For example, 'The lumberjacks chopped the tree. Often, two logically-related sentences do not need a transitional word to link them. “A duck” refers to a single unspecified duck whereas “the duck” refers to a specific duck.Īnother one of the most common ESL mistakes is an over-reliance on transitional phrases. The is used in front of singular or plural nouns and adjectives to refer to something with which both the writer and reader are familiar. There is only one definite article in the English language (the) this means you don’t have to worry about listening for vowel sounds. A is used for words that begin with a consonant sound and an is used for words that begin with a vowel sound.
Indefinite articles (a or an) are used to refer to a noun, the specific identity of which is unknown. One of the most common ESL mistakes made in academic writing is the tendency to confuse indefinite and definite articles.
We have talked to experienced ESL teachers and singled out 10 common mistakes students make all the time.Ĭheck it out and see if you make these mistakes! If you’re eager to polish your English to perfection, this information is right up your street. Trying to cram all the rules, learn as many words as they can and it’s still not enough. Most ESL students find themselves struggling to have a good grasp of English.
