10 Most Common Grammar Errors

Sure, I’d be happy to provide a more detailed explanation of each error:

1. Subject-Verb Agreement Errors: This error occurs when the subject of the sentence and the verb do not agree in number. In English, if the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural. For example, in the sentence “The team of managers are meeting today,” the subject “team” is singular, so the verb should also be singular: “The team of managers is meeting today.”
2. Misplaced Modifiers: A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that describes something else in your sentence. The problem occurs when it’s not clear what the modifier is supposed to be describing. For example, in the sentence “I heard that there was a robbery in the cafeteria eating lunch,” it sounds like the cafeteria was eating lunch. The correct sentence should be: “While eating lunch, I heard that there was a robbery in the cafeteria.”
3. Incorrect Pronoun Reference: Pronouns (like he, she, it, they, etc.) are used to replace nouns in sentences. However, it should always be clear which noun a pronoun is referring to. For example, in the sentence “John told James that he failed,” it’s not clear who “he” is. The sentence should be: “John told James that James had failed.”
4. Run-On Sentences: A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses (clauses that could stand alone as separate sentences) are connected improperly. For example, “I love to write papers I would write one every day if I had the time” is a run-on sentence. It should be: “I love to write papers. I would write one every day if I had the time.”
5. Incorrect Use of Double Negatives: In English, using two negatives in a sentence turns the statement into a positive one. For example, “I don’t need no help” actually means “I do need help.” The correct sentence should be: “I don’t need any help.”
6. Incorrect Tense: Tenses show when an action takes place. Using the wrong tense can confuse the reader. For example, “Yesterday, I go to the park” uses the present tense “go” for an action that took place in the past. The correct sentence should be: “Yesterday, I went to the park.”
7. Incorrect Use of Apostrophes: Apostrophes are used to show possession (e.g., “John’s book”) or to indicate a contraction (e.g., “don’t” for “do not”). They are not used to make words plural. For example, “The dog’s are in the yard” incorrectly uses an apostrophe to make “dogs” plural. The correct sentence should be: “The dogs are in the yard.”
8. Incorrect Use of “Their”, “They’re”, and “There”: These words sound the same but have different meanings. “Their” is a possessive pronoun, “They’re” is a contraction of “they are”, and “There” refers to a place. For example, “Their going to they’re house over there” mixes up all three words. The correct sentence should be: “They’re going to their house over there.”
9. Incorrect Use of “Your” and “You’re”: “Your” is a possessive pronoun, while “You’re” is a contraction of “you are”. For example, “Your going to love you’re present” mixes up these two words. The correct sentence should be: “You’re going to love your present.”
10. **Incorrect Use of “

Its” and “It’s”**: “Its” is a possessive pronoun, while “It’s” is a contraction of “it is” or “it has”. For example, in the sentence “Its raining outside, and the dog wants it’s dinner,” “Its” should be “It’s” (contraction of “it is”) and “it’s” should be “its” (possessive pronoun). The correct sentence should be: “It’s raining outside, and the dog wants its dinner.”