Common English Errors You Might Be Making—Fix Them Quickly!

Intermediate Level | May 14, 2025

혼자서 기사를 소리 내어 읽거나 튜터를 따라 각 단락을 반복해서 읽으세요. 레벨...

Even experienced English learners can make small mistakes without realizing it. These common English errors might seem minor, but they can confuse listeners or make you sound less confident. Today, we’re going to look at a few common English errors busy professionals make—and how you can fix them quickly.

Learning to notice and correct these small problems will instantly improve your fluency and clarity. Whether you’re writing an email or speaking in a meeting, these quick fixes can help you sound more professional and polished.

Error #1: “He explain me the process.”

Correct: “He explained the process to me.”

Many learners forget prepositions with certain verbs. In English, “explain” needs a subject, a direct object, and the preposition “to” before the person receiving the information.

For example, instead of saying, “She explained me the rules,” you should say, “She explained the rules to me.” This structure is natural and expected in English.

Error #2: “I’m boring in meetings.”

Correct: “I’m bored in meetings.”

Remember: boring describes something that causes boredom, while bored describes how you feel. Use adjectives ending in -ed for feelings, and -ing for descriptions.

For example, you might say, “This movie is boring,” if the movie is slow and not interesting. But if you’re watching it and not enjoying yourself, you would say, “I’m bored.”

Error #3: “I didn’t went to the office.”

Correct: “I didn’t go to the office.”

After “didn’t,” always use the base form of the verb (not past tense). This rule applies to all regular and irregular verbs.

For example, instead of saying, “I didn’t went to the meeting,” say, “I didn’t go to the meeting.” The word “didn’t” already indicates past tense, so you don’t need to change the verb itself.

Error #4: “He is more tall than me.”

Correct: “He is taller than me.”

One-syllable adjectives like “tall” form comparatives by adding -er (not “more tall”). Save “more” for longer adjectives, like “more professional.”

For example, you should say, “She is faster than me,” not “She is more fast than me.” Use “-er” endings for words like “fast,” “short,” and “strong.” But for longer adjectives such as “interesting” or “expensive,” use “more” instead: “This book is more interesting than that one.”

Error #5: “Let me to explain.”

Correct: “Let me explain.”

After “let,” always use the base verb—no “to.” It’s a small mistake, but native speakers will notice it.

For example, instead of saying, “Let me to help you,” the correct version is, “Let me help you.” The word “let” already acts as a helping verb, so adding “to” is unnecessary and ungrammatical.

Quick Review of Common English Errors

These common errors are easy to fix when you pay attention:

Use correct prepositions.
Check adjective endings.
Use base verbs after “didn’t” and “let.”
Use proper comparative forms.

Practice These Corrections

Try reading each corrected sentence out loud. Then, create your own example with each one. Practicing with your own words makes the lesson stick.

Even just five minutes of speaking practice can help you build stronger habits and feel more confident using these patterns in real conversations. Don’t worry about being perfect—what matters is that you keep showing up and using English every day. You’re doing great, and every little step counts!

Vocabulary List

Fluency (noun) — The ability to speak smoothly and easily.
Example: Her fluency in English helps her lead international meetings.
Clarity (noun) — The quality of being clear and easy to understand.
Example: Please review your email for clarity.
Preposition (noun) — A word that shows direction, place, or time (like “in,” “to,” “from”).
Example: “To” is the correct preposition in “talk to someone.”
Adjective (noun) — A word that describes a noun.
Example: “Boring” is an adjective that describes meetings.
Base Form (noun) — The original form of a verb, without tense.
Example: “Go” is the base form of “went.”
Comparative (noun) — A form used to compare two things (usually ends in -er or uses “more”).
Example: “Smarter” is the comparative form of “smart.”
Polished (adjective) — Professional and well-prepared.
Example: Her presentation was polished and clear.
Error (noun) — A mistake.
Example: Small grammar errors can cause confusion.
Tense (noun) — The form of a verb that shows time.
Example: “Went” is past tense.
Native Speaker (noun) — A person who speaks a language as their first language.
Example: Native speakers can often hear small mistakes.

5 Questions About the Article

Why is it important to fix small English errors?
What’s wrong with saying “He explain me the process”?
When should you use “bored” instead of “boring”?
What form of a verb follows “didn’t”?
What is the correct way to say someone is taller?

5 Open-Ended Discussion Questions

Have you ever noticed yourself making one of these mistakes?
Which of these five errors is the easiest to fix?
How do you usually practice improving your grammar?
What’s a common English error that confuses you?
Why do you think it’s hard to catch your own mistakes?

📢 Want more tips like this? 👉 Sign up for the All About English Mastery Newsletter! Click here to join us!

Follow our YouTube Channel @All_About_English for more great insights and tips.