Most Common English Mistakes Non-Native Speakers Make

Even advanced English learners make certain mistakes repeatedly. Many of these errors stem from direct translation from a native language, while others come from genuinely confusing English rules. Here are the most common ones and how to fix them.

Grammar Mistakes

Using the wrong tense for recent events. Many learners say “I have seen him yesterday” instead of the correct “I saw him yesterday.” The present perfect cannot be used with a specific past time reference.

Confusing “since” and “for.” Use “since” with a point in time (since 2020, since Monday) and “for” with a duration (for three years, for two hours).

Forgetting articles. Saying “I went to hospital” instead of “I went to the hospital” is a common issue, especially for speakers of Slavic languages that have no articles at all.

Subject-verb agreement. “The team are” versus “The team is” causes confusion. In American English, collective nouns usually take a singular verb.

Vocabulary Mistakes

False friends. Words that look similar across languages but mean different things are a constant trap. For example, “actually” means “in fact,” not “currently.”

Confusing “make” and “do.” You “make a decision” but “do your homework.” There is no universal rule — these collocations must be memorized.

“Say” vs. “tell.” You “say something” but “tell someone something.” Mixing them up is one of the most frequent errors at every level.

Pronunciation Pitfalls

Silent letters. Words like “knight,” “psychology,” and “Wednesday” catch learners off guard because English spelling often does not match pronunciation.

Word stress. Stressing the wrong syllable in words like “photograph” versus “photography” can make you harder to understand.

How to Improve

The best way to identify your weak spots is to test yourself. A structured assessment reveals which areas need work so you can focus your practice where it matters most.

Find out your level now. Take the AJtesty test and see where you stand.