One of the most common challenges experienced by people who are learning English as a second language is choosing the right word for the right context.

The English language is well known for being the language of international communication in the modern world – and wherever you originate from, and whatever native tongue you speak, it’s likely that learning English will be invaluable in both your personal and professional lives. Of course, the English language frequently frustrates new learners with various grammatical hurdles and stumbling blocks.

Common English Grammar Mistakes 

1) Present and Past Tense 

Present tenses in English are used to talk about the present, the future and to summarise a book, film or play when telling a story in the present tense. 

There are four present tense forms in the English language. 

Present Simple: I Work 

Present Continuous: I am Working 

Present Perfect: I have worked 

Present perfect continuous: I have been working 

Rules: 

You can use the past tense to talk about events or situations that have finished. You can also use past tense in English to talk about long-standing events and situations that have already happened in the past. 

For example: When I was a young child, I lived in the countryside. 

Here are some frequently used examples of verbs in past simple: are, was, were and went. 

2) How To Avoid the Overuse of Adverbs

Adverbs are a varied class of words that work in many different ways to express many different kinds of meaning.  

This can make adverbs a useful word group. You should, however, avoid overusing these words to describe actions and events.  

The most commonly overused adverbs are manner adverbs, this particular type of adverb modifies the verb. 

For example: 

The curtain opened quickly, and Ben came slowly into the room. He saw Emma looking flirtatiously with Jack and walked over to her aggressively. ‘Why are you here?’ he screamed angrily. 

Here is the same extract with the manner verbs highlighted: 

The curtain opened quickly, and Ben came slowly into the room. He saw Emma looking flirtatiously with Jack and walked over to her aggressively. ‘Why are you here?’ he screamed angrily. 

The correct use of adverbs is to show not tell the reader what is happening in the story. 

3) Your/You’re 

These words are also troublesome homophones that cause many problems. 

Rules: 

“Your” indicates a possession – and defines that something belongs to you. 

“You’re” is short for “You are”. 

Here is how not to use these words: 

Your beautiful. 

Do you know when your going? 

Can I have you’re coat? 

How to get it right: 

You’re beautiful. 

Do you know when you’re going? 

Can I have your coat?

4) Misplacing Apostrophes 

You find apostrophes a little tricky, but once you follow the rules, it will become easy. Putting an apostrophe in the wrong place is a common mistake. 

Rules: 

Apostrophes indicate something belongs to something or is owned by someone else. 

To show that something belongs to one person, place the apostrophe before the letter ‘S.’ 

For example – “The girl’s sheep”. 

To show that something belongs to more than one person, you need to place the apostrophe after the letter ‘S’. 

For example – “The girls’ sheep”. 

Apostrophes are also used in contracted words such as “Can’t” to indicate that the ‘O’ is missing from “Cannot.” 

Apostrophes should never be used to make a word plural. 

5) There / Their /They’re 

You may find that these pesky homophones, a little bit of a headache. 

Rules: 

Use “There” to refer to a place that isn’t here, for example, “Over there.” 

Use “Their” to refer to how owns something – showing that something belongs to that person. 

Use “They’re” is a shortened version of “They are”. 

Here is how you use these words correctly: 

They’re going to be here soon. 

We should contact their friend. 

Can we use their house? 

There is an argument that says. 

6) Confusing similar spellings and words

The English language is quite rich in words which sound similar, or are spelled similarly, but which have different meanings and need to be used in different contexts.

Perhaps the most common stumbling block experienced by people who are learning English as a second language is making sure to use the right word in the right context, rather than a similar but improper one. The only way to avoid this issue is to learn which words fit in which context, on a case-by-case basis.

Here are some words people often mix up:

“Two,” “too,” and “to”

 “Here” and “hear”

 “Your” and “you’re”

 “Weather” and “whether”