Common grammar mistakes with example + video

Grammar lessons don’t have to be boring! In this lively and engaging video, you’ll explore the most common grammar mistakes made by English learners at all levels—from beginners to advanced speakers. By understanding these errors and learning the correct usage, you can significantly improve your spoken and written English.

Common grammar mistakes (beginner level)

1. Incorrect Adverb Placement

❌ She drives always carefully
✅ She always drives carefully

Adverbs of frequency (always, usually, often, etc.) go before the main verb or after “to be” verbs.

2. Misusing “Their,” “There,” and “They’re”

There → a place
Their → possessive (e.g. their book)
They’re → contraction of they are

3. Wrong Subject Pronouns

❌ Me and my friend went to the park
✅ My friend and I went to the park

Use “I” as a subject and “me” as an object.

4. Countable vs. Uncountable Confusion

❌ She has much friends
✅ She has many friends

“Friends” is countable → use many, a lot of, or plenty of.

5. Wrong Prepositions for Time

❌ I see you in Monday at 8:00 on May
✅ I’ll see you on Monday at 8:00 in May

on for days, at for times, in for months/years.

Read more: How to improve grammar in English?

Common grammar mistakes (Intermediate-Level)

1. Less vs. Fewer

❌ There are less people today
✅ There are fewer people today

Use fewer for countable nouns (e.g., people).

2. Among vs. Between

✅ Use between for two people or things.
✅ Use among for three or more.

3. Incorrect Use of Tenses

❌ I’ve seen the movie last week
✅ I saw the movie last week

Use simple past for specific past times.

4. Misplacing “Enough”

❌ She is enough strong
✅ She is strong enough

Rule: “Enough” comes after adjectives, before nouns, and after verbs.

5. Since vs. For

❌ I’ve been working here since 3 years
✅ I’ve been working here for 3 years

Since = starting point; For = duration.

Common grammar mistakes (Advanced-Level)

1. Parallel Structure

❌ She likes reading, to jog, and go for walks
✅ She likes reading, jogging, and going for walks

Maintain consistent verb forms in lists.

2. Third Conditional Errors

❌ He would have passed if he would have studied
✅ He would have passed if he had studied

Formula: If + past perfect, would have + past participle

3. Incorrect Use of “Despite”

❌ Despite he was tired…
✅ Despite the fact that he was tired… or Despite being tired…

Use gerund after “despite” or “despite the fact that” for full clauses

4. Lay vs. Lie

❌ I’m going to lay down
✅ I’m going to lie down

Lay = place something; Lie = recline yourself.

5. Subject-Verb Agreement with “Each”

❌ Each of the students are responsible
✅ Each of the students is responsible

“Each” is singular, so the verb should be is.

📘Common grammar mistakes: Final thoughts

Mastering grammar isn’t about memorizing dull rules—it’s about recognizing patterns and avoiding common pitfalls. This article does a fantastic job of making grammar both approachable and practical, no matter your level. .