Common Grammar Mistakes You Should Avoid

Learning English takes time, and making mistakes is part of the process. In fact, mistakes can be helpful because they show you what you need to practice next.

The good news? Some English grammar mistakes are very common and once you know what to look for, they’re also fairly easy to fix.

Here are 10 mistakes English learners often make, along with some simple ways to remember the correct form.

1. He go or he goes?

❌ He go to work every day.
✓ He goes to work every day.

In the simple present tense, we usually add -s or -es to the verb when the subject is he, she or it.

More examples:

She works downtown.
My brother watches TV after dinner.
It rains a lot in the spring.

Quick tip: Think he, she, it = add the S!

2. I am agree or I agree?

❌ I am agree with you.
✓ I agree with you.

Agree is a verb, so you don't need am before it.

You can simply say:

“I agree.”

“I agree with you.”

“I completely agree.”

3. I have 30 years or I am 30 years old?

❌ I have 30 years.
✓ I am 30 years old.

In English, we use the verb to be when talking about age.

You can also simply say:

“I’m 30.”

4. She don't or she doesn't?

❌ She don't like coffee.
✓ She doesn't like coffee.

With he, she and it, use doesn't instead of don't.

I don't like coffee.

They don't like coffee.

He doesn't like coffee.

She doesn't like coffee.

Notice something else? After doesn't, the main verb returns to its basic form.

✓ She doesn't like coffee.

Not:

❌ She doesn't likes coffee.

5. People is or people are?

❌ People is very friendly here.
✓ People are very friendly here.

Although people refers to a group, it is treated as plural.

One person is...

Two people are...

For example:

One person is waiting outside.

Five people are waiting outside.

6. I didn't went or I didn't go?

❌ I didn't went to work yesterday.
✓ I didn't go to work yesterday.

When you use didn't, the word did already tells us that you're talking about the past. The main verb therefore stays in its basic form.

I didn't go.

She didn't eat.

We didn't see him.

7. I'm boring or I'm bored?

These two words can completely change the meaning of your sentence!

❌ I'm boring.
✓ I'm bored.

I'm bored means you are not interested or entertained.

I'm boring means you are not interesting!

Compare:

“The movie is boring.”

“I'm bored with the movie.”

This pattern appears with many other words:

The news is surprising. → I am surprised.

The lesson is interesting. → I am interested.

The situation is confusing. → I am confused.

8. Much people or many people?

❌ There were much people at the event.
✓ There were many people at the event.

Use many with things you can count:

many people
many books
many students
many questions

Use much with things we don't normally count individually:

much time
much money
much information

9. I look forward to meet you or meeting you?

❌ I look forward to meet you.
✓ I look forward to meeting you.

This one can be tricky!

After look forward to, we normally use a noun or the -ing form of a verb.

“I look forward to meeting you.”

“We look forward to hearing from you.”

“She looks forward to travelling again.”

You'll often see this expression in workplace emails, so it's a useful one to remember.

10. I have been here since three years or for three years?

❌ I have lived here since three years.
✓ I have lived here for three years.

Use for for a length of time:

for three years
for two months
for a long time

Use since for the point when something started:

since 2023
since Monday
since January

Here's an easy way to remember it:

FOR = how long

SINCE = when it started

Time to Practice

Correct these five sentences:

1. She don't work on Fridays.
2. I didn't saw him yesterday.
3. He have two children.
4. I am very interesting in learning English.
5. I have lived in Canada since five years.

Answers:

1. She doesn't work on Fridays.
2. I didn't see him yesterday.
3. He has two children.
4. I am very interested in learning English.
5. I have lived in Canada for five years.

Keep Learning

Don't worry about speaking perfect English. Even advanced English speakers make mistakes.

Instead, choose one or two grammar points at a time and start noticing them when you read, listen, write and speak. With practice, the correct form will begin to sound natural.

And remember: every mistake is an opportunity to learn something new.

Check out these sites for more practice:

British Council – LearnEnglish — Clear grammar explanations plus interactive exercises at different levels.

Perfect English Grammar — Lots of straightforward practice with verb tenses, prepositions, conditionals, and other common trouble spots.

EnglishPage — Free tutorials and exercises, particularly strong for verb tenses.

AgendaWeb — A large collection of short interactive grammar exercises, good for independent practice.

ESL Lounge Student — Grammar, vocabulary, reading, listening, and other activities organized by level.