5 Most Common Spoken Grammar Mistakes in English in 2024
There are many common English mistakes people make when speaking.
While it’s normal to make mistakes when speaking English, it can sometimes cause embarrassing situations if you speak too quickly and don’t notice your mistakes.
In other words, it’s great to speak fluently, but you also need to speak correctly.
It’s dirty in here!
(Photo by Sander from Pixels)
In our English speaking class, one of our students was shocked when we explained the difference between “here” and “in here”.
He realized he had made a very embarrassing mistake on his first day at work.
He moved to a new city for a brand new job in a big multinational company, and in the office one day, his boss asked him how he was doing in his new city and position, and if he was happy.
“I am very happy,” the student replied.
“The people are nice, my manager is great, but I’m surprised how dirty it is in here“.
(He wanted to say “this city is dirty” but he said “this office is dirty”).
The difference between “in here” and “here” is one of the most common English mistakes our students make in our online English Speaking class.
Here are the top 5 spoken grammar mistakes in English:
Common Spoken Grammar Mistake #1: “In here” & “here”
It’s cold here!
(Photo by Pixabay from Pixels)
“in here”
- “in here” is used for specific places, usually inside, and usually to describe the place you are right now
- “It is cold in here” can be a room, house, or office.
- “It is cold in here” can’t be a place (like Alaska or Russia).
“here”
- “here” can be used for general places, usually outside
-
- “It’s cold here” can be a place, (like Alaska or Russia).
- “It’s cold here” can’t be a room, house or office.
-
A: Do you like living in Brazil?
B: Yes, but it’s hot in here.
A: Is your hotel room nice?
B: Not really, it’s dirty here.
A: Do you like living in Brazil?
B: Yes, but it’s hot here.
A: Is your hotel room nice?
B: Not really, it’s dirty in here.
Common Spoken Grammar Mistake #2: “in” & “on” + dates
On Saturday in May.
(Photo by Bich Tran from Pixels)
When talking about dates, we can use “in” or “on”.
“in”
-
- “in” is used with months
- My birthday is in October.
- “in” is used with seasons
- My birthday is in the summer.
- “in” is used with an amount of time
- My birthday is in two weeks.
- “in” is used with months
“on”
-
- “on” is used with specific days
- My birthday is on October 30.
- “on” is used with days of the week
- My birthday is on Monday.
- “on” is used with specific days
A: When are you moving to Canada?
B: I will move to Canada on summer!
A: When is your mom’s birthday?
B: It’s in Tuesday, February 11.
A: When is your wedding anniversary?
B: It’s on 2 days, and I don’t have a gift yet!
A: When are you moving to Canada?
B: I will move to Canada in summer!
A: When is your mom’s birthday?
B: It’s on Tuesday, February 11.
A: When is your wedding anniversary?
B: It’s in 2 days, and I don’t have a gift yet!
Common Spoken Grammar Mistake #3: “anyone” & “everyone”
In our English conversation class, you will learn how to use these indefinite pronouns in questions or negative statements.
“anyone”
-
- we don’t care who the person is
“everyone”
-
- every single person in a group
A: I would like to return an item to this store. Can everyone help me?
This means you want 100% of the store workers to help you.
A: Is the whole class coming to your party tonight?
B: No, I didn’t invite anyone.
This means nobody from class is coming to your party.
A: I would like to return an item to this store. Can anyone help me?
This means you want any of the store workers to help you.
A: Is the whole class coming to your party tonight?
B: No, I didn’t invite everyone.
This means some, but not all, of the people from class are coming to the party.
Common Spoken Grammar Mistake #4: “people is” & “people are”
People are everywhere!
(Photo by San Fermin Pamplona from Pixels)
Remember to use the plural verb “are” with people!
People will always mean more than 1 person.
Some people is friendly!
People in my country is kind to tourists.
Some people are friendly!
People in my country are kind to tourists.
Common Spoken Grammar Mistake #5: “either” & “both”
I’ll have both, please!
(Photo by Andres Ayrton from Pixels)
A lot of students in our online English conversation class confuse “either” and “both”.
“either”
-
- any option is fine, please choose for me
“both”
-
- please give me both options
A: Would you like a cup of coffee or tea?
B: I would like both.
This means you want coffee and tea.
A: You can have a piece of sausage or a piece of bacon. What would you like?
B: You can give me both.
This means you want to eat a piece of sausage and a piece of bacon, which isn’t possible here.
A: Would you like a cup of coffee or tea?
B: I would like either. You can choose!
This means coffee is good or tea is good. You don’t mind which one you get.
A: You can have a piece of sausage or a piece of bacon. What would you like?
B: You can give me either.
This means you are okay to have sausage or bacon. You don’t have a preference.
Top 5 Common Spoken Grammar Mistakes
Want more English tips?
Check out 10 Common Mistakes in Spoken English.
Want to improve your English speaking?
If these common English speaking mistakes are new to you, and if you want to practice your speaking, you should take a free trial lesson of our Online English Speaking Class.
Check out our online English Conversation Class.
- four students maximum
- 1 Canadian or American English teacher
- 50 minute classes
- free trial lesson
Michael Elkoussy
Founder and CEO at Eh Plus English
Mike has been an English teacher since 2005. He taught at various schools in Canada before starting Eh Plus in 2009. He lives in beautiful Vancouver, Canada where he enjoys running and having fun in the Pacific Ocean.