👋 Hi English Learners,
Grammar mistakes happen to everyone, even advanced learners. But some small mistakes can make you sound less confident — and sometimes even confuse your listener.
Today, we’re looking at 10 grammar fails that many learners make, and how you can fix them immediately.
🔹 1️⃣ Mixing “Their / There / They’re”
💬 Mistake: “There going to the store.”
✅ Correct: “They’re going to the store.”
Quick tip: Their = possession, There = place, They’re = they are
🔹 2️⃣ Using “Less” Instead of “Fewer”
💬 Mistake: “I have less emails than you.”
✅ Correct: “I have fewer emails than you.”
Fewer → countable, Less → uncountable
🔹 3️⃣ Double Negatives
💬 Mistake: “I don’t need no help.”
✅ Correct: “I don’t need any help.”
Double negatives confuse meaning — stick to a single negative.
🔹 4️⃣ Overusing “Very”
💬 Mistake: “This is very good.”
✅ Correct: “This is excellent / impressive / fantastic.”
Replace “very + adjective” with a stronger word to sound fluent.
🔹 5️⃣ Wrong Prepositions
💬 Mistake: “I’m good in cooking.”
✅ Correct: “I’m good at cooking.”
💡 Mini Action: Write down 5 prepositions you always mix up. Practice 1 sentence per day using each.
🎉 Did you know?
Even Shakespeare would have trouble with some modern grammar rules! 😄
He often wrote sentences that would confuse today’s learners, like: “Thou art more lovely and more temperate.”
Moral: Grammar evolves, but the rules you’re learning today are what make you sound fluent to native speakers.
🔹 6️⃣ Misusing “Its / It’s”
💬 Mistake: “Its raining outside.”
✅ Correct: “It’s raining outside.”
Its = possessive, It’s = it is
🔹 7️⃣ Confusing “Who / Whom”
💬 Mistake: “Whom is calling?”
✅ Correct: “Who is calling?”
Quick tip: Who = subject, Whom = object
🔹 8️⃣ Mixing “Affect / Effect”
💬 Mistake: “This will effect the results.”
✅ Correct: “This will affect the results.”
Affect = verb, Effect = noun
🔹 9️⃣ Using “Advice / Advise” Wrong
💬 Mistake: “Can you give me some advise?”
✅ Correct: “Can you give me some advice?”
Advice = noun, Advise = verb
🔹 🔟 Misplacing Apostrophes
💬 Mistake: “I love my parents’ car.” (but you mean one parent)
✅ Correct: “I love my parent’s car.”
💡 Pro Tip:
Even native speakers make these mistakes sometimes — the goal is to notice them and correct them quickly.
I’d love to hear from you! Which of these grammar mistakes do you catch yourself making most often?
Reply to this email and let me know — I read every response!
💡 Want to take your English to the next level?
Check out our blog “Common Grammar Mistakes ESL Learners Make” — packed with clear explanations, examples, and tips to avoid mistakes, speak confidently, and improve your fluency:
👉 Read the Full Blog Here
Until next time,
Raghavendra M (ClipYourEnglish)