Top 10 Common Mistakes English Learners Make

Learning English is like trying to juggle flaming torches while riding a unicycle—it’s exciting, challenging, and sometimes, a little nerve-wracking. One moment, you’re confidently constructing sentences, and the next, you’re staring at “their,” “they’re,” and “there” like they’re a riddle from a cryptic puzzle game. But don’t sweat it—making mistakes is a sign of progress! Each misstep is just another stepping stone on the path to fluency.

Mastering English isn’t just about stuffing your brain with vocabulary and grammar rules—it’s about knowing how to use them in real conversations. Even the most dedicated learners trip up on common pitfalls, from mixing up verb tenses to throwing adverbs in all the wrong places. The good news? Every mistake you make is fixable!

So, whether you find yourself overusing “very” (spoiler: there’s always a stronger word) or struggling to figure out where to put adverbs without making your sentences sound like a broken robot, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a fun, engaging breakdown of the top 10 most common mistakes English learners make—plus simple, effective ways to fix them!

1. Subject-Verb Agreement Confusion

In some languages, verb forms don’t change based on the subject, so learners often forget that in English, singular subjects need singular verbs (“He walks”) and plural subjects need plural verbs (“They walk”).

How to Fix It

  • Slow down and identify the subject. Singular or plural? Make sure your verb matches.
  • Practice common subject-verb pairings (e.g., “He goes,” “They go”).
  • Read sentences aloud—if it sounds weird, it probably is.

Example Mistakes & Fixes:
Incorrect: “He walk to the store.”
Correct: “He walks to the store.”

Incorrect: “They was late.”
Correct: “They were late.”

2. Overusing Present Continuous

Some languages use the continuous tense more frequently than English, leading learners to mistakenly say things like “I am loving this book” instead of “I love this book.”

How to Fix It

  • Learn stative verbs—verbs that describe states rather than actions (e.g., like, love, know, believe). These usually don’t go in the continuous form.
  • Listen to native speakers. If you rarely hear them say “I am understanding this,” there’s probably a reason.
  • Practice rewriting sentences with stative verbs in the simple present.

Example Mistakes & Fixes:
Incorrect: “She is knowing the answer.”
Correct: “She knows the answer.”

Incorrect: “They are believing in ghosts.”
Correct: “They believe in ghosts.”

3. Misplacing Adverbs

English word order can be tricky, especially when it comes to adverbs. Many learners place them incorrectly by following their native language’s structure, which can make sentences sound unnatural or confusing. In some languages, adverbs can be placed almost anywhere without affecting meaning, but in English, word order matters.

How to Fix It

  • Adverbs of manners (quickly, carefully) usually go after the main verb or before it, but not in between the verb and its object.
    • Correct: “She drives the car carefully.”
    • Incorrect: “She drives carefully the car.”
  • Adverbs of frequency (always, often, never) go before the main verb, except with “to be,” where they go after it.
    • Correct: “He is always late.”
    • Incorrect: “He always is late.”
  • Adverbs of time (yesterday, soon) go at the beginning or end of a sentence.
    • Correct: “She will call you tomorrow.”
    • Incorrect: “She will tomorrow call you.”

Example Mistakes & Fixes:
Incorrect: “I drink quickly my coffee.”
Correct: “I quickly drink my coffee.” or “I drink my coffee quickly.”

Incorrect: “They eat often at this restaurant.”
Correct: “They often eat at this restaurant.”

By following these rules and practicing correct adverb placement, your sentences will sound much more natural.

4. Pronunciation Pitfalls

Some English sounds don’t exist in other languages, making pronunciation a real challenge. Many learners also pronounce words as they are spelled, ignoring silent letters or stress patterns.

How to Fix It

  • Use pronunciation guides or apps.
  • Listen and imitate native speakers.
  • Practice tongue twisters to master difficult sounds.

Common Pronunciation Errors:

  • Silent letters: Pronouncing the k in knife or the b in doubt.
  • Stressing the wrong syllable: Saying PHOtograph instead of phoTOgraph.

5. Confusing Common Homophones

Homophones sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. Many learners rely on phonetic memory rather than understanding the meaning of each word.

How to Fix It

  • Use context clues to differentiate meanings.
  • Create visual associations.
  • Practice writing sentences with homophones.

Common Homophones:

  • Their, They’re, There
  • Two, To, Too
  • It’s, Its

6. False Friends (Words That Look Familiar but Aren’t)

Some words appear similar in English and other languages but have different meanings, leading to confusion.

How to Fix It

  • Learn common false friends between your native language and English.
  • Double-check definitions before using unfamiliar words.

Common False Friends:

  • Actual (English: real) vs. Actual (Spanish: current)
  • Library (English: a place with books) vs. Librería (Spanish: a bookstore)

7. Using “Very” Too Much

Many learners overuse very because they haven’t expanded their vocabulary with stronger adjectives.

How to Fix It

  • Learn advanced vocabulary and synonyms.
  • Use descriptive words instead of relying on “very.”

Better Alternatives:

  • Very tiredExhausted
  • Very sadHeartbroken
  • Very coldFreezing

Mistakes are proof that you’re learning, so don’t stress over them. The best way to improve is by practicing every day. Read, listen, speak, and don’t be afraid to make errors—because every mistake is a step toward fluency. Keep going, and soon enough, you’ll be correcting others instead of making these mistakes yourself!

8. Preposition Problems

Prepositions in English don’t always follow logical rules, and many don’t have direct translations in other languages. This leads to common mistakes like saying “I am married with John” instead of “I am married to John.”

How to Fix It

  • Memorize common preposition phrases rather than trying to translate word-for-word.
  • Listen to native speakers and notice patterns. Some prepositions are just about familiarity.
  • Practice prepositions in full sentences instead of in isolation.

Common Preposition Mistakes & Fixes:
Incorrect: “She is interested on music.”
Correct: “She is interested in music.”

Incorrect: “He is good in soccer.”
Correct: “He is good at soccer.”

Incorrect: “We arrived to the airport late.”
Correct: “We arrived at the airport late.”

9. Mixing Up “In,” “On,” and “At”

These tiny words seem simple, but their meanings can overlap, making them confusing. Learners often mix them up because in some languages, a single preposition is used where English has multiple.

How to Fix It

  • Learn the general rules for spatial prepositions.
    • In → used for enclosed spaces (in a car, in a room, in a building).
    • On → used for surfaces (on the table, on a bus, on a page).
    • At → used for specific points (at the door, at school, at the station).
  • Think visually. Try associating these prepositions with locations in a mental picture.

Common Mistakes & Fixes:
Incorrect: “I am in the bus.”
Correct: “I am on the bus.”

Incorrect: “She is on the office.”
Correct: “She is in the office.”

Incorrect: “We will meet in the airport.”
Correct: “We will meet at the airport.”

10. Overusing Fillers & Speaking Too Fast

When people feel nervous or unsure while speaking English, they often fill gaps with words like “um,” “like,” “you know,” and “actually.” Speaking too fast is another common issue, as learners rush through sentences to get their thoughts out before they lose track.

How to Fix It

  • Slow down. Speaking clearly and with confidence is better than rushing and getting jumbled.
  • Use pauses instead of fillers. A short silence is more powerful than unnecessary “um’s.”
  • Record yourself speaking. This helps identify where you overuse fillers and lets you practice slowing down.

Common Mistakes & Fixes:
Incorrect: “Um, I think, like, this is, um, a good idea, you know?”
Correct: “I think this is a good idea.”

Incorrect: “She was, like, really, um, surprised.”
Correct: “She was really surprised.”

Learning English is a journey, and mistakes are just part of the adventure. The key to improvement is recognizing errors, correcting them, and practicing consistently. Every step forward, no matter how small, brings you closer to fluency and confidence. So, don’t be afraid to make mistakes—embrace them, learn from them, and keep going!

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