34 Common English Mistakes Made by ESL/EFL Students
Here is a list of common English mistakes my intermediate, upper-intermediate, and advanced ESL students make. Generally, these are grammar mistakes.
> Students, take a look at the sentences (each has a common English mistake) and try to correct the errors.
> Teachers, download the common English mistakes file here for use in class: Common-English-Mistakes-ESL.doc
I have added explanations to most of the mistakes. If you have any questions, leave a comment below. Good luck!
1. There is very cold in the summer.
Answer
It's very cold there in the summer.
Explanation: In the above sentence, 'there' is an adverb (a place). An adverb cannot be the subject of a sentence.
2. According to me, that's true.
Answer
[In my opinion, / I think] that's true.
3. If I will be late, I'll call you.
Answer
If I am late, I'll call you.
Explanation: This is the first conditional (Future Real).
4. I am used to wake up early on weekdays.
Answer
I am used to waking up early on weekdays.
Explanation: the phrasal verb be used to is followed by a gerund (verb in ~ing form).
5. She sat in the end of the table.
Answer
She sat at the end of the table.
6. I stopped to smoke cigarettes because it was unhealthy.
Answer
I stopped smoking cigarettes because it was unhealthy.
Explanation: stop + gerund describes the activity you no longer do. stop + infinitive describes the reason why you stopped.
7. It is very good weather.
Answer
The weather is very good.
Explanation: It = the weather.
8. I need to concentrate myself on my homework.
Answer
I need to concentrate on my homework.
Explanation: You cannot use a reflexive pronoun after concentrate.
9. Did you ever read the book "Moby Dick?"
Answer
Have you ever read the book "Moby Dick?"
Explanation: When talking about a non-specific time in the past, use the present perfect tense (have + past participle).
10. Brian is so stupid man.
Answer
Brian is such a stupid man.
Explanation: so changes to such when it is describing a noun. See lesson plan here.
11. In Spain are many nice beaches.
Answer
There are many nice beaches in Spain. / Spain has many nice beaches.
Explanation: The above sentence needs a subject.
12. I told that I will come back later.
Answer
I said that I would come back later.
Explanation: The object of the verb tell is a person. The object of the verb say are the words/message you say.
13. In my city, bars are closing at 10 p.m. on weeknights.
Answer
In my city, bars close at 10 p.m. on weeknights.
Explanation: Use the present simple here to describe a regular action.
14. Let's have a dinner together sometime.
Answer
Let's have dinner together sometime.
15. Do you know where is the nearest police station?
Answer
Do you know where the nearest police station is?
16. I often do mistakes when I speak English.
Answer
I often make mistakes when I speak English.
Explanation: make is an act of creation. There was no mistake until you created it (made it).
17. I can't find nothing in my neighborhood.
Answer
I can't find anything in my neighborhood.
18. I've seen that movie last Thursday.
Answer
I saw that movie last Thursday.
Explanation: last Thursday is a definite time in the past. Therefore, you should use the past simple tense.
19. How does your new painting look like?
Answer
What does your new painting look like? / How does your new painting look?
20. I look forward to see you next month.
Answer
I look forward to seeing you next month.
Explanation: The phrasal verb look forward to is followed by a gerund (verb in ~ing form).
21. Can I have a question?
Answer
Can I ask a question?
Explanation: Why do you want a question?
22. The news on TV are always sad.
Answer
The news on TV is always sad.
23. What means this word?
Answer
What does this word mean?
24. The capital of the United Kingdom is the London.
Answer
The capital of the United Kingdom is London.
Explanation: Countries that are groups of states (republics, unions, kingdoms, emirates, or states) have the definite article the before them. Secondly, never use the before a city name.
25. Doctor is a hard job.
Answer
Being a doctor is hard. / Being a doctor is a hard job.
Explanation: A doctor is a person, not a job. A job is something you do (a verb, an action). What is hard? Not the doctor (the person) -- it's the action (= being a doctor).
26. Surprising is that no one was hurt.
Answer
It's surprising that no one was hurt. / The surprising thing is that no one was hurt.
Explanation: an adjective cannot be the subject of a sentence.
27. I suggested to buy a new car.
Answer
I suggested buying a new car.
Explanation: We use a gerund (verb in ~ing form) after the verb suggest
28. My teacher is a 34-years old woman.
Answer
My teacher is a 34-year-old woman.
Explanation: '34-year-old' is an adjective in this sentence which describes woman. We don't pluralize (add 's' to) adjectives.
29. If I would be taller, I'd play basketball.
Answer
If I were taller, I'd play basketball.
Explanation: This is the second conditional (a present unreal situation).
30. That's not that bad idea.
Answer
That's not that bad (of) an idea.
Explanation: ideas are countable, so you need an article (an). 'Of' becomes a preposition of the noun 'idea'.
31. One of my roommate is from Brazil.
Answer
One of my roommates is from Brazil.
32. It depends on countries.
Answer
It depends on the country.
Explanation: Always use the definite article (the) and then (usually) a singular noun after depends on
33. Even I was tired, I went to the party.
Answer
Even though I was tired, I went to the party.
34. I explained her the problem twice.
Answer
I explained the problem twice to her.
Explanation: The object of the verb explain is what you explain, not whom you explain the problem to.
How can you improve your English? The best way is to practice speaking and writing with a teacher who can give you feedback on your mistakes. If you don't have a teacher, there is also free software such as Grammarly that can give you grammar feedback while you type.
If you'd like to try some more common mistakes, please visit these related pages:
- Find the Common English Mistakes (Version 2)
- 23 Common English Mistakes (Version 3)
- 10 Common Writing Mistakes
- 20 Common Mistakes made by Czechs
- Matthew Barton / Creator of Englishcurrent.com (copyright)
I think is a comprehensive list of common mistakes made by ESL learners. good job
I liked this kind of excercises because I have a lot problems with the connections.
I always made a mistakes.
I am not consisten in talking.
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A very good exercise based on important aspects of Grammar. Thanks a lot.
The exercise is really usefull, So in a short time, I noticed the wrongs I made by speaking or writting.
To sum up, Thank you a lot from Turkey….. :) <3 ^.^
Kinda weird quiz
very useful. students can easily learn their mistakes.better give brief explanation also which will be useful to students why they are wrong
Is a better tool to understand English. Thank you!
It is a better tool
The topics are all good.
Thanks a lot. This exercise is fun to fill out and it is very useful.
I Thank YOU for your effort
Helpfull…wish it had more exercises
this is very good and useful page.
thanks inded
It was helpful,thanks i learned a lot.
Why I can’t submit this quiz?
There isnt’ really a submission. There is just an expandable section under each question that will show you the answer.
this worksheet is very useful for learning and very convenient to understand the root of problems.thanks.
yea i like it
I can’t real say how helpful I’ve found this exercises thank you guyz you are doing a nice job
common mistakes in sentence : we do not wait the train to arrive on time
We do not wait FOR the train to arrive on time. This sentence sounds a bit strange in the present simple tense, though. Are you sure that you don’t want to use the past tense? (We did not wait for the train to arrive.)
A very good exercise for ESOL classes. Thanks.
Even after being an avid reader and language person , lost my skill so this is really handy as you hv put up reasons n rules too. Common errors are common, I ,sometimes, feel that the grunge and shortcut linguistics made me a dull girl…. I must thank you for what u hv compiled as it is a huge benefit for us to revise and polish. __/\__
that was very easy for me I didn’t make mistake
in these things .
i can tell that by readying your comment.
I have studied so many things from this. thank you.
OMG! No these exercises are very hard
Number 27, we might say : I suggested on her/his/your/their buying a new car
Am I wrong?
I realized that I am wrong:)
1.Besides a laptop, he has a PS4.
2.You can contact the manager for further information.
What are errors in the above these sentences
Hello. I don’t see any. Can you tell me?
This makes me think that english is very easier than I thought. What a language?
Thank you for this lesson. I’m an English teacher in Germany and I think my students can learn a lot from this. May I ask what software you used to create it? Thanks!
Hello. This website was created using WordPress. This webpage, like many webpages, are a combination of HTML, CSS, and Javascript.
Was good and easy
The quiz was a bit difficult
Very useful exercises with answers and explanations for learners .
Always use the definite article (the) and then (usually) a singular noun after depends on.
It depends on countries.
Hi, how come It depends on countries incorrect?
Hello. The phrase “Depends on” is almost always followed by ‘the’ + a singular noun. This is why we say ‘It depends on the person’ instead of ‘It depends on people’. Why? I suppose in a sentence like “it depends on the person/country”, we are referring to _that_ particular country/person, and in that sense, we aren’t speaking generally but referring to the individual characteristics of that one, specific country/person.
My friend helped me somehow these english homework.
it is very useful to know the common mistakes to try not to make them.
It was quite easy
good job
My answer may be correct too so it is quite confusing that only one answer for each question is accpeted.
If you want to post your answer below I can check.
Where are the answers of these questions???
I understand
This lesson is very useful for learning common mistakes.