Free English Lesson: Top 13 English Grammar Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Common Subject-Verb Agreement Errors

Singular vs. Plural Subjects

One of the most common grammar mistakes is mismatching the subject and verb. For instance, "The group of students are excited" should be "The group of students is excited." Ensure that singular subjects take singular verbs and plural subjects take plural verbs.

Misuse of Indefinite Pronouns

Words like "everyone," "someone," and "nobody" are singular and require singular verbs. For example, "Everyone were happy" should be "Everyone was happy."

Errors with Collective Nouns

Collective nouns like "team" or "family" can be tricky. In American English, they usually take singular verbs ("The team is winning"), whereas in British English, plural verbs are sometimes acceptable ("The team are winning").

2. Misplaced Modifiers

Definition and Examples of Misplaced Modifiers

A misplaced modifier is a word or phrase placed awkwardly in a sentence, making its meaning unclear. For example, "She almost drove her kids to school every day" means she "almost" drove, but didn’t. Correct placement: "She drove her kids to school almost every day."

Dangling Modifiers and Their Effects

Dangling modifiers occur when the subject being modified is missing. For example, "Running to catch the bus, the backpack slipped off" implies the backpack was running. Correct it by including the proper subject: "Running to catch the bus, she felt her backpack slip off."

Tips to Correct Modifier Placement

• Place modifiers as close as possible to the words they describe.

• Rewrite sentences to clarify meaning.

3. Incorrect Use of Apostrophes

Its vs. It’s

Confusion between "its" (possessive) and "it’s" (contraction for "it is") is widespread. For example, "The cat lost it’s toy" should be "The cat lost its toy."

Singular and Plural Possessives

Misplacing apostrophes in possessives is another frequent error. For singular nouns, add ’s (e.g., "the boy’s book"). For plural nouns, add only the apostrophe if the word ends in "s" (e.g., "the boys’ room").

Common Errors with Contractions

People often confuse contractions like "you’re" (you are) with possessives like "your." For example, "Your going to the store" should be "You’re going to the store."

4. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Issues

Singular vs. Plural Antecedents

Pronouns must match their antecedents in number. For instance, "Each of the students brought their books" should be "Each of the students brought his or her book."

Ambiguous Antecedents

Avoid ambiguity by ensuring it’s clear which noun a pronoun refers to. For example, "When Sarah met Rachel, she was happy" could mean either Sarah or Rachel was happy. Clarify: "When Sarah met Rachel, Sarah was happy."

Gender-Neutral Pronouns and Usage

Using "they" as a singular, gender-neutral pronoun is increasingly common and accepted: "Each student should bring their book."

5. Confusion Between Similar Words

Their, There, They’re

These homophones often cause confusion. "Their" indicates possession ("their house"), "there" refers to a place ("over there"), and "they’re" is a contraction of "they are" ("they’re coming").

Affect vs. Effect

"Affect" is typically a verb meaning "to influence," while "effect" is a noun meaning "a result." For example, "The weather affects my mood" and "The weather has an effect on my mood."

Then vs. Than

"Then" refers to time ("We went to dinner, then to a movie"), while "than" is used for comparisons ("She is taller than I am").

6. Sentence Fragments and Run-Ons

Identifying Sentence Fragments

Fragments are incomplete sentences, such as "Because I was late." Correct it: "Because I was late, I missed the bus."

Understanding Run-On Sentences

Run-on sentences occur when two independent clauses are improperly joined, e.g., "I love to read it’s my favorite hobby." Fix it: "I love to read; it’s my favorite hobby."

How to Fix Fragments and Run-Ons

• Use punctuation like periods or semicolons.

• Add conjunctions to link ideas logically.

7. Problems with Parallel Structure

Examples of Faulty Parallelism

Faulty parallelism occurs when elements in a list or sentence are not in the same grammatical form. For example, "She likes reading, to jog, and cooking" should be "She likes reading, jogging, and cooking."

Importance of Consistent Structure in Lists

Maintaining parallel structure in lists improves readability. For example, "The job requires typing, filing, and to answer phones" should be "The job requires typing, filing, and answering phones."

Tips to Improve Parallel Structure

• Ensure all items in a list use the same form (e.g., all gerunds or all infinitives).

• Reread sentences for balance and consistency.

8. Overuse or Misuse of Commas

Comma Splices

A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined by only a comma, e.g., "I love grammar, it’s fascinating." Fix it: "I love grammar; it’s fascinating."

Incorrect Commas in Lists

The serial, or Oxford, comma can cause confusion when omitted. For example, "I’d like to thank my parents, Oprah and God" implies the parents are Oprah and God. Correct: "I’d like to thank my parents, Oprah, and God."

Avoiding Comma Misplacement

Place commas where they naturally separate clauses or items. For instance, "Let’s eat, Grandma" is very different from "Let’s eat Grandma."

9. Misuse of Prepositions

Common Errors with Prepositions

Prepositions are often misused, as in "different than" instead of "different from."

Ending Sentences with Prepositions

While ending sentences with prepositions is sometimes acceptable, rephrasing often improves clarity. For example, "What are you talking about?" can become "About what are you talking?"

Proper Prepositional Phrasing

Ensure prepositions are used correctly in context: "He is good at math," not "He is good in math."

10. Problems with Verb Tense Consistency

Shifting Tenses Within Sentences

Mixing past and present tenses in a sentence is confusing. For example, "She went to the store and buys milk" should be "She went to the store and bought milk."

Maintaining Tense in Narratives

Consistency in narratives is crucial. For example, "He walks to the store and bought milk" should be "He walked to the store and bought milk."

Ensuring Consistency Across Paragraphs

Use one tense throughout a paragraph unless a time shift is explicitly necessary.

11. Capitalization Mistakes

Titles and Proper Nouns

Capitalize proper nouns (e.g., "John," "London") and titles (e.g., "Dr."). Do not capitalize common nouns unless they start a sentence.

Beginning Sentences with Capital Letters

Ensure every sentence starts with a capital letter. For instance, "this is a mistake" should be "This is a mistake."

Over-Capitalization Errors

Avoid unnecessary capitalization, such as "The Dog barked at The Mailman."

12. Incorrect Comparisons

Misuse of Adjectives and Adverbs

Use adjectives for nouns and adverbs for verbs. For example, "She ran quick" should be "She ran quickly."

Double Comparatives and Superlatives

Avoid using double comparatives like "more better" or "most easiest."

Ensuring Proper Logical Comparisons

Ensure comparisons are logical: "She is taller than anyone in the group" should be "She is taller than anyone else in the group."

13. Lack of Agreement in Quantifiers

Each, Every, and All

Ensure quantifiers match the subject. For example, "Each student were present" should be "Each student was present."

Mistakes with “None” and “Any”

"None" can take a singular or plural verb depending on context: "None of the milk is spilled" but "None of the cookies are left."

Maintaining Consistency in Quantified Statements

Avoid mixing singular and plural forms, e.g., "Every boy and girl need to participate" should be "Every boy and girl needs to participate."

Conclusion

Avoiding grammar mistakes is essential for clear communication. By understanding and addressing these common errors, you can improve both your writing and speaking skills. Use resources like grammar guides and tools to continue learning and refining your skills.

FAQs

1. Why is proper grammar important in communication? Proper grammar ensures clarity and professionalism, making your message more credible.

2. What are the most common grammar mistakes made by native speakers? Common mistakes include subject-verb agreement errors, misuse of apostrophes, and confusion between similar words.

3. How can I improve my grammar skills? Practice consistently, read extensively, and use grammar tools to identify and correct mistakes.

4. Are grammar tools like Grammarly reliable? Grammar tools are helpful but should be used as a supplement to learning the rules.

5. What resources can I use to learn English grammar effectively? Consider grammar books, online courses, and reputable websites like Purdue OWL or Grammarly blogs.