Learning English comes with plenty of small challenges, and even advanced learners can find themselves repeating the same mistakes. Whether you’re learning English for study, work, or simply to communicate more fluently, recognising and correcting these common mistakes will help you improve faster and feel more confident in every situation.
Understanding English Language Requirements
If you’re studying (or planning to study) in an English-speaking country, you may need to meet specific language requirements through English language proficiency tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, or Cambridge English tests. Most universities have an English language requirement and these exams measure your reading, writing, listening, and speaking abilities.
This guide highlights ten common English errors; why they happen, what they mean, and English learning tips on how you can correct them for good.
10 Common English Mistakes (and Fixes!)
Below are ten of the most common English mistakes learners make including grammar errors, commonly misspelled English words, and everyday language mix-ups.
Mistake #1: Confusing Prepositions (In, On, At)
What they are: Prepositions are short words (like in, on, at, by, to) that tell us where or when something happened. Prepositions can be confusing because their meanings often don’t translate directly from other languages.
Example Mistake: “The meeting is in Monday.”
What Went Wrong?
- Rule: Use “on” for days/dates, “in” is for months, years and seasons (in July, in Winter), “at” is for exact times (“The meeting is at 9am”)
- Monday is a specific day, so “in” doesn’t fit.
Fix It Fast: “The meeting is on Monday.”
Mistake #2: Articles (A, An, The)
What they are: Articles are short words (a, an, the) used before other words. They help us speak and write naturally by showing if we mean something general, specific, or depending on the sound of the word that follows.
Example Mistake: “I have a exam tomorrow.”
What Went Wrong?
- Rule: Use “a” before words that start with a consonant sound and “an” before words that start with a vowel sound.
- Exam begins with a vowel sound, so “a” is incorrect here. It should be “an.”
Fix It Fast: “I have an exam tomorrow.”
Mistake #3: Present Perfect vs. Simple Past Tense
What they are: Tenses show when something happened. The present perfect connects past action to the present, while the simple past describes an action that’s finished and in the past.
Example Mistake: “I have seen that movie yesterday.”
What Went Wrong?
- Rule: Don’t use present perfect with a specific past time word like “yesterday”, “last week”, “in 2025”.
- “Yesterday” shows a specific time, so you must use simple past tense.
Fix It Fast: “I saw that movie yesterday.”
Mistake #4: Subject-Verb Agreement
What they are: In English, the verb must agree with the subject. This means if the subject is singular, the verb should also be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural too.
Example Mistake: “The results shows improvement.”
What Went Wrong?
- Rule: A plural subject needs a plural verb, and a singular subject needs a singular verb.
- “Results” is plural, so “shows” (singular) doesn’t match.
Fix It Fast: “The results show improvement.”
Mistake #5: Misusing “Make” and “Do”
What they are: Both “make” and “do” describe actions, but they’re used in different ways. Make means to create or produce something. Do means to perform or complete a task.
Example Mistake: “I need to make my homework.”
What Went Wrong?
- Rule: Use “do” for work, actions, and tasks (do homework, do research, do the dishes).
- “Homework” in this context is a task, so “make” doesn’t fit here.
Fix It Fast: “I need to do my homework.”
Mistake #6: Word Order in Questions
What they are: English has a fixed word order. In most questions, the helping verb (is, are, do, does) comes before the person doing the action.
Example Mistake: “What you are doing?”
What Went Wrong?
- Rule: In most “wh” questions, the correct order is helper verb + subject + main verb.
- “Are” comes after “you” here, but it should come before to make the question sound natural.
Fix It Fast: “What are you doing?”
Mistake #7: False Friends (Vocabulary Confusion)
What they are: False friends are words in different languages that look or sound alike but have different meanings. They can cause problems because it’s easy to assume they mean the same thing in both languages.
Example Mistake: “I am sensible.”
What Went Wrong?
- Rule: In English, “sensible” means practical or reasonable. In Spanish, “sensible” means sensitive or emotional.
- The speaker wanted to describe being emotional, but in English this sentence actually means they are logical.
Fix It Fast: “I am sensitive.”
Tip: Search online for a list of common false friends between English and your native language, reviewing them regularly will help you remember the correct meanings.
Mistake #8: Overusing Passive Voice in Writing
What they are: The passive voice focuses on actions or results (The report was written by Maria), while the active voice focuses on the person doing the action (Maria wrote the report). Both forms are correct, but too much passive voice can make your writing more difficult to read.
Example Mistake: “The data was analysed by the students and was presented by the teacher.”
What Went Wrong?
- Rule: Using too many passive verbs (was analysed, was presented) makes sentences wordy and repetitive.
- It’s clearer and shorter when you say who did the action.
Fix It Fast: “The students analysed the data, and the teacher presented it.”
Mistake #9: Gerunds vs. Infinitives
What they are: A gerund is a verb ending in -ing (like reading). An infinitive is “to” + verb (“to read”). Some verbs always take one or the other.
Example Mistake: “I enjoy to read books.”
What Went Wrong?
- Rule: After “enjoy”, use the -ing form. After “want”, use “to” + verb.
- “Enjoy” needs a gerund, not an infinitive.
Fix It Fast: “I enjoy reading books.”
Mistake #10: Punctuation Errors in Writing
What they are: Punctuation marks like commas, full stops, and question marks help your reader understand your message. Using them incorrectly can make your writing confusing or even change the meaning of what you’re trying to say.
Example Mistake: “I love cooking my family and my friends.”
What Went Wrong?
- Rule: Use commas to separate items in a list.
- Without commas, this sentence sounds like you enjoy “cooking your family and friends”, not spending time with them.
Fix It Fast: “I love cooking, my family, and my friends.”
FAQs – Why Are English Proficiency Tests Important?
- They measure your language level objectively and are often required for university admission or visa applications.
- What are A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2 levels in English? These are the CEFR levels that describe English ability, from beginner (A1) to near-native (C2).
- What are the requirements for English language courses in Ireland? Requirements vary, but most schools offer placement tests to ensure you start at the right level.
At IBAT Dublin, our English language courses help students strengthen grammar, vocabulary, and writing through real-life communication practice and expert guidance. Whether you’re learning English for study, work, or everyday life, we’ll help you build confidence step by step.
👉 Explore our English language courses including the General English Course and IELTS Exam Preparation Course.
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