10 Common Mistakes ESL Learners Make (And How to Fix Them)

Learning English is a journey with its own set of challenges. It's perfectly normal to make mistakes along the way. Here are some of the most common errors and how you can correct them.

1. Confusing 'There', 'Their', and 'They're'

This is a very common mistake, even for native speakers. The solution is simple: understand the meaning of each word.

• There: Refers to a place (e.g., The book is over **there**).
• Their: Shows possession (e.g., That is **their** car).
• They're: A contraction of 'they are' (e.g., **They're** going to the store).

2. Misusing Verb Tenses

Many languages don't have as many verb tenses as English. Remember that the tense indicates when an action happened.

Wrong: I go to the park yesterday.
Right: I **went** to the park yesterday.

Wrong: She is live in New York.
Right: She **lives** in New York.

The key is to pay attention to time expressions like "yesterday," "now," or "tomorrow" to choose the correct tense.

3. Incorrect Prepositions

Prepositions can be tricky because their usage is often idiomatic. For example, you say you are "on" a bus, but "in" a car.

Practice common phrases with prepositions and try to memorize them as a single unit.

4. Omitting the Subject

In many languages, the subject can be dropped. In English, a subject is almost always required.

Wrong: Is raining outside.
Right: **It** is raining outside.

By focusing on these common issues, you can significantly improve the accuracy and fluency of your English.