Common English Grammar Mistakes Non-Native Speakers Make (And How to Fix Them)
You’ve been studying English for years. You can read articles, watch movies without subtitles, and hold conversations with native speakers. But then you write an email, reread it, and cringe at a mistake you’ve made a hundred times before.
Sound familiar?
Here’s something most English teachers won’t tell you: making grammar mistakes doesn’t mean you’re failing at learning English. It means you’re human. Your brain is doing something incredibly complex—switching between two different language systems, each with its own logic, rules, and exceptions.
The mistakes you make aren’t random, either. They follow patterns based on how your native language structures ideas differently from English. A Spanish speaker struggles with different things than a Mandarin speaker. A Russian speaker faces challenges that confuse Arabic speakers less. But across all these languages, certain English grammar traps catch nearly everyone.
I’ve spent over a decade teaching English to students from every corner of the world, and I’ve noticed something encouraging: the same mistakes appear again and again, regardless of someone’s native language. That’s actually good news. Why? Because if the problems are predictable, the solutions are too.
Today, we’re going to explore the most common grammar mistakes non-native speakers make, understand why they happen, and—most importantly—learn practical strategies to fix them permanently.
Why English Grammar Feels So Difficult
Before we dive into specific mistakes, let’s address the elephant in the room: English grammar is genuinely confusing, even for native speakers.
Unlike languages with clear, consistent rules, English is a beautiful mess. It borrowed words from Latin, French, German, and dozens of other languages. It kept some of their grammar rules while abandoning others. The result? A language full of exceptions, irregular patterns, and constructions that defy logic.
Add to that the fact that your native language probably handles concepts like time, possession, and plurality completely differently than English does. Your brain has spent years hardwiring one system, and now it’s trying to overlay another system on top of it. No wonder mistakes slip through.
The good news? Awareness is half the battle. Once you recognize your specific problem areas and understand why they trip you up, fixing them becomes much easier.
Mistake #1: Dropping Articles (A, An, The)
If your native language doesn’t use articles—and many don’t—this mistake probably haunts every piece of writing you produce.
The Problem:
You write sentences like “I need to buy book” or “Dog is barking outside” because in your language, articles simply don’t exist. Your brain doesn’t automatically think to include them.
Why It Happens:
Languages like Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and many others communicate perfectly well without articles. Your brain isn’t programmed to mark whether something is specific or general using little words like “a” or “the.”
How to Fix It:
Start by understanding that articles in English signal important information:
- “A/An” = one of many, not specific (first mention, or any example)
- “The” = specific one that both speaker and listener can identify
Practice this two-step check:
- Is this a countable noun (something you can count)? If yes, it probably needs an article.
- Are we talking about a specific one or any one? Specific = “the,” any one = “a/an”
Wrong: I saw dog in park.
Right: I saw a dog in the park.
(We need “a” because it’s any dog, first mention. We need “the” because it’s a specific park we both know about)
Wrong: She is teacher.
Right: She is a teacher.
(She’s one teacher among many teachers in the world)
Wrong: Sun rises in east.
Right: The sun rises in the east.
(There’s only one sun and one east, so they’re specific)
Pro tip: When you write in English, do a second pass focusing only on articles. Read each noun and ask: “Does this need a, an, or the?” With practice, this becomes automatic.
Mistake #2: Using Wrong Verb Tenses
Tense mistakes are universal. Every non-native speaker struggles with choosing the right tense, especially with English’s complex system of perfect and continuous forms.
The Problem:
You say “I am living here since 2020” instead of “I have lived here since 2020,” or “When you called, I had dinner” instead of “I was having dinner.”
Why It Happens:
Your native language probably expresses time differently. Many languages use context and time words instead of changing verb forms. Or they have fewer tenses than English’s twelve-plus variations.
How to Fix It:
Focus on these most commonly confused tense situations:
Present Perfect vs. Simple Past:
Use present perfect (have/has + past participle) when the action connects to now or when the specific time doesn’t matter.
Wrong: I went to Paris three times.
Right: I have been to Paris three times.
(The experience is relevant now, time isn’t specific)
Wrong: I have seen that movie yesterday.
Right: I saw that movie yesterday.
(Specific past time = simple past)
Past Continuous vs. Simple Past:
Use past continuous (was/were + -ing) for background actions or actions in progress when something else happened.
Right: When the phone rang, I was taking a shower.
(The shower was in progress; the ring interrupted)
Past Perfect for “Before Past”:
Use past perfect (had + past participle) to show something happened before another past action.
Confusing: When I arrived at the party, she left.
Clear: When I arrived at the party, she had already left.
(She left before I arrived)
Practice tip: Create a timeline. Draw events on a line to see which happened first. This visual helps your brain organize tenses correctly.
Mistake #3: Wrong Word Order
English word order is relatively strict compared to many other languages. Put words in the wrong sequence and sentences become confusing fast.
The Problem:
You write “I like very much pizza” or “Always I drink coffee in the morning.”
Why It Happens:
Your language might allow flexible word order or place adverbs, adjectives, and objects differently than English does.
How to Fix It:
English follows this basic pattern: Subject + Verb + Object
Then, follow these placement rules:
Adverbs of frequency (always, usually, often, sometimes, never) go before the main verb but after “be”:
Wrong: Always I am tired.
Right: I am always tired. OR I always feel tired.
Adjectives go before nouns:
Wrong: I bought a car red.
Right: I bought a red car.
Adverbs of manner (how something happens) go after the verb or object:
Wrong: He speaks fluently English.
Right: He speaks English fluently.
Objects go after verbs:
Wrong: I like very much this song.
Right: I like this song very much.
Memory trick: When in doubt, stick to Subject-Verb-Object and add extra information at the end. This works for most English sentences.
Mistake #4: Preposition Confusion
Prepositions might be the single most frustrating aspect of English grammar. Even advanced learners get them wrong.
The Problem:
You say “I’m good in math” instead of “at math,” or “I arrive to work” instead of “at work.”
Why It Happens:
Prepositions are highly idiomatic and don’t translate directly between languages. What uses “in” in your language might use “on” or “at” in English, with no logical pattern.
How to Fix It:
Unfortunately, there’s no magic rule here. You need to learn common combinations. But these patterns help:
Time Prepositions:
- at specific times: at 3 PM, at noon, at midnight
- on days and dates: on Monday, on January 15th
- in months, years, periods: in March, in 2026, in the morning
Place Prepositions:
- at specific locations: at the store, at home, at school
- on surfaces: on the table, on the wall, on the second floor
- in enclosed spaces: in the room, in the city, in the car
Common Verb + Preposition Pairs to Memorize:
- depend on (not “depend of”)
- arrive at (not “arrive to”)
- good at (not “good in”)
- married to (not “married with”)
- different from (not “different than”)
- consists of (not “consists from”)
Practice strategy: Keep a preposition journal. Every time you learn a new verb or adjective, write down which preposition it pairs with. Review this weekly.
Mistake #5: Subject-Verb Agreement Errors
This mistake appears in everyone’s writing occasionally, but it’s especially common for non-native speakers.
The Problem:
You write “She go to work every day” or “They was happy.”
Why It Happens:
Your language might not change verb forms based on the subject, or it does so in a completely different way than English.
How to Fix It:
Learn these core patterns:
Present tense: Third person singular (he, she, it) adds -s or -es to the verb. Everything else stays in base form.
- I work / You work / She works / We work / They work
Past tense “be”: Use “was” for singular subjects (except “you”), “were” for plural and “you”:
- I was / You were / He was / We were / They were
Watch for tricky subjects:
Words like “everyone,” “someone,” “nobody,” and “each” are singular even though they feel plural:
Wrong: Everyone are ready.
Right: Everyone is ready.
Wrong: Each of the students have a book.
Right: Each of the students has a book.
“There is/are” sentences: Match the verb to what comes after it:
Wrong: There is three apples.
Right: There are three apples.
Practice tip: Read your sentences aloud. Your ear often catches subject-verb mismatches that your eyes miss.
Mistake #6: Using Double Negatives
In some languages, stacking negatives strengthens the negative meaning. English works the opposite way.
The Problem:
You say “I don’t have nothing” or “She doesn’t know nobody here.”
Why It Happens:
Languages like Spanish, Russian, and French often use multiple negative words in one sentence. It feels natural to you, but in standard English, two negatives create a positive or sound incorrect.
How to Fix It:
Use only one negative word per clause.
Wrong: I don’t want nothing.
Right: I don’t want anything. OR I want nothing.
Wrong: He can’t do nothing about it.
Right: He can’t do anything about it. OR He can do nothing about it.
Negative words to watch: no, not, never, nobody, nothing, nowhere, neither, nor
If you already have “not” (don’t, doesn’t, didn’t, won’t, etc.), use “any” words instead of “no” words:
- anything (not nothing)
- anyone/anybody (not nobody)
- anywhere (not nowhere)
Mistake #7: Overusing “The” with General Statements
Many learners add “the” before nouns in general statements, creating awkward sentences.
The Problem:
You write “I love the dogs” when you mean dogs in general, not specific dogs.
Why It Happens:
Some languages use articles before general categories. In English, we usually don’t.
How to Fix It:
For general statements about categories, skip “the”:
Wrong: The life is beautiful.
Right: Life is beautiful.
Wrong: I enjoy listening to the music.
Right: I enjoy listening to music.
Wrong: The children need love and attention.
Right: Children need love and attention. (children in general)
But use “the” when you mean specific ones:
Right: The children in this class are very bright. (these specific children)
Rule of thumb: If you’re talking about ALL of something or the concept in general, no “the.” If you’re talking about specific ones, use “the.”
Mistake #8: Confusing “Make” and “Do”
These two verbs drive learners crazy because many languages use just one word for both concepts.
The Problem:
You say “make homework” or “do a mistake.”
Why It Happens:
Your native language probably doesn’t distinguish between creating/producing and performing/completing the way English does.
How to Fix It:
General guideline:
- Make = create, produce, construct something
- Do = perform, complete, execute an action or task
Common “make” phrases:
- make a mistake
- make a decision
- make progress
- make money
- make a plan
- make breakfast/lunch/dinner
- make a phone call
- make an effort
Common “do” phrases:
- do homework
- do housework/chores
- do business
- do exercise
- do your best
- do damage
- do research
- do someone a favor
The tricky part: These combinations are mostly fixed expressions. You can’t logic your way through them—you need to memorize the most common ones.
Practice strategy: Create two columns in your notebook. As you encounter new phrases, add them to the correct list. Review regularly.
Mistake #9: Misusing Gerunds and Infinitives
Knowing whether to use “-ing” or “to + verb” causes endless confusion.
The Problem:
You write “I enjoy to read” or “I want going home.”
Why It Happens:
Your language might not have this distinction, or it follows completely different rules about when to use which form.
How to Fix It:
Some verbs are always followed by gerunds (-ing):
- enjoy, finish, mind, avoid, suggest, practice, keep, quit
Right: I enjoy reading. (not “enjoy to read”)
Right: She finished working. (not “finished to work”)
Some verbs are always followed by infinitives (to + verb):
- want, need, hope, plan, decide, expect, learn, refuse
Right: I want to go. (not “want going”)
Right: We decided to stay. (not “decided staying”)
Some verbs can use both, sometimes with different meanings:
- remember, forget, stop, try
Different meanings:
- I stopped smoking. (I quit the habit)
- I stopped to smoke. (I paused in order to smoke)
The harsh truth: There’s no simple rule. You have to learn which verbs take which form. Make flashcards or a reference list.
Mistake #10: Incorrect Question Formation
Questions in English follow specific patterns that differ from statements, and many learners struggle with this.
The Problem:
You ask “You are coming?” or “Where you went yesterday?”
Why It Happens:
Many languages form questions by just changing intonation or adding a question word, without reordering the sentence. English requires specific word order changes.
How to Fix It:
Yes/No Questions: Use auxiliary verb + subject + main verb
Wrong: You can help me?
Right: Can you help me?
Wrong: She is coming to the party?
Right: Is she coming to the party?
Wh- Questions: Question word + auxiliary + subject + main verb
Wrong: Where you live?
Right: Where do you live?
Wrong: What time the meeting starts?
Right: What time does the meeting start?
Exception: When the question word is the subject, don’t add “do/does/did”:
Right: Who called you? (not “Who did call you?”)
Right: What happened? (not “What did happen?”)
Practice tip: Write out the statement first, then transform it into a question following the pattern. With repetition, it becomes natural.
Making Real Progress
Reading about these mistakes is helpful, but fixing them requires active, consistent practice. Here’s how to actually improve:
1. Pick your top three mistakes. Which errors appear most often in your writing or speaking? Focus on those first.
2. Create error-tracking sheets. Each time you make one of your target mistakes, write down the wrong version and the corrected version. Review these daily.
3. Use input as medicine. Read extensively in English. Your brain absorbs correct patterns through exposure. Quality beats quantity—read well-edited articles, books, and websites.
4. Speak and write regularly. You can’t fix mistakes you never make. Practice creating sentences, even if they’re imperfect. Mistakes are data that show you what needs work.
5. Find a language partner or tutor. Someone who can catch your errors in real-time is invaluable. They’ll notice patterns you don’t see.
6. Be patient with yourself. You’re rewiring neural pathways built over years. That takes time. Celebrate progress, not perfection.
The Path Forward
Grammar mistakes don’t define your English ability. They’re simply signs of where your native language and English differ, places where your brain needs extra training to build new patterns.
Every fluent non-native speaker went through this exact process. They made these same mistakes repeatedly. They felt frustrated when the same errors kept appearing. They wondered if they’d ever sound natural.
But they kept practicing, stayed aware of their problem areas, and gradually—sentence by sentence—built stronger habits.
You’re on that same journey. The fact that you’re here, actively learning about these common mistakes, means you’re already ahead of most learners who never take time to identify and fix their specific problems.
So keep writing. Keep speaking. Keep noticing your mistakes without judging yourself harshly for them. Each error you catch and correct is a step toward the fluent, confident English you’re working toward.
You’ve got this.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to stop making these mistakes?
It varies dramatically. Some mistakes fade within weeks with focused practice, while others—especially article usage and prepositions—might take months or even years to fully master. The key is consistent, patient practice.
Should I focus on fixing everything at once?
No, that’s overwhelming and ineffective. Choose 2-3 specific mistakes that appear most frequently in your English, and work on those intensively. Once they improve, move to the next set.
Is it bad if I still make these mistakes after years of studying English?
Not at all. Even highly advanced speakers occasionally slip up, especially with articles, prepositions, and tenses. What matters is whether you can communicate effectively and whether your mistakes interfere with understanding.
How can I catch my own mistakes when writing?
Read your work aloud slowly, focusing on one type of mistake per read-through. First pass: check subject-verb agreement. Second pass: verify articles. Third pass: confirm tenses. Breaking it down makes errors more visible.
Do native speakers really notice these mistakes?
They notice, but most are understanding and focus on your meaning rather than minor errors. In professional or academic contexts, correctness matters more, but in casual conversation, communication trumps perfect grammar.
