Error 1 — Subject-verb agreement
The subject and verb must agree in number. Plural subject → plural verb. The trap: when the subject is far from the verb, students lose track.
Wrong
The number of accidents have risen. One of the students are absent. Each of the children have a book.
Right
The number of accidents has risen. (subject = number) One of the students is absent. Each of the children has a book.
Error 2 — Countable vs uncountable
Some nouns can’t be pluralised in English even when they look like they should be. Information, advice, research, news, equipment, furniture, knowledge — all uncountable. No informations, no advices, no researches.
- Use much/little for uncountable
- much information, little advice, much research.
- Use many/few for countable
- many studies, few examples, many countries.
- Use a piece of / an item of for countable bits of uncountable
- ‘A piece of advice’, ‘an item of furniture’, ‘a piece of research’.
Error 3 — Preposition mistakes
Wrong prepositions are the single most common Band 6 error. The ones examiners notice most:
- depend ON (not depend of/from)
- “The result depends on the weather.”
- discuss [something] (no ‘about’)
- “We discussed the issue.” not “We discussed about the issue.”
- good AT (not good in)
- “She’s good at maths.”
- interested IN (not interested on/about)
- “He’s interested in design.”
- different FROM (not different than/of)
- “The result was different from what we expected.”
- consist OF (not consist on)
- “The course consists of three modules.”
- in / on / at — the time hierarchy
- in 2024 (year), in March (month), on Monday (day), on 14 March (date), at 3pm (time).
Error 4 — Word-form confusion
Mixing noun, verb, adjective and adverb forms of the same root. Examiners flag this as a Lexical Resource error, not just a grammar one.
Wrong
The economy growth is steady. (using noun as adjective) She is a success writer. (noun used where adjective needed) This is more easier than the last one. (double comparative)
Right
The economic growth is steady. (adjective) She is a successful writer. This is easier than the last one. (just -er, not more + -er)
Error 5 — Run-on sentences and comma splices
Joining two complete sentences with just a comma is grammatically wrong in English. Use a period, a semicolon, or a coordinating conjunction.
Wrong (comma splice)
Online learning is convenient, it allows students to study at their own pace.
Three correct fixes
Online learning is convenient; it allows students to study at their own pace. Online learning is convenient. It allows students to study at their own pace. Online learning is convenient, and it allows students to study at their own pace.
Spot the error
- 1
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Pick one. You'll see why straight away.
- 2
The number of homeless people _____ doubled over the past decade.
Pick one. You'll see why straight away.