Avoid these 12 Common Mistakes – Elsa de Sousa Pinto

12 Common Mistakes English Language Students Make & How to Avoid Them

by Elsa de Sousa Pinto | 20-06-2023 | Language Learning

Learning English as a second language can be challenging, and even the most dedicated students can make mistakes along the way. In this blog post, we will explore twelve common mistakes that English language students often encounter. By understanding these mistakes and learning how to avoid them, you can improve your English language skills and communicate more effectively.

Adding Numbers to Uncountable Nouns

When it comes to uncountable nouns, it’s important to steer clear of adding numbers. By avoiding this trap, you can accurately express quantities.

Take a look at these examples:

Mistake: “I have three informations.”

Correction: “I have three pieces of infomation.”

Here’s another example:

Mistake: “I have three experiences in software development.”

Correction: “I have extensive experience in software development.”

Misusing Prepositions

Prepositions can be tricky, but mastering their usage is crucial for clear communication. Learn the appropriate prepositions for different contexts to avoid common errors like saying “She insisted to go to the meeting.”

Correction: “She insisted on going to the meeting.”

Take a look at another example:

Mistake: “I am interested to work in that company.”

Correction: “I am interested in working for that company.”

Incorrect Word Order in Questions

Proper word order in questions is essential to convey your intended meaning. Ensure that the subject and verb are correctly positioned, such as asking “Do you like coffee?” instead of “You like coffee do?”

Here’s another example of improper word order:

Mistake: “Why you decided to pursue a career in IT?”

Correction: “Why did you decide to pursue a career in IT?”

Confusing Adjective Endings in -ing and -ed

Differentiating between the -ing and -ed forms of adjectives is essential for accurate language usage. Understanding the distinction between these forms will help you convey the appropriate meaning. Use the -ing form for describing ongoing actions or states, and the -ed form for referring to past events or experiences. Let’s consider an example to illustrate this point.

Mistake: “I am exciting to meet the candidate tomorrow.”

Correction: “I am excited to meet the candidate tomorrow.”

Here’s a different example to further illustrate:

Mistake: “The candidate is interesting in the opportunity.”

Correction: “The candidate is interested in the opportunity.”

Confusing Its and It's

Differentiating between “its” (possessive) and “it’s” (contraction of “it is”) is vital for clear writing. Don’t fall into the trap of saying “It’s headquarters” instead of “Its headquarters.”

Take a look at this example:

Mistake: “The company released it’s latest product.”

Correction: “The company released its latest product.”

Confusing Borrow and Lend

Distinguishing between “borrow” and “lend” is essential when discussing borrowing and lending items. Use “borrow” when you take something from someone and “lend” when you provide something to someone.

Mistake: “Can you borrow me your laptop for the interview?”

Correction: “Can you lend me your laptop for the interview?”

Using "to be + age"

Avoid the common mistake of using “to be + age” to express your age. Instead of saying “I am 25 years,” simply say “I am 25.” Another common mistake is using the verb “to have” to express age. Instead use the verb “to be,” for example “I am 32,” and not “I have 32.”

Mistake: “I have 35 years old.”

Correction: “I am 35.”

Subject-verb Agreement

Maintaining subject-verb agreement is crucial for grammatically correct sentences. Ensure that singular subjects are paired with singular verbs and plural subjects with plural verbs, for example:

Mistake: “The candidates was very impressive.”

Correction: “The candidates were very impressive.”

Consider the following example:

Mistake: “The software developers was responsible for coding the new application.”

Correction: “The software developers were responsible for coding the new application.”

Irregular Plural Nouns

Understanding the rules for forming plurals can prevent errors. Learn the correct plural forms of nouns to avoid saying “childs” instead of “children” or “mans” instead of “men.” Take a look at this short list of irregular plural nouns specific to the IT sector:

Virus (singular) – Viruses (plural)

Index (singular) – Indices (plural)

Schema (singular) – Schemata or Schemas (plural)

Criterion (singular) – Criteria (plural)

Mouse (singular) – Mice (plural)

Datum (singular) – Data (plural)

Present Perfect vs Past Simple

Mastering the distinction between the present perfect and past simple tenses can enhance your language proficiency. Use the present perfect for actions that have a connection to the present and the past simple for completed past events.

Mistake: “I have sent him an email yesterday.”

Correction: “I sent him an email yesterday.”

Here’s an additional example:

Mistake: “I have interviewed that candidate last week.”

Correction: “I interviewed that candidate last week.”

Comparative and Superlative

Learning how to compare and express superlatives correctly is essential for clear communication. Understand the rules for forming comparative and superlative adjectives to avoid errors like saying “more better” instead of “better” or “most delicious” instead of “delicious.”

Example:

Mistake: “He is more better suited for the position.”

Correction: “He is better suited for the position.”

Asking Questions

Asking questions effectively involves proper sentence structure and the appropriate use of question words. Practice constructing questions to improve your conversational skills.