5 Most Common Grammar Mistakes in English
Here are 5 very common advanced English grammar mistakes. These are mistakes that a lot of students make, even students that are quite fluent in English. We will show you the error and then the correct way to say the sentence. Let’s start.
I suggested him to buy the other one.
Options:
A lot of English learners struggle with the verb suggest because suggest is an unusual English verb. It is not used in a sentence the same way that other verbs are. Remember, “suggest” is followed by a that-clause. A clause contains a subject and a verb. A that-clause is a clause that starts with the conjunction “that”.
I suggested he buy the other one.
I suggested that he buy the other one. (the word “that” is optional)
For example:
I suggest that you fix the sink soon.
I suggest you to do it.
Options:
I suggest you do it.
I suggest that you do it. (the word “that” is optional)
Or:
I suggest it to you.
For example:
INCORRECT: I suggest you this one.
CORRECT: I suggest this one to you.
I suggest you don’t be late any more.
Options:
I suggest you not be late any more.
I suggest not being late any more.
I’m looking for a two bedrooms apartment.
Options:
Even though we are talking about 2 bedrooms which is plural, we remove the “s” because apartment is a noun and when you put something directly in front of the noun to describe the noun, you change the describing word to singular.
I have a two bedroom apartment.
My apartment has two bedrooms. (in this case the descriptor does not come immediately before the noun apartment so we keep the “s”)
Examples:
CORRECT: I have a four door car.
CORRECT: My car has four doors.
CORRECT: It was a 30 minute meeting.
CORRECT: The meeting lasted 30 minutes.
CORRECT: It’s a million dollar house.
CORRECT: The house costs one million dollars.
I have a six years old son.
Options:
Even though six is plural (it’s more than one), we remove the “s” because son is a noun and when you put something directly in front of the noun to describe the noun, you change the word (year in this case) to singular.
I have a six year old son.
Examples:
I have a four year old daughter.
I have an eighty year old grandmother.
I would appreciate getting some advices from you.
Options:
The word “advices” doesn’t exist. You never add an “s” to the word advice because it’s a non-countable noun. Make sure that you learn all the non-countable nouns that exist in English like advice, homework, information, slang, vocabulary , etc.
I would appreciate getting some advice from you.
I’m really looking forward to go there.
Options:
I’m really looking forward to going there.
Examples:
I’m looking forward to meeting you.
I’m looking forward to seeing you.
In my country, we are used to eat rice for breakfast.
Options:
In my country, we are used to eating rice for breakfast.
I will give it to you when we will see each other.
Options:
I will give it to you when we see each other.
When we see each other, I will give it to you.
I will give it to you when I see you.
When I see you, I will give it to you.
Examples:
When I finish high school I will go to college.
If you’ll go, I’ll go too.
Options:
If you go, I’ll go too. (you don’t use “will” twice with “if”)
If you would have tried it, you would have liked it.
Options:
If you had tried it, you would have like it. (with “if” you don’t use “would” twice)
Examples:
If I had studied, I would have passed the test.
I would have passed the test if I had studied.