Simple English Grammar Rules People Often Get Wrong
Simple English Grammar Rules People Often Get Wrong – English grammar looks simple on the surface, but many learners and even native speakers still make the same mistakes again and again. These errors may seem small, yet they can affect clarity, professionalism, and credibility, especially in writing.
In this article, we will discuss simple English grammar rules people often get wrong, explain why they happen, and show how to fix them naturally. This guide is written in a friendly tone, easy to understand, and practical for everyday use.
Subject and Verb Agreement Confusion
One of the most common grammar problems in English is subject and verb agreement. This rule sounds basic, but it often becomes tricky in longer sentences.
A singular subject must use a singular verb, while a plural subject must use a plural verb. Problems usually appear when other words come between the subject and the verb.
For example, many people write “The list of items are on the table.” The real subject is “list,” not “items,” so the correct sentence is “The list of items is on the table.”
Collective Nouns and Agreement
Collective nouns such as team, family, or group also confuse writers. In American English, these words are usually treated as singular. So, “The team is winning” is considered correct, even though the team includes many people.
Understanding what the true subject is will help you avoid this mistake in most cases.
Using “Your” and “You’re” Incorrectly
This is a classic error that still appears everywhere, especially online. “Your” shows possession, while “you’re” is a contraction of “you are.”
When people write quickly, they often forget the difference. A simple trick is to replace “you’re” with “you are.” If the sentence still makes sense, then “you’re” is correct.
For example, “You’re going to love your new job” uses both forms correctly. Mixing them up can make writing look careless, even if the message is clear.
Confusion Between “Its” and “It’s”
Another small apostrophe mistake that causes big confusion is between “its” and “it’s.” “It’s” means “it is” or “it has,” while “its” shows possession.
A sentence like “The company changed it’s policy” is incorrect. The correct form is “The company changed its policy.”
This mistake is common because most possessive nouns in English use apostrophes, but “its” is an exception.
Run-On Sentences and Comma Splices
Run-on sentences happen when two complete ideas are joined without proper punctuation. Comma splices are a specific type of run-on sentence where a comma is used instead of a period or conjunction.
For example, “I finished the report, I sent it to my manager” is incorrect. These are two independent sentences.
You can fix this by adding a conjunction, changing the comma to a period, or restructuring the sentence. Simple fixes like these make writing much easier to read.
Overusing or Misusing Commas
Commas are helpful, but too many commas can be just as confusing as too few. Many writers place commas where they feel a pause, not where grammar rules require them.
A common mistake is putting a comma between a subject and verb, such as “My brother, works in marketing.” This comma should not be there.
Commas After Introductory Phrases
On the other hand, commas are often missing after introductory phrases. For example, “After finishing the project we took a break” should include a comma after “project.”
Learning basic comma rules improves sentence flow and prevents misunderstandings.
Mixing Up “Then” and “Than”
“Then” relates to time or sequence, while “than” is used for comparisons. Even though the difference is simple, many people still confuse them.
For example, “She is taller then her sister” is incorrect. The correct sentence is “She is taller than her sister.”
This mistake often happens because both words sound similar when spoken quickly.
Incorrect Use of Articles: A, An, and The
Articles are a major challenge for non-native English speakers. English uses “a” and “an” for general nouns and “the” for specific ones.
A common error is saying “She is the doctor” when the speaker means any doctor, not a specific one. In that case, “She is a doctor” is more natural.
Understanding whether a noun is general or specific helps you choose the right article.
Confusion Between Countable and Uncountable Nouns
Some nouns in English cannot be counted individually, such as information, advice, and furniture. These words do not have plural forms, but many learners try to add “s” to them.
For example, “many informations” is incorrect. The correct phrase is “a lot of information.”
This mistake often comes from translating directly from another language.
Using the Wrong Prepositions
Prepositions are small words, but they cause big problems. Common examples include confusing “in,” “on,” and “at,” or “for” and “since.”
There is no single rule that works for all situations, which makes prepositions difficult. The best way to learn them is through exposure and practice, not memorization alone.
Reading English content regularly helps you notice which prepositions sound natural in different contexts.
Mixing Past Simple and Present Perfect
Many English learners struggle with the difference between past simple and present perfect. Past simple refers to a finished time, while present perfect connects the past to the present.
For example, “I have seen him yesterday” is incorrect. “Yesterday” is a finished time, so the correct sentence is “I saw him yesterday.”
This rule becomes clearer when you focus on time expressions.
Conclusion
Simple English grammar rules are often overlooked because they seem obvious. However, these small mistakes appear frequently in everyday writing and speech. By understanding why they happen and paying attention to common patterns, you can improve your English naturally.
Good grammar does not mean perfect grammar. It means clear communication. With consistent reading, writing, and awareness, avoiding these common grammar mistakes becomes much easier over time.
Common English Grammar Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Common English Grammar Mistakes and How to Fix Them – English grammar is not always easy, even for people who use English every day. Many learners make the same mistakes again and again, not because they are careless, but because English has rules that feel confusing or inconsistent. The good news is that most grammar mistakes are common and easy to fix once you understand why they happen.
In this article, we will talk about common English grammar mistakes and how to fix them in a simple, practical way. This guide is useful for students, bloggers, writers, and anyone who wants to sound more natural and confident in English.
Subject-Verb Agreement Errors
Subject-verb agreement is one of the most common grammar problems in English writing. The basic rule is simple: a singular subject needs a singular verb, and a plural subject needs a plural verb. However, many people still get confused, especially when sentences become longer.
Singular and Plural Confusion
A common mistake happens when the subject and verb are separated by extra words. For example, someone might write, “The list of items are on the table.” This sounds natural to many learners, but it is actually incorrect. The real subject is “the list,” which is singular, so the correct sentence is “The list of items is on the table.”
To fix this mistake, always identify the main subject of the sentence and ignore extra phrases in the middle.
Indefinite Pronouns Mistakes
Words like everyone, someone, nobody, and each are singular, even though they refer to many people. Many writers mistakenly use plural verbs with these words. For example, “Everyone have their own opinion” is incorrect. The correct version is “Everyone has their own opinion.”
Incorrect Use of Tenses
Tense mistakes can make your writing confusing and unclear. English has many tenses, and choosing the wrong one can change the meaning of a sentence.
Mixing Past and Present Tense
One common error is switching tenses in the same sentence or paragraph without reason. For example, “Yesterday I go to the store and bought some food.” This sentence mixes present and past tense incorrectly.
To fix this, make sure all verbs match the time you are talking about. The correct sentence is “Yesterday I went to the store and bought some food.”
Present Perfect vs Past Simple
Many learners struggle with the difference between present perfect and past simple. A common mistake is using past simple when the time is not specific. For example, “I saw that movie already” is less natural. The correct sentence is “I have already seen that movie.”
Use present perfect when the exact time is not mentioned and the action is connected to the present.
Wrong Use of Articles
Articles a, an, and the are small words, but they cause big problems for English learners. Many languages do not use articles the same way English does.
Missing Articles
A very common mistake is leaving out articles completely. For example, “She is teacher” sounds wrong in English. The correct sentence is “She is a teacher.”
Whenever you talk about a singular, countable noun, you usually need an article.
Overusing “The”
Another common mistake is using “the” when it is not necessary. For example, “I love the nature” is incorrect. The correct sentence is “I love nature.”
Use “the” only when you are talking about something specific or already known.
Preposition Mistakes
Prepositions are tricky because there are many of them, and their usage is often idiomatic. Even advanced English users make mistakes with prepositions.
Wrong Preposition Choice
A common example is saying “married with” instead of “married to.” Another example is “interested on” instead of “interested in.”
The best way to fix this mistake is exposure and practice. Read and listen to natural English as much as possible, and notice which prepositions are used with certain words.
Unnecessary Prepositions
Sometimes learners add prepositions where they are not needed. For example, “discuss about the problem” is incorrect. The correct sentence is “discuss the problem.”
Always check whether a verb actually needs a preposition or not.
Confusing Similar Words
English has many words that look or sound similar but have different meanings. Mixing them up is a very common grammar mistake.
Your vs You’re
This is one of the most popular mistakes in both writing and online communication. “Your” shows possession, while “you’re” means “you are.” Writing “Your welcome” instead of “You’re welcome” is incorrect.
To avoid this mistake, replace the word with “you are” and see if the sentence still makes sense.
Their, There, and They’re
These three words sound the same but have completely different uses. “Their” shows possession, “there” refers to a place, and “they’re” means “they are.”
Mistakes with these words can make your writing look careless, so always double-check them before publishing.
Sentence Structure Problems
Poor sentence structure can make even correct grammar hard to understand. Many writers struggle with run-on sentences and sentence fragments.
Run-On Sentences
A run-on sentence happens when two or more sentences are joined without proper punctuation. For example, “I like English it is easy to learn” should be “I like English because it is easy to learn” or split into two sentences.
To fix this, use periods, commas with conjunctions, or rewrite the sentence more clearly.
Sentence Fragments
A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence. For example, “Because I was tired.” This sentence is missing a main clause.
Make sure every sentence has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete idea.
Capitalization and Punctuation Errors
These mistakes may seem small, but they affect readability and professionalism.
Capitalization Mistakes
Some writers forget to capitalize the first word of a sentence or proper nouns like names, countries, and days. Writing “i live in london” looks unprofessional. The correct sentence is “I live in London.”
Comma Misuse
Commas are often overused or underused. One common mistake is forgetting a comma after an introductory phrase. For example, “After work I go to the gym” is better written as “After work, I go to the gym.”
Final Thoughts on Improving English Grammar
Making grammar mistakes is a normal part of learning English. Even native speakers make errors sometimes. The key is awareness and practice. When you understand common English grammar mistakes and how to fix them, you will write with more confidence and clarity.
Reading a lot, writing regularly, and reviewing your work can make a big difference. Over time, correct grammar will feel natural, not forced. Keep learning, keep practicing, and do not be afraid to make mistakes along the way.