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

June 5, 2026 · 5 min read · Grammar

Even advanced English learners make mistakes. The key is not to avoid mistakes entirely, but to recognize and correct them. Here are ten of the most common English mistakes adult learners make, along with simple fixes.

1. Confusing "Your" and "You're"

Mistake: "Your going to love this lesson."
Correct: "You're going to love this lesson."

"Your" shows possession (your book, your car), while "you're" is short for "you are." This is one of the most common errors even for native speakers.

2. Using the Wrong Tense After "Since" and "For"

Mistake: "I am working here since 2019."
Correct: "I have been working here since 2019."

Use present perfect or present perfect continuous with "since" and "for." "Since" indicates a starting point, and "for" indicates duration.

3. Misplacing Adverbs of Frequency

Mistake: "I go always to the gym on Mondays."
Correct: "I always go to the gym on Mondays."

Adverbs of frequency (always, usually, often, sometimes, never) go before the main verb but after the verb "to be."

Correct Placement:"She always arrives on time."
"They are usually very helpful."

4. Forgetting the Third Person "S"

Mistake: "He work in a hospital."
Correct: "He works in a hospital."

In the simple present tense, third-person singular subjects (he, she, it) require an "s" at the end of the verb. This is a small but important detail.

5. Using "Much" with Countable Nouns

Mistake: "I don't have much books."
Correct: "I don't have many books."

Use "much" for uncountable nouns (water, time, money) and "many" for countable nouns (books, chairs, people).

6. Confusing "Make" and "Do"

Mistake: "I need to do a phone call."
Correct: "I need to make a phone call."

In general, "do" is used for tasks and activities, while "make" is used for creating or producing something. However, there are many exceptions, so it is best to learn common collocations.

7. Incorrect Prepositions with Adjectives

Mistake: "I am interested on learning English."
Correct: "I am interested in learning English."

Many adjectives require specific prepositions. Learn them as fixed combinations: interested in, good at, afraid of, famous for, proud of, etc.

8. Using "Will" for Plans

Mistake: "I will meet my friend tonight. We will have dinner." (for a planned event)
Better: "I am meeting my friend tonight. We are going to have dinner."

Use present continuous or "going to" for planned future events. Use "will" for spontaneous decisions, promises, and predictions.

9. Double Negatives

Mistake: "I don't know nothing about it."
Correct: "I don't know anything about it."

Double negatives are grammatically incorrect in standard English. Use only one negative word per clause.

10. Confusing "Say" and "Tell"

Mistake: "She told me that she is tired." (correct) vs. "She said me that she is tired." (incorrect)

"Tell" requires an indirect object (tell someone something), while "say" does not (say something to someone).

Remember: You say something to someone, but you tell someone something. "She said hello to me." / "She told me a story."

Mistakes are a normal part of learning. Keep practicing, stay positive, and celebrate your progress. Every error you correct makes you a stronger English speaker.