5 Common Grammar Errors in English as a Second Language and How to Correct Them

English as a Second Language can be very tricky for non-native English users.

This is because non-native English users must keep in mind several English grammar rules in order to use English as a Second Language effectively.

Below are some useful tips on how to avoid the common grammatical errors in English as a Second Language.

By following these tips, non-native English speakers can dramatically improve the quality of their writing, make their sentences concise, and their written messages clear.

Also, the following tips can help non-native English users easily and quickly spot grammatical errors, reducing their dependence on grammar checkers.

Learners of English as a Second Language must avoid writing run-on sentences.

A run-on sentence is composed of two sentences that are wrongfully combined in one sentence.

To combine two sentences in one sentence correctly, English as a Second Language students must make use of commas, semi-colons, or connecting words.

People trying to study English as a Second Language can correct run-on sentences in four ways:

• Separate the run-on sentence into two different sentences with the use of period.
• Separate the two independent clauses in the run-on sentence using a semi-colon.
• Separate the two independent clauses in the run-on sentence using a semi-colon and words like therefore, thus, however, consequently, furthermore, also, and nevertheless.
• Separate the run-on sentence into two different sentences with the use of comma and connecting words like for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so.

Fix Run-on Sentences:

Example:

Incorrect:Tamara enjoys travelling she does not want to stay at home during vacations.

Correct:Tamara enjoys travelling. She does not want to stay at home during vacations.

Correct:Tamara enjoys travelling; she does not want to stay at home during vacations.

Correct: Tamara enjoys travelling, for she does not want to stay at home during vacations.

Correct:Tamara enjoys travelling; thus, she does not want to stay at home during vacations.

People using English as a Second Language must be very careful in selecting the pronoun that they use in their English sentence.

This is because many students of English as a Second Language commit mistakes in pronouns.

In English, the pronoun must agree in number with the nouns to which they refer.

Thus, students of English as a Second Language ought to remember that a singular pronoun must refer to a singular noun.

A plural pronoun must refer to a plural noun.

Use the Correct Pronoun:

Example:

Incorrect: Everybody was asked to pay their bills on time.

Correct:Everybody was asked to pay his or her bills on time.

Some students of English as a Second Language make the unfortunate mistake of using apostrophes in possessive pronouns.

The result of this action is an embarrassing grammatical mistake on the part of English as a Second Language learner.

It is quite important for English as a Second Language learners to remember that apostrophes are used to show possession.

Thus, apostrophes are not supposed to be used in possessive pronouns like hers, his, mine, my, our, ours, their, or theirs.

Delete Apostrophes in Possessive Pronouns:

Example:

Incorrect:Our family’s hotel room is next to their’s hotel room.

Correct:Our family’s hotel room is next to their hotel room.

Correct:Our family’s hotel room is next to theirs.

English as a Second Language learners must always strive to make the subject in an English sentence agree with its verb.

The reason for this is that some English as a Second Language learners often fail to use a singular verb with a singular noun.

They also forget to use a plural verb with a plural subject.

Use Suitable Verb for Each Subject:

Example:

Incorrect:The tours is for first-time travelers.

Correct:The tours are for first-time travelers.

English as a Second Language learners must place a modifier as close as possible to the word that it modifies.

This is because some English as a Second Language learners make the mistake of placing a modifier near a word that it does not modify.

Such mistake changes the meaning of an English sentence.

Place the Modifiers in their Right Places:

Example:

Incorrect: At young age, my pre-school teacher taught me how to be a confident English speaker.

Correct: At young age, I learned from my pre-school teacher how to be a confident English speaker.

Useful and Helpful Hubs on Common Mistakes in the English Language

• 6 Most Common Mistakes in English as a Second Language (ESL)
• 10 Commonly Misspelled Words that ESL Students Must Stop Misspelling – Now
• How to Correct the 5 Most Common Writing Mistakes in English as a Second Language
• 6 Common Punctuation Errors that Embarrass English as a Second Language Learners