Introduction
Even advanced English learners make the same grammar mistakes again and again. The good news? Most of these errors are easy to fix once you know the rules. In this post, we will look at 10 common English grammar mistakes that B1–B2 students often make, and I will show you exactly how to correct them. By the end, you will write and speak more confidently.
What Are Common Grammar Mistakes?
Common grammar mistakes are errors that many English learners (and even native speakers!) make regularly. They include problems with verb tenses, word order, punctuation, and word choice. Understanding these mistakes helps you avoid them and improve your accuracy in everyday communication.
Rules for Avoiding These Mistakes
Here are the key rules to remember when working on the 10 mistakes below:
- Subject-verb agreement: A singular subject needs a singular verb (e.g., He goes, not He go).
- Use apostrophes for possession and contractions only: Its (without apostrophe) is possessive; it’s means “it is.”
- Do not double negatives: Use only one negative word per clause (e.g., I don’t have anything, not I don’t have nothing).
- Use the correct preposition: Interested in, not interested on; depend on, not depend of.
- Keep verb tenses consistent: Do not switch between past and present without reason.
How to Use These Fixes
Follow this step-by-step approach to correct your grammar:
- Identify the mistake: Read your sentence aloud. Does it sound wrong? Look for missing words or strange verb forms.
- Check the rule: Refer to the rules above. For example, if you wrote She don’t like coffee, remember that she is singular, so you need doesn’t.
- Rewrite the sentence: Change the error using the correct form. Example: She doesn’t like coffee.
- Practice similar sentences: Write three more sentences using the same rule to make it stick.
- Get feedback: Ask a teacher or use a grammar-checking tool to confirm your corrections.
Examples in Sentences
Below are 10 example sentences. Each one highlights a common grammar mistake that we will fix later. The bolded part shows the error.
- He go to the gym every day. (should be goes)
- Its a beautiful day outside. (should be It’s)
- I don’t have nothing to do. (should be anything)
- She is interested on learning Spanish. (should be in)
- Yesterday, I go to the store. (should be went)
- There is less students in class today. (should be fewer)
- Me and my friend is going to the party. (should be My friend and I are)
- He should of studied more. (should be have studied)
- The team are winning the game. (should be is in American English)
- I can’t hardly hear you. (should be I can hardly hear you or I can’t hear you)
Common Mistakes
Here are five of the most frequent errors with corrections:
- Mistake 1: ❌ She don’t like pizza.
✅ She doesn’t like pizza. (Subject-verb agreement) - Mistake 2: ❌ The dog wagged it’s tail.
✅ The dog wagged its tail. (Possessive vs. contraction) - Mistake 3: ❌ I haven’t seen nobody.
✅ I haven’t seen anybody. (Double negative) - Mistake 4: ❌ He is good on math.
✅ He is good at math. (Wrong preposition) - Mistake 5: ❌ If I would have known, I would come.
✅ If I had known, I would have come. (Conditional tense)
Quick Summary
Here is a bullet-point recap of the 10 common mistakes and their fixes:
- Subject-verb agreement: Singular subjects need singular verbs (e.g., he goes).
- Its vs. It’s: Its = possession; it’s = “it is.”
- Double negatives: Use only one negative (e.g., don’t have anything).
- Prepositions: Use the correct one (e.g., interested in, good at).
- Verb tense consistency: Keep past/present/future clear.
- Less vs. Fewer: Use fewer for countable nouns.
- Subject order: Say My friend and I, not Me and my friend.
- Should have: Not should of.
- Collective nouns: In US English, use singular verb (e.g., team is).
- Can hardly: Not can’t hardly.
Practice Exercises
Fill in the blanks with the correct word or phrase. Answers are below.
- She __________ (go / goes) to the library every weekend.
- __________ (Its / It’s) raining outside, so take an umbrella.
- I don’t want __________ (nothing / anything) for my birthday.
- He is interested __________ (in / on) learning to play guitar.
- Yesterday, we __________ (go / went) to the beach.
Answers:
- goes
- It’s
- anything
- in
- went
Conclusion
Making grammar mistakes is a natural part of learning English, but you can fix them with practice. Focus on the 10 errors we covered today, and try to use the correct forms in your daily writing and speaking. Keep a notebook of your most common mistakes, and review them often. With time, these corrections will become automatic!
FAQ
1. Why do I keep making the same grammar mistakes?
It is very common to repeat mistakes because your brain has learned a “wrong” pattern. The best way to break the habit is to practice the correct form deliberately. Write the correct sentence 10 times, say it aloud, and use it in conversation. Over time, the new pattern will replace the old one.
2. How can I remember when to use “its” vs. “it’s”?
A simple trick: if you can replace the word with “it is” or “it has,” use it’s (with an apostrophe). If you cannot, use its (without an apostrophe). For example: It’s a nice day (it is) vs. The cat licked its paw (possession).
3. Is it ever okay to use a double negative in English?
In standard English, double negatives are considered incorrect. However, in some dialects (like African American Vernacular English or informal speech), double negatives are common. In academic or professional writing, always avoid them. Stick to one negative per clause.
4. What is the difference between “less” and “fewer”?
Use fewer with countable nouns (things you can count individually, like students, books, cars). Use less with uncountable nouns (things you cannot count individually, like water, time, money). Example: Fewer people came today (countable) vs. Less water is in the bottle (uncountable).