Top 5 Mistakes that English Language Learners Make
1. Wrong preposition usage: One of the most common mistakes of English language learners is to use the wrong preposition when constructing sentences. To avoid this mistake, it is essential to go over preposition rules and identify the correct preposition to use in a given context.
Mistake: "I am going to home after work."
Correct usage: "I am going home after work."
What is a preposition? It is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun (I, he, she, they, we, etc.) and other words in a sentence. It is used to indicate location, time, direction, manner or other relationships. Some examples of prepositions include “in,” “on,” “at,” “under,” “over,” “beside,” “from,” and “through.”
Examples:
The book is on the table.
She walked through the park.
The cat jumped off the couch.
I will meet you at school.
2. Mixing up closely related adjectives: Another common mistake is using adjectives interchangeably, especially when they are closely related. To avoid this mistake, it is essential to identify the difference between the adjectives and understand the situations in which they are most appropriately used.
Mistake: "I want the most big and latest TV."
Correct usage: "I want the biggest and latest TV."
What is an adjective? An adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun (a person, place, thing, or idea) or pronoun (I, he, she, they, we, etc.). It adds more information or details about the noun or pronoun in a sentence. Adjectives can describe qualities such as size, colour, shape, feelings or opinions. Some examples of adjectives are “large,” “yellow,” “beautiful,” “happy,” “tasty,” and “friendly.”
Examples:
The tall tree provided shade.
I have a cute puppy.
She wore stunning dress to the party.
He is a smart kid.
3. Forgetting to pluralize: English language learners often forget to pluralize nouns, which can result in confusion and misunderstandings. To avoid this mistake, it is important to practice identifying and pluralizing nouns in different contexts.
Mistake: "I have a lot of dog in my house."
Correct usage: "I have a lot of dogs in my house."
What does to pluralize mean? To pluralize means to make a noun represent more than one person, animal, place, thing or idea. In English, most nouns are made plural by adding an “s” or “es” at the end of the word. However, there are some exceptions to the rules.
Examples:
For most nouns, add “s” at the end: cat -> cats
For nouns ending in “s,” “ch,” “x,“ or “z,” add “es”: bus -> busses, dish -> dishes, box -> boxes
For nouns ending in a consonant + “y,” change “y” to “ies”: city -> cities, baby ->babies
For some irregular nouns, the plural form does not follow a specific pattern: child -> children, man -> men
4. Pronunciation mistakes: Pronunciation can be a difficult aspect of learning English for many people, and learners often struggle with correctly pronouncing sounds and words. To avoid this mistake, it is important to practice speaking with native English speakers, listen to English language media, and try to mimic pronunciation from these sources.
Mistake: "He gave a subtle [SUB-tell] hint."
Correct usage: "He gave a subtle [SUH-dle] hint.”
5. Focusing on Grammar Rules: Many English language learners tend to focus more on English grammar rules than on communication. While learning grammar is essential, it is equally crucial to communicate with others. Instead of focusing on the rules, try and learn the language through context as this will provide necessary nuances in language usage not covered by grammar rules.
The Takeaway
It's important to note that these are just examples, and avoiding these mistakes require a deep understanding of the underlying grammar, which takes time and practice to master.
