Learning English as a beginner is an exciting journey, but it’s easy to fall into common traps that can slow your progress. By identifying and fixing these early mistakes, you’ll build a strong foundation and gain confidence in speaking, writing, and understanding English. 

This guide highlights the most frequent errors made by elementary-level learners, provides clear examples, and offers practical tips to help you communicate more accurately and naturally.

1. Missing or Misusing “-s” in Present Simple

Common Mistake:
He go to school every day.

Correct:
He goes to school every day.

Why it happens:
Beginners often forget to add “-s” or “-es” to verbs when the subject is he, she, or it in the present simple tense.

Tip:
Always check if your subject is he, she, or it. If so, add “-s” or “-es” to the verb:
She eats lunch. He plays football. It rains a lot.

2. Forgetting to Use “Do” and “Does” in Questions

Common Mistake:
Where you work?
What she do?

Correct:
Where do you work?
What does she do?

Why it happens:
Many languages don’t use helping verbs to form questions, so beginners may leave them out.

Tip:
For present simple questions, use “do” with I/you/we/they and “does” with he/she/it:
Do you like pizza?
Does he live here?

3. Mixing Up “Much” and “Many”

Common Mistake:
How much apples do you have?

Correct:
How many apples do you have?

Why it happens:
“Much” is for uncountable nouns, “many” is for countable nouns.

Tip:

Use “much” for things you cannot count: How much water?

Use “many” for things you can count: How many apples?

4. Incorrect Prepositions with Common Expressions

Common Mistake:
He is married with Sarah.

Correct:
He is married to Sarah.

Why it happens:
Prepositions often work differently in other languages, so it’s easy to use the wrong one.

Tip:
Learn common expressions as fixed phrases:

Married to (not “with”)

Interested in (not “on” or “about”)

Good at (not “in”)

5. Forgetting Contractions or Using Them Incorrectly

Common Mistake:
I am happy to see you. (instead of “I’m happy to see you”)
He will go. (instead of “He’ll go”)

Why it happens:
Beginners may not be comfortable with contractions or forget to use them in writing and speaking.

Tip:
Practice using contractions to sound more natural:
I’m, you’re, he’s, she’ll, they’re, we’ve, it’s, can’t, don’t.

6. Pronunciation Problems with Tricky Words

Common Mistake:
Saying “comfort-table” instead of “comfortable” (correct: “comf-tuh-bul”)

Why it happens:
English spelling doesn’t always match pronunciation, leading to mistakes with common words.

Tip:
Listen to native speakers, repeat after them, and use online dictionaries with audio to practice pronunciation.

7. Leaving Out “Be” in Sentences

Common Mistake:
She very tired.

Correct:
She is very tired.

Why it happens:
Some languages don’t use “be” in the same way as English.

Tip:
Remember to use “am,” “is,” or “are” in present simple sentences:
I am happy. You are ready. He is late.

8. Incorrect Word Order in Questions

Common Mistake:
You are coming?

Correct:
Are you coming?

Tip:
In English, questions usually start with a helping verb:
Are you okay?
Do they know?

9. Forgetting Plural “-s”

Common Mistake:
I have two cat.

Correct:
I have two cats.

Tip:
Add “-s” to make nouns plural:
dogs, books, cars, apples.

10. Using the Wrong Verb Form

Common Mistake:
Yesterday I go to the park.

Correct:
Yesterday I went to the park.

Tip:
Learn the past forms of common verbs and practice using them in sentences.

How to Avoid These Mistakes: Practical Tips

Practice aloud: Repeat correct sentences to train your brain and mouth.

Listen to native speakers: Notice how they form questions, use contractions, and pronounce tricky words.

Keep a mistake journal: Write down your common errors and the correct forms.

Use simple grammar checkers: Tools like Grammarly can highlight mistakes and suggest corrections.

Ask for feedback: Practice with a teacher, tutor, or language partner who can correct you.

Review and repeat: The more you practice, the more natural correct English will feel.

Build a Strong English Foundation

Mistakes are a natural part of learning English, especially at the beginner level. By focusing on these common errors and practicing the correct forms, you’ll quickly become more accurate and confident. Keep practicing, stay curious, and remember: every mistake is a step towards better English!