Learning English can feel like a wild ride — full of highs, lows, and those “Wait… am I saying this right?” moments. And the truth is, most learners go through the same bumps in the road.

But here’s the good news: once you know what to look out for, you can fix these mistakes and level up fast.

Let’s break down the top 10 common slip-ups and how to fix them, so you can feel more confident every time you speak. 

1. Forgetting Subject-Verb Agreement

Mistake: “He walk to school.”
Fix it: The verb must match the subject: “He walks to school.”

Tip: Read out loud and listen to English to build the habit naturally.

2. Overusing “Very”

Mistake: “It’s very very hot!”
Fix it: Get expressive! Say: “It’s boiling today!” or “It’s extremely hot!”

Tip: Learn fun alternatives to “very” to spice up your vocabulary.

3. Misplacing Adverbs

Mistake: “She speaks English well always.”
Fix it: Adverbs like “always” usually go before the main verb: “She always speaks English well.”

Tip: Try saying a few sentences out loud to hear what sounds more natural.

4.  Confusing Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Mistake: “I have much friends.”
Fix it: “Friends” is countable, so say: “I have many friends.”

Tip: Use “much” for uncountable (water, advice) and “many” for countable (books, ideas).

5. Articles: “a,” “an,” and “the”

Mistake: “She is teacher.”
Fix it: “She is a teacher.” Small words, big difference!

Tip: Use “a” before consonant sounds and “an” before vowel sounds.

6. Translating Directly from Your Native Language

Mistake: “I have 25 years.”
Fix it: In English, we say: “I am 25 years old.”

Tip: Learn phrases as they’re used in English, not just individual words.

7. Pronunciation Mistakes That Change Meaning

Mistake: Mixing up “beach” and “b*tch” 😬
Fix it: Use apps like ELSA Speak to fine-tune your pronunciation and avoid awkward mix-ups.

Tip: Record yourself and compare your pronunciation to a native speaker.

8. Using the Wrong Verb Tense

Mistake: “Yesterday I go to the mall.”
Fix it: Remember to match the verb to the time. So it should be: “Yesterday I went to the mall.”

Tip: Practice storytelling to help build your sense of past, present, and future tenses naturally.

9. Saying “I’m agree” Instead of “I agree”

Fix it: “Agree” is already a verb, so skip the “am.” Just say: “I agree.”

Tip: Don’t add “be” verbs where they don’t belong!

10. Using “More better” or “More easier”

Mistake: “This app is more better.”
Fix it: Say: “This app is better.” No need for “more.”

Tip: Watch out for double comparatives – just one is enough!

Final Thoughts

Making mistakes is part of the learning process – but with a little awareness and daily practice, you can dodge these common errors and start sounding more fluent and natural.

If you’re serious about improving, there’s one tool that can help you master pronunciation, grammar, and real-life conversations all in one place.

Download ELSA Speak today and take your English to the next level. 

Explore More about ELSA:

• Check out Make English Practice Personal with ELSA Study Sets
• Discover why ELSA is rated the most effective English Speaking App!