Common Grammar Mistakes Made by ESL Learners and How to Fix Them

ESL learners often make common grammar mistakes that can impact their ability to communicate effectively in English. Here are some of the most common grammar mistakes made by ESL learners and how to fix them.


  1. Subject-verb agreement: ESL learners often struggle with subject-verb agreement. Remind students that the subject and verb must agree in number. For example, “The boy runs” (not “run”).
  2. Articles: ESL learners often struggle with using the correct article (a, an, the). Remind students to use “a” before a singular noun that begins with a consonant sound, “an” before a singular noun that begins with a vowel sound, and “the” before a specific noun.
  3. Prepositions: Prepositions can be challenging for ESL learners. Remind students that prepositions are used to show the relationship between two things. For example, “I’m going to the store” (not “I’m going at the store”).
  4. Verb tense: ESL learners often struggle with using the correct verb tense. Remind students that the tense should match the time frame being referred to. For example, “I walked” (past tense) versus “I am walking” (present continuous).
  5. Word order: Word order can be challenging for ESL learners. Remind students that in English, the subject typically comes before the verb, and adjectives typically come before the noun. For example, “The big dog barked” (not “Barked the big dog”).

By helping ESL learners understand and fix these common grammar mistakes, teachers can improve their students’ ability to communicate effectively in English.