Some Common Mistakes of English Speaking
Common Mistakes in English Speaking:
Even advanced English speakers can make mistakes, particularly if English is not their first language. Here are some common errors to watch out for:
- Using Incorrect Verb Tenses
> Mistake: “I go to the store yesterday.”
> Correction: “I went to the store yesterday.”
> Explanation: Confusing present and past tense is a common error. Always match the verb tense with the time frame being discussed.
- Confusing Countable and Uncountable Nouns
> Mistake: “I have many money.”
> Correction: “I have a lot of money.”
> Explanation: “Money” is an uncountable noun, so use phrases like “a lot of” instead of “many.”
- Subject>Verb Agreement
> Mistake: “She go to school every day.”
> Correction: “She goes to school every day.”
> Explanation: The verb should agree with the subject in number (singular or plural). In this case, “she” is singular, so “goes” is correct.
- Incorrect Use of Prepositions
> Mistake: “I am good in English.”
> Correction: “I am good at English.”
> Explanation: Certain adjectives require specific prepositions. “Good” is followed by “at,” not “in.”
- Mixing Up “Much” and “Many”
> Mistake: “There are too much people here.”
> Correction: “There are too many people here.”
> Explanation: Use “many” with countable nouns and “much” with uncountable nouns.
- Using Double Negatives
> Mistake: “I don’t need no help.”
> Correction: “I don’t need any help.”
> Explanation: Double negatives are incorrect in standard English. Use “any” instead of “no” when forming a negative sentence.
- Mispronunciation of Words
> Mistake: Pronouncing “comfortable” as “com-fort-able.”
> Correction: Pronounce it as “comf-ter-ble.”
> Explanation: Many words in English are not pronounced the way they are spelled, so learning correct pronunciation is key.
- Incorrect Word Order
> Mistake: “I don’t know what is this.”
> Correction: “I don’t know what this is.”
> Explanation: English has a specific word order, especially in indirect questions.
- Overusing Filler Words
> Mistake: Saying “like” or “um” excessively.
> Correction: Practice speaking clearly and confidently without relying on fillers.
> Explanation: Overusing filler words can make speech sound less professional and confident.
- Confusing “Since” and “For”
> Mistake: “I have lived here since five years.”
> Correction: “I have lived here for five years.”
> Explanation: Use “since” with a specific starting point in time, and “for” with a duration of time.
- Incorrectly Using “A” and “An”
> Mistake: “I saw a elephant.”
> Correction: “I saw an elephant.”
> Explanation: Use “a” before words that start with a consonant sound and “an” before words that start with a vowel sound.
- Using “Who” Instead of “Whom”
> Mistake: “To who did you give the book?”
> Correction: “To whom did you give the book?”
> Explanation: “Whom” is used as the object of a verb or preposition, while “who” is used as the subject.
- Incorrect Use of Articles
> Mistake: “She is a best player in the team.”
> Correction: “She is the best player in the team.”
> Explanation: Use “the” for specific items and “a” or “an” for general items.
- Misusing “Few” and “A Few”
> Mistake: “There are few cookies left.”
> Correction: “There are a few cookies left.”
> Explanation: “Few” suggests almost none, while “a few” suggests some, but not many.
- Incorrect Use of “Between” and “Among”
> Mistake: “Share this chocolate between all your friends.”
> Correction: “Share this chocolate among all your friends.”
> Explanation: Use “between” for two things, and “among” for more than two.
- Incorrectly Forming the Past Tense
> Mistake: “I goed to the store yesterday.”
> Correction: “I went to the store yesterday.”
> Explanation: Some verbs are irregular and do not follow the standard “>ed” ending in the past tense.
- Confusing “Lie” and “Lay”
> Mistake: “I need to lay down.”
> Correction: “I need to lie down.”
> Explanation: “Lie” means to recline, while “lay” requires a direct object (e.g., “lay the book down”).
- Using “Less” Instead of “Fewer”
> Mistake: “There are less people here than yesterday.”
> Correction: “There are fewer people here than yesterday.”
> Explanation: Use “fewer” with countable nouns and “less” with uncountable nouns.
- Using “Who” Instead of “Which”
> Mistake: “The book who is on the table is mine.”
> Correction: “The book which is on the table is mine.”
> Explanation: Use “who” for people and “which” for things.
- Incorrect Use of Reflexive Pronouns
> Mistake: “He gave the gift to myself.”
> Correction: “He gave the gift to me.”
> Explanation: Use reflexive pronouns like “myself” only when the subject and object are the same person.
Avoiding these common mistakes can greatly improve your spoken English, making your communication clearer and more effective.