10 Common English Mistakes Beginners Make (and Easy Fixes)

Here is some good news: every English learner makes mistakes. Mistakes are not bad. They show that you are trying, speaking and growing! But some mistakes are so common that it helps to know them. In this post we look at 10 common English mistakes beginners make, and the easy way to fix each one.

Don’t try to fix all ten today. Choose one or two, practise them this week, and then come back for more.

10 common English mistakes beginners make

1. “She work here.” → “She works here.”

In the present simple, we add -s to the verb after he, she and it. It is a tiny letter, so it is easy to forget!

✗ My brother live in London.
✓ My brother lives in London.

Easy fix: when you say he, she, it or a person’s name, listen for the “s” at the end of the verb.

2. “I am agree.” → “I agree.”

In English, agree is a normal verb, like like or want. We don’t need am before it.

✗ I am agree with you.
✓ I agree with you.

The same is true for I am disagree. Just say “I disagree”, or, more politely, “I’m not sure I agree.”

3. “I am teacher.” → “I am a teacher.”

When we talk about someone’s job, we usually need a or an.

✗ She is doctor.
✓ She is a doctor.
✓ He is an engineer.

Easy fix: use an before a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u), and a before other sounds.

4. “I have 25 years.” → “I am 25.”

In many languages, you have your age. In English, you are your age.

✗ I have 25 years.
✓ I am 25. / I am 25 years old.

5. “Where you live?” → “Where do you live?”

Questions in the present simple need a helping verb: do or does.

✗ What you want for dinner?
✓ What do you want for dinner?
✓ Where does she work?

Notice that after does, the main verb has no -s: Where does she work?, not Where does she works?

6. “Can you give me some informations?” → “some information”

Some English words are uncountable. This means we can’t count them, so they have no plural -s. Common ones are information, advice, furniture, homework and luggage.

✗ He gave me many good advices.
✓ He gave me some good advice.

Easy fix: if you want to count them, use a piece of: a piece of advice, two pieces of information.

7. “People is friendly.” → “People are friendly.”

People is already plural (one person, two people). So it needs a plural verb.

✗ The people here is very kind.
✓ The people here are very kind.

8. “I did a mistake.” → “I made a mistake.”

Make and do are both tricky. We say make a mistake, make a cake, make a phone call and make friends. But we say do homework, do the shopping and do your best.

✗ Don’t worry, everyone does mistakes.
✓ Don’t worry, everyone makes mistakes.

Easy fix: learn these words in pairs, not alone. Write “make a mistake” in your notebook, not just “mistake”.

9. “I live here for five years.” → “I have lived here for five years.”

When something started in the past and is still true now, we often use the present perfect (have + past participle) with for and since.

✗ I know her since 2020.
✓ I have known her since 2020.
✓ We have lived here for five years.

Use for with a period of time (for two weeks) and since with a starting point (since Monday).

10. “I’m good in English.” → “I’m good at English.”

Small words like in, at and on are called prepositions, and they are hard for everyone. Here are a few useful pairs to learn:

• good at something: She’s good at maths.
• interested in something: I’m interested in music.
• listen to someone: Listen to me!
• depend on something: It depends on the weather.

✗ I’m interested about history.
✓ I’m interested in history.

How to stop making the same mistakes

Knowing a rule is one thing. Using it when you speak is another! Here are some friendly tips to help these fixes stick.

• Choose one mistake a week. Focus on it in everything you say and write.
• Write correct example sentences about your own life: “My sister works in a bank.” Personal sentences are easier to remember.
• Listen a lot. The more English you hear, the more the correct forms will start to “sound right”. Real stories are perfect for this.
• Think in English. Many beginner mistakes come from translating word for word. Our post on how to stop translating and start thinking in English can help.
• Don’t be afraid. People will understand you, even with small mistakes. Speaking with mistakes is much better than not speaking at all!

Quick quiz

Can you fix these sentences? (Answers below.)

1. He don’t like coffee.
2. I am agree with your idea.
3. She gave me two advices.
4. Where you work?

Answers: 1. He doesn’t like coffee. 2. I agree with your idea. 3. She gave me two pieces of advice (or some advice). 4. Where do you work?

How did you do? If you got them all right, well done! If not, that’s fine too. Now you know what to practise.

Learn correct English from true stories

The best way to make correct English feel natural is to hear it again and again in real, interesting stories. Our free video lessons tell inspiring true stories in clear, simple English for levels A1 to B2, with useful words and quizzes. Start watching Bright Lives English lessons, and visit our how to study page to get the most from every lesson. Every mistake you fix is a small, bright step forward!