5 Common English Mistakes Non-Native Speakers Make (And How to Fix Them)
Learning English can feel like a puzzle—sometimes the pieces just don’t fit right, no matter how hard you try. If you’re a non-native speaker, you’ve probably stumbled over tricky grammar, confusing words, or pronunciation that sounds “off” to native ears. Don’t worry—you’re not alone! At InSync English, our native-speaking teachers see these slip-ups all the time and help students fix them fast. Here are five common mistakes non-native speakers make, why they happen, and simple ways to correct them—plus how we can guide you there.
1. Mixing Up Verb Tenses
The Mistake: One minute you’re saying, “I go to the store yesterday,” and the next, “I will eat dinner last night.” Mixing past, present, and future tenses is a frequent hiccup because many languages don’t juggle tenses the way English does.
Why It’s Tricky: English relies heavily on verb forms to show when something happens, and irregular verbs (like “go” becoming “went”) don’t follow neat patterns.
The Fix: Practice matching the tense to the time. For example, “yesterday” always pairs with past tense: “I went to the store yesterday.” Start small—focus on one tense at a time, like past simple, and build from there.
How InSync English Helps: Our native teachers naturally use correct tenses in conversation, so you hear them in action. They’ll gently correct you during lessons, explaining why “I have eaten” fits better than “I eat” in certain moments—no textbooks needed.
2. Overusing “The” (Or Skipping It)
The Mistake: Saying “I love the music” when you mean all music generally, or “She is doctor” when it should be “She is a doctor.” Articles—“a,” “an,” and “the”—trip up learners because many languages don’t use them at all.
Why It’s Tricky: English articles depend on context. “The” points to something specific (“the book on the table”), while “a” or no article fits general ideas (“I like books”). It’s a subtle rule that’s hard to memorize.
The Fix: Listen to how natives use articles and mimic them. A quick tip: if you’re talking about something specific both you and the listener know, use “the.” If it’s one of many or general, try “a” or nothing. Practice with sentences like, “I need a pen” vs. “I need the pen you borrowed.”
How InSync English Helps: Our native teachers model articles effortlessly in real chats. They’ll catch when you say “I live in city” and tweak it to “I live in the city,” showing you the difference live.
3. Mispronouncing “Th” Sounds
The Mistake: Saying “tink” instead of “think” or “dis” instead of “this.” The “th” sound—soft in “this” or sharp in “thing”—is rare in other languages, so it’s often swapped for “t” or “d.”
Why It’s Tricky: Your tongue has to sneak between your teeth, which feels awkward if you’re not used to it. Plus, English has two “th” sounds, and picking the right one changes the word’s meaning.
The Fix: Practice by sticking your tongue out slightly and blowing air for “think” (voiceless), then add a hum for “this” (voiced). Record yourself and compare it to a native speaker. It’s muscle memory—repetition is key.
How InSync English Helps: Our native teachers pronounce “th” naturally and focus on it during lessons. They’ll say “three” and “there” clearly, then have you repeat until it clicks—no robotic audio files, just real voices.
4. Confusing Similar Words (Like “Make” vs. “Do”)
The Mistake: “I need to make my homework” instead of “do my homework,” or “Can you do a favor?” instead of “make a favor.” Words like “make,” “do,” “say,” and “tell” look alike but follow quirky English rules.
Why It’s Tricky: Other languages might use one word where English splits hairs. “Make” is about creating (“make a cake”), while “do” is about tasks (“do the dishes”). It’s a guessing game without examples.
The Fix: Learn set phrases: “do homework,” “make a decision,” “say hello,” “tell a story.” Write a list of 5-10 you use often and practice them in sentences. Soon, they’ll feel automatic.
How InSync English Helps: Our native teachers use these words correctly without thinking—and they’ll stop you mid-sentence if you mix them up. You’ll hear “Let’s do an exercise” in class and get why it’s not “make.”
5. Forgetting Word Stress
The Mistake: Saying “PRE-sent” when you mean “pre-SENT” (a gift vs. to offer). English words shift meaning or sound odd if you stress the wrong syllable, and non-native speakers often miss this rhythm.
Why It’s Tricky: Many languages stress syllables evenly or follow strict patterns—English doesn’t. Stress can change a noun (“RE-cord”) into a verb (“re-CORD”), and there’s no easy rulebook.
The Fix: Listen to natives and mark the stressed syllable in new words (like pho-TOG-raphy). Practice pairs like “OB-ject” (thing) vs. “ob-JECT” (to disagree) until the beat sticks.
How InSync English Helps: Our native teachers stress words naturally, so you’ll hear “I’ll pre-SENT the plan” in context. They’ll repeat tricky words with you, tapping the rhythm, until you nail it.
Why Native Teachers Matter
These mistakes aren’t just grammar quirks—they’re habits that stick when you learn from books or non-native sources. At InSync English, our native-speaking teachers don’t just teach rules; they live English. They catch errors you’d miss, explain them in plain terms, and show you how real conversations flow. Whether it’s tweaking your “th” or sorting “make” from “do,” you’re learning from people who grew up with the language—no guesswork, just results.
Ready to ditch these mistakes for good? Join InSync English, and let our native teachers guide you to fluent, confident English—one clear lesson at a time.
