Common Mistakes in English
Wrong Tense
❖ Using the past tense
after ‘did’
To ask questions:
Don't say: Did you went to
school yesterday?
Say: Did you go to school
yesterday?
❖ Using the third person
singular after ‘does’
To ask questions:
Don't say: Does the gardener
waters the flowers?
Say: Does the gardener water
the flowers?
❖ Using the past simple
tense after to + the
infinitive.
Don't say: He tried to kicked
the ball away.
Say: He tried to kick the ball
away.
Wrong Words
Me/myself/I
The rules:
When referring to yourself
and someone else, put their
name first in the sentence.
How not to do it:
Me and John are off to the
circus.
Myself and John are going
into town.
Give it to John and I to look
after.
How to do it properly:
Wrong Wrong Homophones Wrong Apostrophe
Preposition
❖ Ask for a ❖ Your/You’re  ❖ Its/it’s
thing, not ask
a thing.
Rules:  The rules:
“Your” indicates a possession –
Don't say: She came “It’s” is only ever used
and defines that something
and asked my book. when short for “it is”.
belongs to you. 
Say: She came and “Its” indicates
asked for my book.
“You’re” is short for “You are”.
something belonging
 Don't say: Do you know to something that isn’t
❖ Explain to a
when your going? 
masculine or feminine
person, not
explain a Say: Do you know (like “his” and “hers”,
but used when you’re
person. when you’re going? 
not talking about a
Don't say: She ❖ There / Their /They’re person).
explained me the Use “There” to refer to a place
matter. that isn’t here, for example, How not to do it:
“Over there.” 
Say: She explained the Use “Their” to refer to how Its snowing outside.
matter to me. owns something – showing that
The sofa looks great
something belongs to that
❖ Listen to a person.  with it’s new cover.
person or Use “They’re” is a shortened
thing, not version of “They are”. 
listen a Don't say: Can we How to do it properly:
person or use there house? 
thing. Say: Can we It’s snowing outside
use their house? 
Don't say: They were The sofa looks great
listening the music. with its new cover
Say: They were  
listening to the music.
❖ Since for For.
Don't say: She's lived
here since two years •
Say: She's lived here
for two years.
Don't say: lan's been
ill from last Friday. •
Say: lan's been ill
since last Friday.
John and I are off to the
circus.
John and I are going into
town.
Give it to John and me to
look after.

For Detailed Reference:

http://46.100.53.74/IdeaWeb/Files/Data/Library/2015321513119.pdf