Top 15 ESL Grammar Mistakes and Corrections for B1–B2 Learners

Introduction

Making grammar mistakes is a natural part of learning English, but knowing which errors are most common can help you fix them faster. Whether you are preparing for an exam or just want to sound more natural, understanding these top 15 ESL grammar mistakes and corrections will give your English a real boost. Let’s turn those frustrating errors into confident, correct sentences.

What Are the Top 15 ESL Grammar Mistakes?

These are the most frequent errors that B1–B2 learners make when speaking or writing English. They include problems with tenses, prepositions, articles, subject-verb agreement, and more. By learning the correct patterns, you can avoid these pitfalls and communicate more clearly.

Rules for Correcting These Mistakes

Here are the key rules to remember when fixing the most common errors:

1. Subject-Verb Agreement: The subject and verb must match in number. Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs.
2. Correct Tense Usage: Use the right tense to show when an action happens. Don’t mix past and present without reason.
3. Preposition Choice: Prepositions (in, on, at, for, etc.) often have fixed uses with certain verbs and expressions.
4. Article Use: Use ‘a/an’ for non-specific singular countable nouns, ‘the’ for specific nouns, and no article for general plurals or uncountable nouns.
5. Word Order: In English, the standard order is Subject + Verb + Object. Adverbs usually go after the verb or at the end of a clause.

How to Use These Corrections

Follow these simple steps to apply the corrections to your own English:

1. Identify the mistake: Read or listen carefully and spot the error. For example, “He go to school” has a subject-verb error.
2. Recall the rule: Remember the rule for that error. For “He go,” the rule is: third-person singular subjects need an -s on the verb.
3. Rewrite correctly: Change the sentence to follow the rule. “He go” becomes “He goes.”
4. Practice aloud: Say the correct sentence out loud to train your ear and mouth.
5. Write similar sentences: Create your own examples to reinforce the pattern.

Example: Mistake: “She don’t like coffee.” Correction: “She doesn’t like coffee.” (Rule: Use ‘doesn’t’ with third-person singular subjects.)

Examples in Sentences

Here are 15 sentences showing the corrected version of each common mistake. The corrected grammar point is in bold.

• He goes to the gym every morning. (Not: He go)
• She doesn’t have any money right now. (Not: She don’t have)
• They were at the party last night. (Not: They was)
• I have been studying English for two years. (Not: I am studying)
• We are going to the cinema tomorrow. (Not: We go)
• Can you give me a glass of water? (Not: Give to me)
• He is interested in learning Spanish. (Not: interested for)
• She is good at playing the piano. (Not: good in)
• I am looking forward to the weekend. (Not: looking forward for)
• There are many books on the table. (Not: There is many books)
• This is the best restaurant in town. (Not: a best restaurant)
• I need some advice. (Not: an advice)
• He has lived here since 2010. (Not: He have lived)
• She can swim very well. (Not: She can to swim)
• I enjoy reading books. (Not: I enjoy to read)

Common Mistakes

Here are 5 frequent errors with their wrong and correct versions:

• Mistake 1: ❌ “I am agree with you.” ✅ “I agree with you.” (Rule: ‘Agree’ is a verb, not an adjective. Don’t use ‘am’ before it.)
• Mistake 2: ❌ “She said me that she is tired.” ✅ “She told me that she is tired.” (Rule: ‘Say’ needs ‘to’ before an object; ‘tell’ does not.)
• Mistake 3: ❌ “I have visited Paris last year.” ✅ “I visited Paris last year.” (Rule: Use simple past, not present perfect, with a specific past time.)
• Mistake 4: ❌ “He is more taller than his brother.” ✅ “He is taller than his brother.” (Rule: Don’t use ‘more’ with short adjectives that take -er.)
• Mistake 5: ❌ “I must to go now.” ✅ “I must go now.” (Rule: After modal verbs like ‘must’, ‘can’, ‘should’, use the base verb without ‘to’.)

Quick Summary

• Always check subject-verb agreement: He goes, not He go.
• Use the correct tense: past for finished actions, present perfect for experiences.
• Learn common prepositions: interested in, good at, look forward to.
• Use articles correctly: ‘a’ for general, ‘the’ for specific, no article for plurals/uncountable.
• Avoid double marking: no ‘more’ with -er adjectives, no ‘to’ after modals.
• Practice each correction by writing and speaking it aloud.

Practice Exercises

Fill in the blanks with the correct word or phrase. Check your answers below.

1. She ________ (go/goes) to work by bus every day.
2. They ________ (was/were) very happy with the results.
3. I am interested ________ (in/on/at) learning new languages.
4. He ________ (has/have) already finished his homework.
5. We ________ (must to go/must go) now, or we’ll be late.

Answers:

1. goes
2. were
3. in
4. has
5. must go

Conclusion

Mastering these top 15 ESL grammar mistakes and corrections will dramatically improve your accuracy and confidence. Remember, the key is consistent practice and being aware of the patterns. Keep reviewing these rules, and soon correct grammar will become second nature.

FAQ

1. Why do ESL learners often make subject-verb agreement mistakes?

Many languages don’t change the verb form based on the subject, so learners forget to add -s for third-person singular. For example, in some languages, “He go” is correct. In English, you must say “He goes.” Practice by saying the -s ending aloud.

2. What is the easiest way to remember when to use ‘a’ vs. ‘the’?

Use ‘a’ (or ‘an’) when you mention something for the first time or when it is not specific. Use ‘the’ when both you and the listener know which one you mean. For example: “I saw a dog. The dog was brown.” The first mention uses ‘a’; the second uses ‘the’.

3. How can I stop mixing up ‘since’ and ‘for’?

Think of ‘since’ as a starting point (a specific time, like “since 2010” or “since Monday”). Use ‘for’ to talk about a duration (a period of time, like “for two years” or “for a week”). Example: “I have lived here since 2019″ vs. “I have lived here for five years.”

4. Is it okay to use ‘more’ with all adjectives?

No. Use ‘more’ only with long adjectives (two syllables or more, like “more beautiful,” “more expensive”). For short adjectives (one syllable, like “tall,” “fast”), use -er (“taller,” “faster”). Never combine them: “more taller” is always wrong.