Command English

Learning English can be challenging, and even advanced learners sometimes make mistakes. Many of these mistakes happen because English has different rules from other languages or because spoken and written English can be quite different. In this article, we will look at five common English mistakes and how to correct them. By avoiding these errors, you can improve your fluency and sound more natural.

1. Using “I am agree” Instead of “I agree”

One of the most common mistakes among English learners is saying “I am agree.” In English, “agree” is a verb, not an adjective, so we do not need “am” before it.

✅ Correct: “I agree with you.” ❌ Incorrect: “I am agree with you.”

If you want to express a stronger agreement, you can say:

• “I completely agree.”
• “I totally agree.”

2. Saying “She Has 25 Years” Instead of “She is 25 Years Old”

In many languages, people use the verb “have” to talk about age, but in English, we use “to be.”

✅ Correct: “She is 25 years old.” ❌ Incorrect: “She has 25 years.”

A more natural way to say this is:

• “She’s 25.”
• “He’s 30 years old.”

3. Confusing “Since” and “For”

Learners often mix up “since” and “for” when talking about time.

• “Since” is used with a specific point in time: “since 2010,” “since Monday,” “since I was a child.”
• “For” is used with a duration: “for five years,” “for a long time,” “for two hours.”

✅ Correct: “I have lived in London since 2015.” ✅ Correct: “I have lived in London for eight years.” ❌ Incorrect: “I have lived in London since eight years.”

4. Using “Explain Me” Instead of “Explain to Me”

In English, the verb “explain” is not used the same way as “tell.” We must include “to” before the person receiving the explanation.

✅ Correct: “Can you explain this to me?” ❌ Incorrect: “Can you explain me this?”

A few other correct alternatives include:

• “Can you explain it to me?”
• “Could you clarify that for me?”

5. Saying “Depends of” Instead of “Depends on”

In English, the correct preposition after “depends” is always “on.”

✅ Correct: “It depends on the weather.” ❌ Incorrect: “It depends of the weather.”

Here are a few more examples:

• “My decision depends on the price.”
• “Whether we go or not depends on the time.”

Bonus: Pronunciation Mistakes to Avoid

Even if your grammar is perfect, pronunciation mistakes can make it harder to be understood. Here are some common pronunciation errors and how to fix them:

• “TH” sounds: Many learners say “dis” instead of “this” or “zat” instead of “that.” Try placing your tongue between your teeth for the correct sound.
• Silent letters: Words like “know,” “write,” and “honest” have silent letters, so don’t pronounce the “k,” “w,” or “h.”
• Word stress: Some words change meaning depending on stress. For example, “record” (noun) has stress on the first syllable, but “record” (verb) has stress on the second.

How to Avoid These Mistakes

1. Listen to native speakers – Watch English films, listen to podcasts, and pay attention to common phrases.
2. Practice speaking – Speak with teachers, friends, or language partners to get corrections.
3. Read in English – Books, articles, and subtitles can help you see correct grammar in action.
4. Use grammar-checking tools – Apps like Grammarly can highlight common errors.
5. Write down your mistakes – Keep a notebook of common errors and review them regularly.

Final Thoughts

Making mistakes is a natural part of learning a language, but by paying attention to common errors, you can improve your English faster. Focus on small corrections, practice regularly, and soon, these mistakes will disappear from your speech and writing. What English mistake do you struggle with the most? Let us know in the comments!