30 Common Grammar Mistakes to Avoid

Common Grammar Mistakes to Avoid

1. Subject-Verb Agreement

Mistake: The verb does not agree in number with the subject.

• Incorrect: She go to the store.
• Correct: She goes to the store.

2. Incorrect Verb Tense

Mistake: Using the wrong tense for the context.

• Incorrect: Yesterday, he eat lunch at noon.

Correct: Yesterday, he ate lunch at noon.

3. Incorrect Use of 2nd Form with “Did” or “Did Not”

Mistake: Using the past tense form of the verb with “did” or “did not.”

• Incorrect: I did not went to the market.
• Correct: I did not go to the market.

4. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Mistake: Pronoun does not agree with its antecedent in number.

• Incorrect: Each of the students must bring their own pencil.
• Correct: Each of the students must bring his or her own pencil.

5. Misplaced Modifiers

Mistake: Placing a modifier in a position that makes the meaning unclear or incorrect.

• Incorrect: She almost drove her kids to school every day.
• Correct: She drove her kids to school almost every day.

6. Double Negatives

Mistake: Using two negatives to express a single negation.

• Incorrect: I don’t need no help.
• Correct: I don’t need any help.

7. Run-on Sentences

Mistake: Two or more independent clauses joined without proper punctuation or conjunction.

• Incorrect: I love to write papers I would write one every day if I had the time.
• Correct: I love to write papers. I would write one every day if I had the time.

8. Sentence Fragments

Mistake: A group of words that does not form a complete sentence.

• Incorrect: Because I was late.
• Correct: Because I was late, I missed the bus.

9. Confusion Between Similar Words

Mistake: Mixing up words that sound alike but have different meanings.

• Incorrect: Their going to the park.
• Correct: They’re going to the park.

10. Incorrect Use of Apostrophes

Mistake: Misusing apostrophes in contractions or possessives.

• Incorrect: Its a beautiful day.
• Correct: It’s a beautiful day.

11. Incorrect Word Order

Mistake: Placing words in an order that disrupts the sentence structure.

• Incorrect: Happy I am to see you.
• Correct: I am happy to see you.

12. Incorrect Pluralization

Mistake: Incorrectly forming plural nouns.

• Incorrect: She bought two boxs of cereal.
• Correct: She bought two boxes of cereal.

13. Using “Less” Instead of “Fewer”

Mistake: Using “less” for countable nouns.

• Incorrect: There are less apples in the basket.
• Correct: There are fewer apples in the basket.

14. Incorrect Comparisons

Mistake: Making incorrect comparisons.

• Incorrect: She is more taller than her sister.
• Correct: She is taller than her sister.

15. Using “Good” Instead of “Well”

Mistake: Mixing up “good” (adjective) and “well” (adverb).

• Incorrect: She sings good.
• Correct: She sings well.

16. Using “Then” Instead of “Than”

Mistake: Mixing up “then” (indicating time) and “than” (used in comparisons).

• Incorrect: She is taller then him.
• Correct: She is taller than him.

17. Incorrect Use of Articles

Mistake: Using articles incorrectly or omitting them.

• Incorrect: She is doctor.
• Correct: She is a doctor.

18. Overuse of Present Continuous Tense

Mistake: Using the present continuous tense instead of the simple present.

• Incorrect: I am having a car.
• Correct: I have a car.

19. Incorrect Prepositions

Mistake: Using the wrong preposition.

• Incorrect: She is good in maths.
• Correct: She is good at maths.

20. Direct Translation from Native Languages

Mistake: Translating idioms or expressions directly from native languages.

• Incorrect: Open the light.
• Correct: Turn on the light.

21. Use of Double Comparatives

Mistake: Using two comparative forms together.

• Incorrect: He is more smarter than his brother.
• Correct: He is smarter than his brother.

22. Incorrect Question Formation

Mistake: Forming questions incorrectly.

• Incorrect: What you are doing?
• Correct: What are you doing?

23. Redundant Use of Words

Mistake: Using redundant words that do not add meaning.

• Incorrect: He returned back yesterday.
• Correct: He returned yesterday.

24. Incorrect Use of Singular and Plural Forms

Mistake: Using singular and plural forms incorrectly.

• Incorrect: She has many furnitures.
• Correct: She has much furniture.

25. Misplaced Adverbs

Mistake: Placing adverbs incorrectly in a sentence.

• Incorrect: He drives fastly.
• Correct: He drives fast.

26. Incorrect Pronoun Usage

Mistake: Using the wrong pronouns or mixing them up.

• Incorrect: Myself and Ramesh are going to the market.
• Correct: Ramesh and I are going to the market.

27. Using “Isn’t It?” as a Universal Tag Question

Mistake: Using “isn’t it?” for all tag questions regardless of the sentence.

• Incorrect: You are coming tomorrow, isn’t it?
• Correct: You are coming tomorrow, aren’t you?

28. Incorrect Use of “Only”

Mistake: Misplacing “only” in a sentence, changing the meaning.

• Incorrect: She only likes tea.
• Correct: She likes only tea.

29. Confusing “Since” and “For”

Mistake: Using “since” and “for” interchangeably.

• Incorrect: I have been living here since ten years.
• Correct: I have been living here for ten years.

30. Using “Passed Out” for Graduation

Mistake: Saying “passed out” to mean graduated, instead of fainted.

• Incorrect: I passed out from college last year.
• Correct: I graduated from college last year.

By being aware of these common errors, one can improve their English usage and communicate more effectively.