Grammar Mistakes Esl Students Make And How To Fix Them

ESL Grammar Mistakes: Identification and Correction Guide

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Mastering English grammar is a crucial step for ESL (English as a Second Language) learners aiming for fluency and accuracy. Even advanced learners can stumble upon common grammatical pitfalls.

This comprehensive guide identifies frequent errors made by ESL students and provides clear explanations, examples, and practice exercises to help you overcome these challenges. By understanding these mistakes and learning how to correct them, you can significantly improve your written and spoken English, enhancing your communication skills and confidence.

Table of Contents

Understanding Common ESL Grammar Mistakes

ESL grammar mistakes are errors in English grammar made by individuals learning English as a second language. These mistakes can occur in various areas, including verb conjugation, noun usage, article application, preposition selection, and sentence structure.

These errors often stem from differences between the learner’s native language and English, or from incomplete understanding of English grammar rules.

Identifying and understanding the root causes of these errors is the first step towards correcting them. It allows learners to focus on specific areas where they need improvement and develop targeted strategies for mastering those areas.

By addressing these common pitfalls, ESL learners can enhance their accuracy and fluency in English.

Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement means that the verb in a sentence must agree in number (singular or plural) with its subject. This is a fundamental aspect of English grammar.

A singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a plural verb. This rule can become tricky with compound subjects, collective nouns, and indefinite pronouns.

For example, “The cat sits on the mat” (singular) and “The cats sit on the mat” (plural). Recognizing and applying this rule correctly is crucial for clear and accurate communication.

Tense Consistency

Tense consistency refers to maintaining the same verb tense throughout a sentence or paragraph unless there is a logical reason to change tenses. Shifting unnecessarily between past, present, and future tenses can confuse the reader and disrupt the flow of the text.

Maintaining consistent tense usage is vital for clarity and coherence in writing and speaking.

For example, “I went to the store and bought some milk” (both verbs in past tense). A violation of this rule would be: “I went to the store and I buy some milk.”

Article Usage (A, An, The)

Articles (a, an, the) are used to specify whether a noun is definite (specific) or indefinite (general). The correct usage of articles can be challenging for ESL learners because many languages do not have articles or use them differently. A and an are indefinite articles, used before singular, countable nouns when the noun is not specific. The is a definite article, used before nouns that are specific or have been previously mentioned.

For example, “I saw a cat” (indefinite) vs. “I saw the cat” (definite, referring to a specific cat). Understanding the nuances of article usage is essential for clear and precise communication.

Prepositions

Prepositions are words that show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. They often indicate location, direction, time, or manner. Choosing the correct preposition can be difficult because the same preposition can have multiple meanings, and different languages use prepositions differently. Common prepositions include in, on, at, to, from, with, by, for, about, and of.

For example, “The book is on the table” (location). Incorrect preposition use can significantly alter the meaning of a sentence.

Word Order

English follows a relatively strict word order, typically Subject-Verb-Object (SVO). Deviations from this order can lead to confusion or grammatical errors.

While some flexibility exists for emphasis or stylistic effect, maintaining the basic SVO structure is crucial for clear communication. Understanding the standard word order helps ESL learners construct grammatically correct and easily understandable sentences.

For example, “The dog chased the ball” (SVO). An incorrect word order would be: “The ball chased the dog.”

Noun Plurals

Most nouns in English become plural by adding “-s” to the end. However, there are many irregular plurals that ESL learners need to memorize.

These include nouns ending in -y, -f, -fe, -o, as well as completely irregular nouns like “child” (children) and “mouse” (mice). Mastering noun plurals is essential for accurate communication and avoiding grammatical errors.

For example, “one book” vs. “two books,” but “one child” vs.

“two children.”

Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Countable nouns are nouns that can be counted and have a plural form (e.g., books, apples, cars). Uncountable nouns, also known as mass nouns, cannot be counted and do not typically have a plural form (e.g., water, air, information).

The distinction between countable and uncountable nouns affects the choice of articles, quantifiers, and verb agreement. Using the correct forms with countable and uncountable nouns is crucial for grammatical accuracy.

For example, “I have three books” (countable) vs. “I need some water” (uncountable).

You cannot say “I have three waters.”

Pronoun Agreement

Pronoun agreement means that a pronoun must agree in number and gender with the noun it refers to (its antecedent). Singular antecedents require singular pronouns, and plural antecedents require plural pronouns.

Ensuring pronoun agreement is essential for clarity and avoiding confusion in writing and speaking. Using the wrong pronoun can lead to ambiguity or misinterpretation.

For example, “The student finished their homework” (incorrect) vs. “The student finished his or her homework” (correct, if the student is singular and gender is unknown) or “The students finished their homework” (correct, if the students are plural).

Conditional Sentences

Conditional sentences express hypothetical situations and their consequences. They typically consist of an “if” clause (the condition) and a main clause (the result).

There are several types of conditional sentences, each with its own verb tense combination: zero conditional, first conditional, second conditional, and third conditional. Understanding the different types of conditional sentences and their corresponding verb tenses is crucial for expressing hypothetical situations accurately.

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For example, “If it rains, the ground gets wet” (zero conditional). “If it rains, I will stay home” (first conditional).

Gerunds and Infinitives

Gerunds are verb forms ending in “-ing” that function as nouns (e.g., “Swimming is my favorite sport”). Infinitives are the base form of a verb preceded by “to” (e.g., “I want to swim”).

Some verbs are followed by gerunds, while others are followed by infinitives, and some can be followed by either with a change in meaning. Knowing which verbs take gerunds and which take infinitives is essential for grammatical accuracy.

For example, “I enjoy swimming” (gerund) vs. “I want to swim” (infinitive).

A common mistake is saying “I enjoy to swim.”

Examples of Common Mistakes and Corrections

Subject-Verb Agreement Examples

The following table provides examples of correct and incorrect subject-verb agreement:

Incorrect Correct
He don’t like coffee. He doesn’t like coffee.
They is going to the park. They are going to the park.
The dog bark loudly. The dog barks loudly.
My friends is coming over. My friends are coming over.
She have a new car. She has a new car.
The students studies hard. The students study hard.
It don’t matter. It doesn’t matter.
We was late to the meeting. We were late to the meeting.
The movie was interested. The movie was interesting.
My family are big. My family is big. (referring to the family as a unit) OR My family members are big.
Each of the students have a book. Each of the students has a book.
Neither John nor Mary are here. Neither John nor Mary is here.
The team are playing well. The team is playing well. (referring to the team as a unit) OR The team members are playing well.
Economics are a difficult subject. Economics is a difficult subject.
There is many reasons to be happy. There are many reasons to be happy.
A number of students is absent. A number of students are absent.
The number of students are increasing. The number of students is increasing.
Everybody are welcome. Everybody is welcome.
None of the food were eaten. None of the food was eaten.
Politics are complicated. Politics is complicated.
The news are surprising. The news is surprising.
Mathematics are my favorite subject. Mathematics is my favorite subject.
The committee have not decided yet. The committee has not decided yet. (referring to the committee as a unit) OR The committee members have not decided yet.
One of the boys were chosen. One of the boys was chosen.

Tense Consistency Examples

The following table provides examples of correct and incorrect tense consistency:

Incorrect Correct
I went to the store and I will buy milk. I went to the store and I bought milk.
She is eating dinner when the phone rang. She was eating dinner when the phone rang.
He will go to the party, but he felt sick. He will go to the party, but he will feel sick.
They visited Paris and they will love it. They visited Paris and they loved it.
I am studying English because I wanted to travel. I am studying English because I want to travel.
She will be happy after she received the gift. She will be happy after she receives the gift.
We ate dinner, then we will watch a movie. We ate dinner, then we watched a movie.
He runs every day because he wanted to stay healthy. He runs every day because he wants to stay healthy.
They are going to the beach although it rained yesterday. They are going to the beach although it rained the day before.
If I had known, I will help you. If I had known, I would have helped you.
He is a doctor and he studied hard to become one. He is a doctor and he studied hard to become one. (This is correct, as the actions are in different time frames logically)
She will travel the world once she gets her degree. Then, she is finding a job. She will travel the world once she gets her degree. Then, she will find a job.
I am visiting my family last summer. I visited my family last summer.
Tomorrow, I went to the gym. Tomorrow, I will go to the gym.
She is going to call me when she arrived. She is going to call me when she arrives.
They are going to the store after they finished their homework. They are going to the store after they finish their homework.
He said he is coming. He said he was coming.
I thought she is here. I thought she was here.
The teacher explained the lesson and then gives a quiz. The teacher explained the lesson and then gave a quiz.
I will be happy when I am getting a good grade. I will be happy when I get a good grade.

Article Usage Examples

The following table provides examples of correct and incorrect article usage:

Incorrect Correct
I saw cat in the street. I saw a cat in the street.
The sun is shining brightly today. The sun is shining brightly today. (Correct because “sun” is unique.)
I need to buy milk. I need to buy milk. (Correct because milk is uncountable.)
She is a doctor. She is a doctor. (Correct use of indefinite article.)
The water is cold. The water is cold. (Correct use of definite article when referring to specific water.)
He is going to university. He is going to the university. (If referring to a specific university) OR He is going to university. (If referring to university in general.)
I read book yesterday. I read a book yesterday.
She is eating apple. She is eating an apple.
The Eiffel Tower is in Paris. The Eiffel Tower is in Paris. (Correct as Eiffel Tower is specific and unique.)
I have the idea. I have an idea.
He is a honest man. He is an honest man.
She is the best student in class. She is the best student in the class. (Correct, as “best” implies a specific student.)
I saw the interesting movie. I saw an interesting movie.
She is a unique person. She is a unique person. (Correct because ‘unique’ starts with a consonant sound)
They live in the small house. They live in a small house.
I want to visit the France. I want to visit France.
He is the engineer. He is an engineer.
The love is a beautiful thing. Love is a beautiful thing.
I need the sugar for the coffee. I need sugar for the coffee. (If speaking generally) OR I need the sugar for the coffee. (If referring to a specific amount of sugar.)
She is playing the guitar. She is playing the guitar. (Correct, because “guitar” is a specific instrument.)
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Preposition Examples

The following table provides examples of correct and incorrect preposition usage:

Incorrect Correct
I am going to home. I am going home.
She is interested on music. She is interested in music.
He is waiting for the bus in the corner. He is waiting for the bus at the corner.
The book is in the table. The book is on the table.
I live at New York. I live in New York.
They arrived to the airport. They arrived at the airport.
She is good on math. She is good at math.
I am angry at him. I am angry with him.
He is afraid from spiders. He is afraid of spiders.
She is looking for her keys. She is looking for her keys. (Correct)
I agree to you. I agree with you.
He depends of his parents. He depends on his parents.
She is thinking to buy a car. She is thinking about buying a car.
The cat jumped from the table. The cat jumped off the table.
I am going to the party with my friend. I am going to the party with my friend. (Correct)
He is listening to the radio in the moment. He is listening to the radio at the moment.
She is talking about the phone. She is talking on the phone.
I am waiting you. I am waiting for you.
He is sitting in the chair. He is sitting on the chair.
The meeting is at Monday. The meeting is on Monday.

Word Order Examples

The following table provides examples of correct and incorrect word order:

Incorrect Correct
The cat the mouse chased. The cat chased the mouse.
Yesterday I went to the store. I went to the store yesterday.
She quickly the homework finished. She quickly finished the homework.
He the book read. He read the book.
To the park they are going. They are going to the park.
Always she is late. She is always late.
The blue car I like. I like the blue car.
Delicious the food was. The food was delicious.
To the movies we are going tonight. We are going to the movies tonight.
Beautiful she is. She is beautiful.
Quickly he ran. He ran quickly.
Happy they are. They are happy.
Every day I study English. I study English every day.
The exam difficult was. The exam was difficult.
Carefully she drove the car. She drove the car carefully.
To the concert they went. They went to the concert.
Well he sings. He sings well.
Tired I am. I am tired.
The red house is big. The red house is big. (Correct)
Early she woke up. She woke up early.

Usage Rules and Guidelines

Subject-Verb Agreement Usage

The basic rule of subject-verb agreement states that a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. However, there are several nuances to this rule.

Compound subjects joined by “and” usually take a plural verb, unless they refer to a single entity. Collective nouns (e.g., team, family, committee) can take either a singular or plural verb, depending on whether they are acting as a unit or as individual members.

Indefinite pronouns (e.g., everyone, someone, nobody) are generally singular.

Understanding these nuances and applying the correct verb form is crucial for avoiding errors in subject-verb agreement.

Tense Consistency Usage

When writing or speaking, maintain a consistent verb tense within a sentence and paragraph. Avoid unnecessary shifts in tense, which can confuse the reader or listener.

If you start in the past tense, continue in the past tense unless there’s a logical reason to change to another tense. Similarly, if you start in the present tense, maintain the present tense unless the context requires a different tense.

Pay attention to time markers (e.g., yesterday, today, tomorrow) to help you determine the appropriate tense to use.

Article Usage Guidelines

Use “a” before singular, countable nouns that begin with a consonant sound (e.g., a car, a book). Use “an” before singular, countable nouns that begin with a vowel sound (e.g., an apple, an hour).

Use “the” before specific or definite nouns, or before nouns that have been previously mentioned. Do not use articles before uncountable nouns (e.g., water, air, information) unless you are referring to a specific quantity or instance.

Remember that article usage can vary depending on the context and the intended meaning.

Preposition Usage Rules

Prepositions often indicate location, time, direction, or relationship. There are no hard and fast rules for preposition usage, as it often depends on idiom and context.

However, some common patterns exist. “In” is often used for enclosed spaces or larger areas (e.g., in the box, in the city).

“On” is often used for surfaces (e.g., on the table, on the wall). “At” is often used for specific locations or times (e.g., at the corner, at 5 pm).

Learning common prepositional phrases and practicing their usage is essential for mastering prepositions.

Word Order Rules

English typically follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) word order. This means that the subject comes first, followed by the verb, and then the object (if there is one).

Adjectives usually come before the nouns they modify. Adverbs can be placed in various positions in a sentence, but they often come before the verb or after the object.

While some variations are possible for emphasis or stylistic effect, maintaining the basic SVO structure is crucial for clarity.

Pay attention to the placement of modifiers and adverbs to ensure that your sentences are grammatically correct and easily understandable.

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Subject-Verb Agreement Mistakes

Mistake: Using a plural verb with a singular subject (or vice versa).

Incorrect: The dog bark loudly.

Correct: The dog barks loudly.

Mistake: Incorrect agreement with compound subjects.

Incorrect: John and Mary is coming to the party.

Correct: John and Mary are coming to the party.

Mistake: Incorrect agreement with collective nouns.

Incorrect: The team are playing well.

Correct: The team is playing well. (referring to the team as a unit)

Tense Consistency Mistakes

Mistake: Shifting tenses unnecessarily within a sentence or paragraph.

Incorrect: I went to the store and I will buy milk.

Correct: I went to the store and I bought milk.

Mistake: Using the wrong tense for a specific time marker.

Incorrect: Yesterday, I will go to the gym.

Correct: Yesterday, I went to the gym.

Article Usage Mistakes

Mistake: Omitting articles when they are needed.

Incorrect: I saw cat in the street.

Correct: I saw a cat in the street.

Mistake: Using the wrong article (a vs. an).

Incorrect: She is eating apple.

Correct: She is eating an apple.

Mistake: Using articles with uncountable nouns unnecessarily.

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Incorrect: I need the water.

Correct: I need water.

Preposition Mistakes

Mistake: Using the wrong preposition in a phrase.

Incorrect: I am interested on music.

Correct: I am interested in music.

Mistake: Omitting prepositions when they are needed.

Incorrect: I am going home.

Correct: I am going home. (No preposition needed here.)

Word Order Mistakes

Mistake: Deviating from the standard SVO word order.

Incorrect: The cat the mouse chased.

Correct: The cat chased the mouse.

Mistake: Incorrect placement of adverbs.

Incorrect: Always she is late.

Correct: She is always late.

Practice Exercises

Subject-Verb Agreement Exercise

Choose the correct verb form in each sentence:

Question Answer
1. The dog (barks/bark) loudly. barks
2. My friends (is/are) coming over. are
3. She (has/have) a new car. has
4. They (was/were) late to the meeting. were
5. Each of the students (has/have) a book. has
6. Neither John nor Mary (is/are) here. is
7. The team (is/are) playing well. is
8. Economics (is/are) a difficult subject. is
9. There (is/are) many reasons to be happy. are
10. Everybody (is/are) welcome. is

Tense Consistency Exercise

Correct the tense inconsistencies in the following sentences:

Question Answer
1. I went to the store and I will buy milk. I went to the store and I bought milk.
2. She is eating dinner when the phone rang. She was eating dinner when the phone rang.
3. He will go to the party, but he felt sick. He will go to the party, but he will feel sick.
4. I am studying English because I wanted to travel. I am studying English because I want to travel.
5. We ate dinner, then we will watch a movie. We ate dinner, then we watched a movie.
6. If I had known, I will help you. If I had known, I would have helped you.
7. Tomorrow, I went to the gym. Tomorrow, I will go to the gym.
8. She is going to call me when she arrived. She is going to call me when she arrives.
9. He said he is coming. He said he was coming.
10. I thought she is here. I thought she was here.

Article Usage Exercise

Fill in the blanks with the correct article (a, an, the) or leave blank if no article is needed:

Question Answer
1. I saw ___ cat in

 a
2. ___ sun is shining brightly today. The
3. I need to buy ___ milk.
4. She is ___ doctor. a
5. He is going to ___ university. the (if specific) / (if general)
6. She is eating ___ apple. an
7. ___ Eiffel Tower is in Paris. The
8. I have ___ idea. an
9. She is ___ best student in the class. the
10. He is ___ engineer. an

Preposition Exercise

Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition:

Question Answer
1. I am going ____ home.
2. She is interested ____ music. in
3. He is waiting for the bus ____ the corner. at
4. The book is ____ the table. on
5. I live ____ New York. in
6. They arrived ____ the airport. at
7. She is good ____ math. at
8. I agree ____ you. with
9. He depends ____ his parents. on
10. She is thinking ____ buying a car. about

Word Order Exercise

Rearrange the words to form grammatically correct sentences:

Question Answer
1. cat the mouse chased The cat chased the mouse.
2. Yesterday I went to the store I went to the store yesterday.
3. She quickly the homework finished She quickly finished the homework.
4. He the book read He read the book.
5. To the park they are going They are going to the park.
6. Always she is late She is always late.
7. The blue car I like I like the blue car.
8. Delicious the food was The food was delicious.
9. To the movies we are going tonight We are going to the movies tonight.
10. Happy they are They are happy.

Advanced Topics

Subjunctive Mood

The subjunctive mood is used to express wishes, suggestions, commands, or hypothetical situations. It often involves using the base form of the verb (without inflections) and can be tricky for ESL learners.

The subjunctive mood is most commonly found in “that” clauses following verbs like “suggest,” “recommend,” “demand,” and “insist,” as well as in conditional sentences.

For example, “I suggest that he be on time.” “If I were you, I would study harder.”

Reported Speech

Reported speech (also known as indirect speech) is used to convey what someone else said without using their exact words. When converting direct speech to reported speech, it is often necessary to change the verb tense, pronouns, and time expressions.

Mastering reported speech is essential for accurately conveying information and avoiding confusion.

For example, Direct speech: “I am happy,” she said. Reported speech: She said that she was happy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do ESL learners make grammar mistakes?

ESL learners make grammar mistakes for various reasons, including differences between their native language and English, incomplete understanding of English grammar rules, interference from their first language, and lack of practice. These mistakes are a natural part of the learning process and can be overcome with focused effort and practice.

How can I improve my English grammar?

You can improve your English grammar by studying grammar rules, practicing regularly, reading and listening to English content, getting feedback from native speakers, and focusing on your specific areas of weakness. Consistency and persistence are key to making progress.

What are the most common grammar mistakes made by ESL learners?

The most common grammar mistakes made by ESL learners include errors in subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, article usage, preposition selection, word order, noun plurals, and pronoun agreement. This guide addresses these common errors and provides strategies for correcting them.

How important is grammar in learning English?

Grammar is very important in learning English. While fluency is also important, a solid understanding of grammar is essential for clear and accurate communication.

Good grammar helps you express your ideas effectively and avoid misunderstandings. It also enhances your credibility and confidence in using English.

Conclusion

Mastering English grammar is a journey that requires dedication, practice, and a willingness to learn from mistakes. By understanding the common errors made by ESL learners and applying the strategies outlined in this guide, you can significantly improve your accuracy and fluency in English.

Remember to focus on your specific areas of weakness, practice regularly, and seek feedback from native speakers. With consistent effort, you can achieve your goals and communicate effectively in English.

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