Mistakes English Beginners Make (And How to Fix Them!)

 Mistakes English Beginners Make (And How to Fix Them!)

Learning English is exciting, but it’s easy to fall into some common traps. Don’t worry—every learner makes mistakes! The key is recognizing them and improving. Here are 5 frequent errors beginners make*and simple ways to *fix them for good.  

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❌ Mistake 1: Translating Word-for-Word from Your Native Language 

Example: 

- ❌ "I have 20 years." (from Spanish "Tengo 20 años")  

- ✅ "I am 20 years old."  

How to Fix It: 

✔ Think in English* – Practice describing simple things around you without translating.  

✔ Learn "chunks" of language (phrases like "How are you?" instead of single words).  

✔ Read/listen to more English* – Your brain will start copying natural structures.  

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❌ Mistake 2: Overusing "Very" and "A Lot" 

Example:  

- ❌ "I’m very very tired!"  

- ✅ "I’m exhausted!"  

How to Fix It:  

✔ Use stronger words:  

  - Very happy = thrilled  

  - Very big = huge  

  - Very small = tiny  

✔ Try these instead of "a lot":  

  - "I have tons of work."  

  - "She has plenty of friends."  

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❌ Mistake 3: Mixing Up "He" and "She"

Example: 

- ❌ "She is my brother."  

- ✅ "He is my brother."  

How to Fix It:

✔ Point and say it out loud: When you see a man/woman, say "he" or "she" immediately.  

✔ Slow down when speaking – Pause to check pronouns before saying them.  

✔ Practice with photos: Describe people in pictures aloud ("She is wearing a red shirt."*).  

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❌ Mistake 4: Forgetting Articles (a, an, the) 

Example: 

- ❌ "I want apple."  

- ✅ "I want an apple."  

How to Fix It: 

✔ Remember the rules:  

  - "A" before consonants (a book).  

  - "An" before vowels (an egg).  

  - "The" for specific things ("the book on the table").  

✔ Listen carefully – Native speakers use articles naturally—copy them!  

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❌ Mistake 5: Shyness & Fear of Mistakes  

Example: 

- ❌ "I don’t speak… sorry… my English is bad." (even if it’s not!).  

- ✅ "I’m learning English—let me try!"  

How to Fix It:  

✔ Mistakes are normal! Even natives make them.  

✔ Practice with patient friends or language partners.  

✔ Record yourself – You’ll see you’re better than you think!  

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💡 Bonus Tip: How to Improve Faster 

1️⃣ Focus on one mistake at a time.  

2️⃣ Practice aloud* (even alone!).  

3️⃣ Laugh at your errors*—it’s part of learning!  

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This post is designed to be *encouraging and actionable*—perfect for beginners who want to improve quickly. Let me know if you'd like a printable checklist of these fixes! 😊