Common mistakes
More common English mistakes: notice and correct patterns
A sentence can sound almost right and still contain a useful clue: a missing article, the wrong verb form, or a preposition chosen by translation. Instead of guessing, use a few checks to find the pattern.
Find and correct common English grammar mistakes by checking meaning, sentence pattern, and the words around the error.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
Where did you buy that jacket? /weə dɪd juː baɪ ðæt ˈdʒækɪt/
The short answer
Read the whole sentence, decide what it means, and then check the grammar pattern around the doubtful word. Look especially for the subject and verb, a noun's determiner, a verb's next form, and a required preposition.
She suggested taking the earlier train.
Why it works: After suggested, use an -ing form here. Do not use the infinitive with to in this pattern.
6 more examples
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The list of names is on the desk.
The main subject is list, which is singular.
Not this:The
names on the list areon the desk. What changes: Here the main subject is names, so use the plural verb are. -
Could you give me some information about the course?
Information is uncountable in ordinary English, so some works well.
Not this:Could you give me
an informationabout the course? What changes: Do not use an with information when you mean information in general. -
We decided to leave after lunch.
Decide is commonly followed by to plus a base verb.
Not this:We
decided leavingafter lunch. What changes: Leaving does not follow decide in this ordinary pattern. -
I am interested in learning more about the role.
Interested is followed by in before this activity.
Not this:I am
interested onlearning more about the role. What changes: On does not fit the usual combination interested in. -
She usually takes the bus to work.
Usually comes before the main verb in this neutral statement.
Not this:She
takes usuallythe bus to work. What changes: This position is not usual in a neutral everyday sentence. -
Where did you buy that jacket?
After did, use the base verb buy.
Not this:Where
did you boughtthat jacket? What changes: Did already marks the past, so bought is not needed after it.
Read the full guide
Correcting a mistake begins with a small question: what job does this word have in this sentence? A word may be a noun, verb, adjective, or helper. The answer can also depend on a pattern, such as depend on, interested in, or suggest doing. Check one part at a time so that a long sentence does not hide the problem.
Find the true subject before you choose the verb
A nearby plural noun can distract you from the real subject. In The list of names is on the desk, names is plural, but list is the thing that is on the desk. Find the noun that controls the main verb before you choose is or are.
The box of old photos belongs to my aunt.
Box is singular, so it matches belongs. Old photos does not control the verb.
The photos in the box belong to my aunt.
Photos is now the main subject, so use belong.
Which word controls the verb in The price of these tickets seems high?
Price controls seems. The phrase of these tickets only gives more information about the price.
Check whether a noun can be counted
Some nouns name things you can count one by one, such as chair and idea. Others usually describe a substance, quality, or general amount, such as advice, furniture, and information. Uncountable nouns do not usually take a or an and do not normally have a plural s.
We need more furniture for the meeting room.
Furniture is uncountable, so more furniture is natural.
We need three more chairs for the meeting room.
Chairs can be counted, so a number and a plural form are possible.
Choose the natural phrase: an advice or some advice?
Use some advice. You can also say a piece of advice when you mean one item.
Learn the verb together with its following form
Many errors happen after a correct first verb. English verbs choose different forms after them. Decide to do, want to do, and need to do use to plus a base verb. Enjoy doing, avoid doing, and suggest doing use an -ing form.
They avoided talking about the problem.
Avoid is followed by an -ing form in this pattern.
They agreed to talk about the problem.
Agree is followed by to plus the base verb talk.
Which form follows enjoy: to read or reading?
Use reading: I enjoy reading on the train.
Keep common preposition combinations together
A preposition is often part of a larger combination. Translate the meaning of the whole group rather than choosing a preposition by itself. You can depend on a person, apologize for a delay, and be good at a skill.
Please remind me about the appointment tomorrow.
Remind someone about something is a common pattern when you mention the thing again.
We apologized for arriving late.
For introduces the reason for the apology.
Which preposition completes this pattern: depend on or depend of?
Use depend on: The result depends on the weather.
Put adverbs where the sentence expects them
Adverbs such as always, usually, often, and never commonly come before the main verb. With be, they commonly come after am, is, or are. This difference makes many short statements easier to check.
I often check the route before I travel.
Often comes before the main verb check.
The office is usually quiet after five.
Usually comes after is because be is the main verb.
Choose the natural order: They are always helpful or They always are helpful?
Use They are always helpful in a neutral sentence.
Use helpers correctly in questions and negatives
Do, does, and did carry tense in many questions and negatives. The following verb stays in the base form. With be, use am, is, or are as the helper and do not add do or does.
Why does the store close so early?
Does marks the present form for one store, so close remains a base verb.
They did not receive the message yesterday.
Did marks the past, so receive does not change to received.
Which question is correct: Did she call you or Did she called you?
Use Did she call you? The verb after did is call.
Before you go
Remember this
To correct a common mistake, preserve the meaning and inspect the pattern. Match the verb to its true subject, treat information as uncountable, learn which verbs take to or -ing, keep common preposition combinations together, place adverbs carefully, and use a base verb after did.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "More common English mistakes: notice and correct patterns"
How can I find a common grammar mistake in my own writing?
Read the whole sentence for meaning, then check one grammar decision at a time. Find the subject and verb first, inspect nouns for countability or a missing determiner, and check the pattern after a verb or adjective. A short pause between writing and checking makes these details easier to see.
The list of names is on the desk.
Why do I use a plural verb after a singular subject?
A plural noun near the subject can be distracting. In The list of names is on the desk, names is plural, but list controls the verb. Find the noun that the sentence is mainly about before choosing is, are, does, or do.
The names on the list are on the desk.
Which common English nouns are uncountable?
Information, advice, furniture, feedback, and equipment are common uncountable nouns. Say some information or a piece of advice instead of an information or an advice. Dictionary entries can show whether a noun is countable, uncountable, or both in different meanings.
Could you give me some information about the course?
How do I know whether a verb needs to or an ing form?
Learn the verb with the form that follows it. Decide to leave and agree to talk use to plus a base verb. Enjoy reading, avoid talking, and suggest taking use an -ing form. Keep a full example beside each new verb pattern instead of memorizing the first verb alone.
Could you give me an information about the course?
Why are prepositions difficult in English?
A preposition often belongs to a fixed or frequent combination, so a direct translation may choose the wrong word. Learn depend on, interested in, good at, and apologize for as complete groups. A reliable learner dictionary can help when a combination is unfamiliar.
We decided to leave after lunch.
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