Common Grammatical Errors in WAEC/UTME English (Part 2)

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In the first part of our discussion on common grammatical errors in WAEC/UTME English, we highlighted several mistakes that candidates frequently make and explained how to correct them. However, those examples were only the beginning. The truth is that English grammar is wide, and many students still fall into subtle traps that examiners often penalize heavily.

This second part continues the journey by presenting 100 more practical examples of errors with their correct forms. The sentences are carefully grouped into categories—covering tense, concord, prepositions, pronouns, articles, and more—so that you can easily identify where you need improvement.

By studying these examples, you will sharpen your grammatical accuracy, avoid costly mistakes in the exam hall, and build confidence in both your written and spoken English. Let’s dive into these additional errors and learn how to correct them once and for all.

1. Tense and Verb Usage Errors

  1. Wrong: It is high time we go.
    Correct: It is high time we went.
  2. Wrong: He hardly left when it started to rain.
    Correct: He had hardly left when it started to rain.
  3. Wrong: I wish I know the answer.
    Correct: I wish I knew the answer.
  4. Wrong: She has ate already.
    Correct: She has eaten already.
  5. Wrong: He did not wrote the test.
    Correct: He did not write the test.
  6. Wrong: By next year, I graduate.
    Correct: By next year, I will have graduated.
  7. Wrong: I am used to eat late.
    Correct: I am used to eating late.
  8. Wrong: He was driving when the accident had happened.
    Correct: He was driving when the accident happened.
  9. Wrong: She said she is coming tomorrow.
    Correct: She said she was coming tomorrow.
  10. Wrong: If I was you, I will study harder.
    Correct: If I were you, I would study harder.

2. Concord (Subject–Verb Agreement) Errors

  1. Wrong: The list of items are long.
    Correct: The list of items is long.
  2. Wrong: One of my friends have a car.
    Correct: One of my friends has a car.
  3. Wrong: Neither of them were present.
    Correct: Neither of them was present.
  4. Wrong: Each of the boys have books.
    Correct: Each of the boys has books.
  5. Wrong: The news are good.
    Correct: The news is good.
  6. Wrong: Mathematics are my best subject.
    Correct: Mathematics is my best subject.
  7. Wrong: The teacher and mentor is here.
    Correct: The teacher and mentor are here.
  8. Wrong: Ten kilometers are a long distance.
    Correct: Ten kilometers is a long distance.
  9. Wrong: The police is chasing the thief.
    Correct: The police are chasing the thief.
  10. Wrong: Bread and butter are my favorite breakfast.
    Correct: Bread and butter is my favorite breakfast.

3. Wrong Preposition Use

  1. Wrong: She insisted to go.
    Correct: She insisted on going.
  2. Wrong: He is married with a lawyer.
    Correct: He is married to a lawyer.
  3. Wrong: I prefer tea than coffee.
    Correct: I prefer tea to coffee.
  4. Wrong: He is capable in doing it.
    Correct: He is capable of doing it.
  5. Wrong: She congratulated him for his success.
    Correct: She congratulated him on his success.
  6. Wrong: The book is different to mine.
    Correct: The book is different from mine.
  7. Wrong: We discussed about the plan.
    Correct: We discussed the plan.
  8. Wrong: She accused me for lying.
    Correct: She accused me of lying.
  9. Wrong: He is good in mathematics.
    Correct: He is good at mathematics.
  10. Wrong: He entered into the room.
    Correct: He entered the room.

4. Misused Words / Expressions

  1. Wrong: He is matured enough.
    Correct: He is mature enough.
  2. Wrong: She is an opportunist girl.
    Correct: She is an opportunistic girl.
  3. Wrong: I met an old colleague of mine yesterday.
    Correct: I met a former colleague of mine yesterday.
  4. Wrong: The man is very funny (meaning strange).
    Correct: The man is very strange.
  5. Wrong: She is a cowardice.
    Correct: She is a coward.
  6. Wrong: He returned back home.
    Correct: He returned home.
  7. Wrong: The reason is because he was late.
    Correct: The reason is that he was late.
  8. Wrong: I came across with a new word.
    Correct: I came across a new word.
  9. Wrong: He is my cousin brother.
    Correct: He is my cousin.
  10. Wrong: The girl is a beggar woman.
    Correct: The girl is a beggar.

5. Wrong Use of Articles

  1. Wrong: She is a honorable woman.
    Correct: She is an honorable woman.
  2. Wrong: He is the best of the two players.
    Correct: He is the better of the two players.
  3. Wrong: We saw a sun rise this morning.
    Correct: We saw the sunrise this morning.
  4. Wrong: She plays the piano well.
    Correct: She plays piano well.
  5. Wrong: He is an European artist.
    Correct: He is a European artist.
  6. Wrong: She bought the rice in the market.
    Correct: She bought rice in the market.
  7. Wrong: We need an honest men.
    Correct: We need honest men.
  8. Wrong: A lion is dangerous animal.
    Correct: A lion is a dangerous animal.
  9. Wrong: He is best student in class.
    Correct: He is the best student in class.
  10. Wrong: We went to cinema yesterday.
    Correct: We went to the cinema yesterday.

6. Wrong Sentence Structure

  1. Wrong: Despite of the rain, we played.
    Correct: Despite the rain, we played.
  2. Wrong: No sooner he came than she left.
    Correct: No sooner had he come than she left.
  3. Wrong: Scarcely he arrived when it rained.
    Correct: Scarcely had he arrived when it rained.
  4. Wrong: Hardly she had eaten when he left.
    Correct: Hardly had she eaten when he left.
  5. Wrong: Though he was tired but he worked.
    Correct: Though he was tired, he worked.
  6. Wrong: Unless you do not study, you will pass.
    Correct: Unless you study, you will pass.
  7. Wrong: Neither Ade or Tolu came.
    Correct: Neither Ade nor Tolu came.
  8. Wrong: He is more better than me.
    Correct: He is better than me.
  9. Wrong: I am too happy to see you.
    Correct: I am very happy to see you.
  10. Wrong: The meeting was postponed to next week Friday.
    Correct: The meeting was postponed till Friday next week.

7. Redundancy and Wordiness

  1. Wrong: I will revert back to you.
    Correct: I will revert to you.
  2. Wrong: The final outcome of the game was shocking.
    Correct: The outcome of the game was shocking.
  3. Wrong: The reason why is because…
    Correct: The reason is that…
  4. Wrong: He sat down on the chair.
    Correct: He sat on the chair.
  5. Wrong: I stood up and left.
    Correct: I stood and left.
  6. Wrong: The end result was good.
    Correct: The result was good.
  7. Wrong: They returned back from school.
    Correct: They returned from school.
  8. Wrong: She climbed up the mountain.
    Correct: She climbed the mountain.
  9. Wrong: The past history of Nigeria is rich.
    Correct: The history of Nigeria is rich.
  10. Wrong: Repeat it again.
    Correct: Repeat it.

8. Wrong Pronoun Use

  1. Wrong: Between you and I, he is wrong.
    Correct: Between you and me, he is wrong.
  2. Wrong: Everyone must do their work.
    Correct: Everyone must do his or her work.
  3. Wrong: This is mine book.
    Correct: This is my book.
  4. Wrong: Myself will handle it.
    Correct: I will handle it.
  5. Wrong: Each of them must do their duty.
    Correct: Each of them must do his duty.
  6. Wrong: Neither of us brought their pen.
    Correct: Neither of us brought his pen.
  7. Wrong: Who did you see?
    Correct: Whom did you see?
  8. Wrong: She and myself are friends.
    Correct: She and I are friends.
  9. Wrong: He is taller than me am.
    Correct: He is taller than I am.
  10. Wrong: That house is our’s.
    Correct: That house is ours.

9. Vocabulary/Idiomatic Errors

  1. Wrong: He is an exam cheater.
    Correct: He is an exam malpractice candidate.
  2. Wrong: She explained me the lesson.
    Correct: She explained the lesson to me.
  3. Wrong: He is more senior than me.
    Correct: He is senior to me.
  4. Wrong: I demand for a refund.
    Correct: I demand a refund.
  5. Wrong: He made a revenge.
    Correct: He took revenge.
  6. Wrong: He is fond to reading.
    Correct: He is fond of reading.
  7. Wrong: He is addicted with drugs.
    Correct: He is addicted to drugs.
  8. Wrong: He is married with three children.
    Correct: He is married and has three children.
  9. Wrong: Open the television.
    Correct: Switch on the television.
  10. Wrong: I want a photocopy of that paper.
    Correct: I want a copy of that paper.

10. Spelling/Plural Errors

  1. Wrong: Childrens are playing.
    Correct: Children are playing.
  2. Wrong: Sheeps are in the field.
    Correct: Sheep are in the field.
  3. Wrong: The sceneries are beautiful.
    Correct: The scenery is beautiful.
  4. Wrong: The furnitures are old.
    Correct: The furniture is old.
  5. Wrong: The equipments are faulty.
    Correct: The equipment is faulty.
  6. Wrong: She has two hairs on her hand.
    Correct: She has two strands of hair on her hand.
  7. Wrong: The informations are useful.
    Correct: The information is useful.
  8. Wrong: She gave me many advices.
    Correct: She gave me much advice.
  9. Wrong: Poetries of Shakespeare are timeless.
    Correct: The poetry of Shakespeare is timeless.
  10. Wrong: The machineries are working.
    Correct: The machinery is working.

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