event based on its timing and relationship to other events together with signal words that indicate specific timeframes (e.g., “yesterday,” “tomorrow,” “currently”).

4.3. Incorrect word form 

This kind of grammar error occurs when a word is used in a form that is grammatically incorrect or inappropriate for the context. It involves errors in the morphology of words, such as incorrect verb conjugation, adjective comparison, or noun pluralization. Here are some examples of word form mistakes:

• The choice of a word is correct, but the wrong part of speech has been used
  • Incorrect: “She can easy recognize his voice.”
  • Correct: “She can easily recognize his voice.”
• A suffix has been used incorrectly:
  • Incorrect: “He studies hardly for the test.”
  • Correct: “He studies hard for the test.”
• The choice of the word is correct, but the wrong form of it has been used:
  • Incorrect: “I have a happiness day.”
  • Correct: “I have a happy day.”
• The incorrect adjective or adverb form has been used in a comparison:
  • Incorrect: “That was the worse movie I have seen in a long time.”
  • Correct: “That was the worst movie I have seen in a long time.”
• The incorrect present or past participle form has been used as an adjective:
  • Incorrect: “The essay was interested.”
  • Correct: “The essay was interesting.”

Word form mistakes can lead to ambiguity in communication and detract from the clarity and accuracy of the message. To avoid these common errors English grammar, it’s important to understand the rules of word morphology and pay attention to the correct forms of words in different contexts. Regular practice, feedback, and exposure to well-written English can help improve awareness of word forms and usage. 

4.4. Confusion of the infinitive, gerund and bare form of verb 

Confusion between the infinitive, gerund, and bare form of a verb is a basic kind amongst common English grammar errors, occurring when writers or speakers use these forms incorrectly or interchangeably. Differentiating the differences between these forms is crucial for using them appropriately in various contexts:

• Infinitive: The base form of a verb, often preceded by “to,” used to express purposes, intentions, or future actions.
  • Example: “I want to learn English.”
• Gerund: The -ing form of a verb that functions as a noun, indicating an action or activity.
  • Example: “Swimming is my favorite hobby.”
• Bare form: The base form of a verb used without “to” or any other auxiliary verb in certain constructions, such as imperatives or after modal verbs.
  • Example: “Please eat your dinner.”

The common English grammar errors involving confusion of these verb forms include:

• Using the infinitive instead of the gerund:
  • Incorrect: “I enjoy to read.”
  • Correct: “I enjoy reading.”
• Using the gerund instead of the infinitive:
  • Incorrect: “He decided going to the store.”
  • Correct: “He decided to go to the store.”
• Using the bare form incorrectly:
  • Incorrect: “He can to swim.”
  • Correct: “He can swim.”

To avoid these mistakes, learners need to understand the grammatical functions and rules of infinitives, gerunds, and bare forms as well as practice identifying and using each form correctly in sentences. 

4.5. Wrong or missing prepositions

Wrong or missing prepositions are common errors in English grammar that occur when a preposition is used incorrectly or omitted in a sentence. Prepositions are words that show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other elements in the sentence, such as location, time, direction, or manner. Here are some examples of wrong or missing prepositions:

• Wrong preposition:
  • Incorrect: “He is in the library.”
  • Correct: “He is at the library.”
• Missing preposition:
  • Incorrect: “She arrived home midnight.”
  • Correct: “She arrived home at midnight.”
• Incorrect preposition usage:
  • Incorrect: “I am interested about learning French.”
  • Correct: “I am interested in learning French.”
• Omitting prepositions after verbs or adjectives:
  • Incorrect: “She apologized her mistake.”
  • Correct: “She apologized for her mistake.”
• Confusion between prepositions with similar meanings:
  • Incorrect: “He is from England, but he lives in London.”
  • Correct: “He is from England, but he lives in London.”

To avoid wrong or missing prepositions, it is advisable that learners practice using prepositions correctly in sentences and pay attention to common preposition patterns.

4.6. Confused words

Errors from confused words are committed with frequency. These pairs or groups of words are often misused or interchanged due to their similarities in spelling, pronunciation, or meaning.

For examples, Accept vs Except are two confused words. 

“Accept” is a verb meaning to receive willingly.

• Example: “She accepted the invitation to the party.”

“Except” is a preposition meaning excluding or apart from.

• Example: “Everyone attended the meeting except for John.”

Some of these words may belong to the groups of homophones, homographs, and homonyms such as Principle vs Principal or Stationary vs Stationery.

Only by understanding the distinctions between these words and practicing their correct usage can learners avoid commit this common error in English grammar.

Conclusion

Overall, common errors in English grammar are avoidable, particularly in language learning contexts. With time, practice, and exposure to the language, individuals can improve their grammar skills and reduce the frequency of errors. 

For those who are pursuing TOEIC, IELTS and PTE, it would be easier to be aware of these common mistakes and practice to avoid them as well as improve grammar skills and communicate more effectively with the help of Estudyme. Begin with familiarizing yourself with the basic English grammar rules and online English test free right now!