English grammar can be tricky, and even advanced learners make mistakes. However, many common grammar errors have simple fixes. In this article, we will look at some of the most frequent grammar mistakes and how to correct them easily.
1. Subject-verb agreement
Mistake: He go to school every day.
Fix: He goes to school every day.
The verb must agree with the subject in number. If the subject is singular, use the singular verb (goes). If the subject is plural, use the plural verb (go).
2. Confusing “your” and “you’re”
Mistake: Your welcome!
Fix: You’re welcome!
Your is a possessive adjective (your book, your car). You’re is a contraction of you are (you’re late, you’re funny). If you can replace the word with “you are,” then use you’re.
3. Misusing “its” and “it’s”
Mistake: The dog wagged it’s tail.
Fix: The dog wagged its tail.
Its is a possessive pronoun (its color, its size). It’s is a contraction of it is or it has. If you can replace it with “it is,” use it’s.
4. Incorrect past tense verbs
Mistake: She runned fast.
Fix: She ran fast.
Some verbs have irregular past tense forms. Instead of adding -ed, learn their correct forms. Examples:
go → went
eat → ate
run → ran
5. Double negatives
Mistake: I don’t know nothing about it.
Fix: I don’t know anything about it.
In English, two negatives make a positive meaning. Instead of “don’t know nothing,” say “don’t know anything.”
6. Using “a” or “an” incorrectly
Mistake: She is an doctor.
Fix: She is a doctor.
Use a before words that start with a consonant sound (a cat, a house). Use an before words that start with a vowel sound (an apple, an hour).
7. Confusing “then” and “than”
Mistake: She is taller then me.
Fix: She is taller than me.
Than is used for comparisons. Then is used for time or sequence.
I am older than my brother.
First, we ate lunch. Then, we went out.
8. Mixing up “there,” “their,” and “they’re”
Mistake: There car is new.
Fix: Their car is new.
There refers to a place (It is over there).
Their shows possession (Their house is big).
They’re is a contraction of they are (They’re happy).
9. Wrong prepositions
Mistake: She is married with him.
Fix: She is married to him.
Prepositions can change meaning, so it is important to use the correct one. Some common corrections:
Interested in, not interested on
Good at, not good in
Listen to, not listen
10. Forgetting to use articles (a, an, the)
Mistake: I bought book yesterday.
Fix: I bought a book yesterday.
Use a or an for singular, general nouns (a dog, an umbrella). Use the for specific nouns (the sun, the teacher).
Final tip
Practice makes perfect! Pay attention to these common mistakes, and your English will improve. Keep reading, writing, and listening to native speakers, and soon these quick fixes will become natural for you. Happy learning!
Comments
Post a Comment