Even advanced English learners sometimes make grammar mistakes without realizing it. You may speak fluently, write long emails, or ace exams—but these 5 sneaky errors could still be holding you back.
At MK’s English, we help learners go from good to great. If you’re aiming for native-level communication, make sure you’re not making these grammar slips.
1. ❌ Using the Present Perfect Incorrectly
Wrong: I have seen him yesterday.
Right: I saw him yesterday.
🔍 Why it’s wrong: “Yesterday” is a finished time. The present perfect (have/has + past participle) is used for experiences, not completed past times.
✅ Use Present Perfect with: ever, never, already, yet, just, so far, recently, in my life
✅ Use Simple Past with: yesterday, last week, in 2020, two days ago
Fix it: If you mention a time in the past, use the simple past tense.
2. ❌ Overusing “Because” in Complex Sentences
Wrong: Because I was tired, so I went to bed early.
Right: Because I was tired, I went to bed early.
Or: I was tired, so I went to bed early.
🔍 Why it’s wrong: “Because” and “so” can’t be used together in one sentence—they do the same job!
✏️ Try this: Choose one linking word, not both.
Pro tip: Advanced learners often try to sound more “academic” and overcomplicate sentence structure. Keep it clean and clear.
3. ❌ Misplacing Adverbs
Wrong: He always is late.
Right: He is always late.
🔍 Why it’s wrong: Adverbs of frequency (always, often, usually, rarely) come after “be” verbs and before other verbs.
Quick guide:
- ✅ She always goes running in the morning.
- ✅ He is often late for work.
- ❌ She goes always running… ← sounds unnatural.
4. ❌ Forgetting Subject-Verb Agreement in Complex Sentences
Wrong: The number of students in my class are increasing.
Right: The number of students in my class is increasing.
🔍 Why it’s wrong: “The number” is singular, even though “students” is plural.
This error is common in business emails and academic writing.
Pro tip: Watch for phrases like:
- A group of students was waiting (not “were”)
- Each of the players has a uniform (not “have”)
5. ❌ Misusing Articles (A, An, The)
Wrong: I went to the school to speak with a teacher. School was closed.
Right: I went to the school to speak with a teacher. The school was closed.
🔍 Why it’s wrong: Once you’ve already mentioned something, you usually need “the” the second time. Also, abstract uses of “school” (like “at school”) are different from physical locations.
Quick guide:
- ✅ She is at school (as a student)
- ✅ I went to the school to pick up my child
- ✅ I watched a movie. The movie was great!
👩🏫 Final Thoughts from MK’s English
Even confident English speakers can fall into these grammar traps. But don’t worry—mistakes are proof that you’re learning.
🎓 At MK’s English, we specialize in helping advanced learners polish their grammar, improve fluency, and sound natural in real situations—from the classroom to the boardroom.
✨ Ready to Take Your English to the Next Level?
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