Common English Mistakes Indian Students Make (and How to Fix Them)

Most common English mistakes made by Indian students come from translating directly from Hindi or another mother tongue, or from everyday habits. Once a student knows the correct form, these are easy to fix.

Grammar and Tense Mistakes

❌ Incorrect	✅ Correct	Why
He did not went to school.	He did not go to school.	After did/does/do, use V1.
I am knowing her for years.	I have known her for years.	"Know" isn't used in continuous form.
I have seen that movie yesterday.	I saw that movie yesterday.	A finished time takes simple past.
She don't like spicy food.	She doesn't like spicy food.	He/she/it take "does".
One of my friend is a doctor.	One of my friends is a doctor.	"One of" is followed by a plural noun.
Each of the students have a book.	Each of the students has a book.	"Each" is singular.
He is elder than me.	He is older than me.	"Elder" isn't used with "than".
When I will reach, I will call.	When I reach, I will call.	After when/if, use present tense for future.

Word Choice and Indianisms

❌ Indian-only usage	✅ Better English	Why
Myself Rahul.	I am Rahul.	"Myself" can't be a sentence subject.
What is your good name?	What is your name?	"Good name" translates "shubh naam".
Please borrow me your pen.	Please lend me your pen.	You borrow from; you lend to.
He told to me.	He told me / said to me.	Tell takes a direct object; say takes "to".
My cousin brother is coming.	My cousin is coming.	"Cousin" already means the relation.
He is out of station.	He is out of town.	"Out of station" is mainly understood in India.
I passed out of school in 2020.	I finished school in 2020.	Outside India, "pass out" means to faint.
The meeting is preponed.	The meeting has been brought forward.	"Prepone" isn't standard outside India.

Preposition Mistakes

❌ Incorrect	✅ Correct
We discussed about the problem.	We discussed the problem.
She is married with a doctor.	She is married to a doctor.
I am going to home.	I am going home.
He entered into the room.	He entered the room.
I will meet you in Monday.	I will meet you on Monday.
She is good in maths.	She is good at maths.

Quick time rule: at for exact times (at 5 pm), on for days/dates (on Monday), in for months/years/parts of day (in May, in the morning).

Article Mistakes (a, an, the)

❌ Incorrect	✅ Correct	Why
He is an university student.	He is a university student.	"University" starts with a "yoo" sound.
I waited for a hour.	I waited for an hour.	The "h" in hour is silent.
Sun rises in east.	The sun rises in the east.	Unique things and directions take "the".
She plays the cricket.	She plays cricket.	No article before names of games.

Remember: a/an depends on the sound, not the letter — a uniform, an MBA, an hour, a one-rupee coin.

Uncountable Nouns

These have no plural in standard English: informations → information, furnitures → furniture, advices → advice, luggages → luggage, equipments → equipment, homeworks → homework.

How to Stop Making These Mistakes

1. Read daily — even 10 minutes of a good newspaper or storybook.
2. Keep a "mistake diary" — write each corrected mistake once.
3. Think in English for simple things instead of translating.
4. Speak slowly — most errors happen when we rush.
5. Get regular feedback from a teacher or tutor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is "prepone" a correct English word?
Widely used and understood in India; in international settings, "bring forward" is safer.

What is the difference between "borrow" and "lend"?
You borrow something from someone; you lend something to someone.

Is "cousin brother" wrong?
"Cousin" already means the child of your uncle or aunt — say "my cousin" or name them directly.