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My child makes grammar mistakes in spoken English

Children who are learning English often make the same few grammar mistakes, many of them carried over from Hindi or other Indian languages. These mistakes are normal and fade with practice. The key is to correct gently, so your child keeps talking. Here are 12 common errors and 6 ways to help.

By the Eloqova team · Updated 10 November 2026

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Talk first, correct second: If every sentence is corrected, children stop speaking. Fix one pattern at a time.

12 common mistakes and the correct sentence

Child saysCorrect sentence
I am having two brothers.I have two brothers.
He don't know.He doesn't know.
She is knowing the answer.She knows the answer.
I goed to the park.I went to the park.
Yesterday I am going to school.Yesterday I went to school.
Myself Riya.I am Riya. / My name is Riya.
What you are doing?What are you doing?
He is more taller than me.He is taller than me.
I am coming from school just now.I have just come back from school.
Give me one pencil.Could you give me a pencil, please?
I didn't went.I didn't go.
Where you are going?Where are you going?

6 gentle ways to correct

  1. Repeat the sentence correctly in your reply: "Oh, you went to the park? What did you do there?"
  2. Pick one mistake to work on each week, not all of them.
  3. Correct later, not in the middle of your child's story.
  4. Turn tricky patterns into a game, such as asking 10 "What are you doing?" questions.
  5. Read aloud daily; children copy the sentence patterns they hear.
  6. Praise good sentences: "That was a perfect sentence!"

How to practise at home

  1. Choose one mistake from the table and practise it for a week.
  2. Recast your child's sentences correctly instead of saying "wrong".
  3. Make a family "perfect sentence" chart.
  4. Read one English story aloud together every day.

Questions parents ask

Why does my child make grammar mistakes in English?

Most mistakes come from thinking in another language or applying a rule too widely, like "goed". They are a normal part of learning and fade with practice.

Should I correct my child's English every time?

No. Correcting every sentence makes children stop talking. Repeat the sentence correctly in your reply and focus on one pattern a week.

How can my child speak English without mistakes?

Lots of listening and speaking practice, daily reading and gentle correction help children build correct patterns over time.

More free guides

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