Common Grammatical Errors in WAEC/UTME English

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Introduction

English Language remains one of the most important subjects in both WAEC and UTME examinations. Every year, thousands of candidates lose valuable marks not because they lack ideas, but because they fall into avoidable grammatical mistakes. Examiners have consistently reported that errors in grammar, concord, spelling, and sentence construction reduce students’ overall performance in English.

To perform well in WAEC or UTME English, mastering grammar rules is not optional—it is essential. While you may have strong vocabulary or brilliant points for essays and comprehension, frequent grammatical blunders can weaken your answers and cost you higher grades. This is why understanding and avoiding these common errors is a major step toward exam success.

In this article, we will highlight the most frequent grammatical errors made by WAEC and UTME candidates, explain why they are wrong, and provide simple tips to correct them. By the end, you will be better prepared to write with clarity, accuracy, and confidence in your next English examination.

 

Common Grammatical Errors in WAEC/UTME English with 100+ Examples

Below are grouped errors WAEC and UTME candidates often make, with wrong vs correct usage.

1. Subject–Verb Agreement (Concord Errors)

  1. Wrong: The boy run fast. | Correct: The boy runs fast.
  2. Wrong: The teachers is in the hall. | Correct: The teachers are in the hall.
  3. Wrong: Mathematics are difficult. | Correct: Mathematics is difficult.
  4. Wrong: The news are interesting. | Correct: The news is interesting.
  5. Wrong: Each of the boys have a pen. | Correct: Each of the boys has a pen.
  6. Wrong: The list of names are long. | Correct: The list of names is long.
  7. Wrong: Bread and butter are my favorite food. | Correct: Bread and butter is my favorite food.
  8. Wrong: My friend and guide is here. | Correct: My friend and guide are here.
  9. Wrong: Ten kilometers are a long distance. | Correct: Ten kilometers is a long distance.
  10. Wrong: The committee have agreed. | Correct: The committee has agreed.

2. Tense Errors

  1. Wrong: He go to school yesterday. | Correct: He went to school yesterday.
  2. Wrong: I am here since morning. | Correct: I have been here since morning.
  3. Wrong: She has went home. | Correct: She has gone home.
  4. Wrong: They eats every day. | Correct: They eat every day.
  5. Wrong: He was seeing the film now. | Correct: He is seeing the film now.
  6. Wrong: I will saw her tomorrow. | Correct: I will see her tomorrow.
  7. Wrong: She has finish her work. | Correct: She has finished her work.
  8. Wrong: The man die last week. | Correct: The man died last week.
  9. Wrong: They will went to Abuja. | Correct: They will go to Abuja.
  10. Wrong: By next year, she completed the course. | Correct: By next year, she will have completed the course.

3. Pronoun Errors

  1. Wrong: Every student must submit their book. | Correct: Every student must submit his or her book.
  2. Wrong: The man which spoke is my uncle. | Correct: The man who spoke is my uncle.
  3. Wrong: Between you and I, he is wrong. | Correct: Between you and me, he is wrong.
  4. Wrong: She did it by hisself. | Correct: She did it by herself.
  5. Wrong: The boy hurt itself. | Correct: The boy hurt himself.
  6. Wrong: Me and John are friends. | Correct: John and I are friends.
  7. Wrong: The book is yours one. | Correct: The book is yours.
  8. Wrong: Each of them said they was ready. | Correct: Each of them said he was ready.
  9. Wrong: Those kind of chairs are expensive. | Correct: That kind of chair is expensive.
  10. Wrong: It’s color is red. | Correct: Its color is red.

4. Adjective/Adverb Errors

  1. Wrong: She sings good. | Correct: She sings well.
  2. Wrong: He ran quick. | Correct: He ran quickly.
  3. Wrong: This is the most happiest moment. | Correct: This is the happiest moment.
  4. Wrong: He drives too much fast. | Correct: He drives too fast.
  5. Wrong: The mango tastes badly. | Correct: The mango tastes bad.
  6. Wrong: She is more prettier than her sister. | Correct: She is prettier than her sister.
  7. Wrong: He spoke more loud than the others. | Correct: He spoke louder than the others.
  8. Wrong: The exam was hardly difficult. | Correct: The exam was very difficult.
  9. Wrong: He is a fastly runner. | Correct: He is a fast runner.
  10. Wrong: This book is more better. | Correct: This book is better.

5. Preposition Errors

  1. Wrong: He insisted to go. | Correct: He insisted on going.
  2. Wrong: She is married with a doctor. | Correct: She is married to a doctor.
  3. Wrong: We discussed about the issue. | Correct: We discussed the issue.
  4. Wrong: They arrived to Lagos yesterday. | Correct: They arrived in Lagos yesterday.
  5. Wrong: He is capable to do it. | Correct: He is capable of doing it.
  6. Wrong: He congratulated me for my success. | Correct: He congratulated me on my success.
  7. Wrong: She is good in mathematics. | Correct: She is good at mathematics.
  8. Wrong: He is different with his brother. | Correct: He is different from his brother.
  9. Wrong: We prefer tea than coffee. | Correct: We prefer tea to coffee.
  10. Wrong: He was accused for theft. | Correct: He was accused of theft.

6. Double Negatives

  1. Wrong: I don’t need no help. | Correct: I don’t need any help.
  2. Wrong: She never said nothing. | Correct: She never said anything.
  3. Wrong: He didn’t see nobody. | Correct: He didn’t see anybody.
  4. Wrong: They can’t hardly wait. | Correct: They can hardly wait.
  5. Wrong: I won’t do nothing. | Correct: I won’t do anything.

7. Comparison Errors

  1. Wrong: She is more taller than me. | Correct: She is taller than me.
  2. Wrong: This is the bestest choice. | Correct: This is the best choice.
  3. Wrong: Of the two, this is the most better. | Correct: Of the two, this is the better.
  4. Wrong: He is senior than me. | Correct: He is senior to me.
  5. Wrong: She is inferior than him. | Correct: She is inferior to him.

8. Spelling & Word Choice Errors

  1. Wrong: The principle punished the class. | Correct: The principal punished the class.
  2. Wrong: He received a prise. | Correct: He received a prize.
  3. Wrong: The weather is fare today. | Correct: The weather is fair today.
  4. Wrong: The students red the book. | Correct: The students read the book.
  5. Wrong: The teacher gave us an advise. | Correct: The teacher gave us advice.
  6. Wrong: She effected a new plan. | Correct: She implemented a new plan.
  7. Wrong: He was effected by the rain. | Correct: He was affected by the rain.
  8. Wrong: I will loose my pen. | Correct: I will lose my pen.
  9. Wrong: She past the exam. | Correct: She passed the exam.
  10. Wrong: I saw the bare in the forest. | Correct: I saw the bear in the forest.

9. Sentence Structure Errors

  1. Wrong: I like reading I don’t like writing. | Correct: I like reading, but I don’t like writing.
  2. Wrong: Because he was late. | Correct: He was late because he missed the bus.
  3. Wrong: Going to the market. | Correct: I am going to the market.
  4. Wrong: He is a boy, he is strong. | Correct: He is a boy, and he is strong.
  5. Wrong: The girl she is beautiful. | Correct: The girl is beautiful.
  6. Wrong: The teacher said that come here. | Correct: The teacher said, “Come here.”
  7. Wrong: This are my books. | Correct: These are my books.
  8. Wrong: That books are mine. | Correct: Those books are mine.
  9. Wrong: She don’t know the answer. | Correct: She doesn’t know the answer.
  10. Wrong: I doesn’t like him. | Correct: I don’t like him.

10. Miscellaneous Errors

  1. Wrong: He is an European. | Correct: He is a European.
  2. Wrong: She is an honest girl. | Correct: She is a honest girl.
  3. Wrong: I prefer more rice. | Correct: I prefer rice.
  4. Wrong: The teacher, he is strict. | Correct: The teacher is strict.
  5. Wrong: The book is belonging to me. | Correct: The book belongs to me.
  6. Wrong: He is more elder than me. | Correct: He is elder to me.
  7. Wrong: The man is much older than me. | Correct: The man is far older than me.
  8. Wrong: She is the most unique student. | Correct: She is a unique student.
  9. Wrong: The house comprises of five rooms. | Correct: The house comprises five rooms.
  10. Wrong: He is one of those boy who is clever. | Correct: He is one of those boys who are clever.

11. Extra Exam-Oriented Examples

  1. Wrong: Neither of them are here. | Correct: Neither of them is here.
  2. Wrong: The scissors is sharp. | Correct: The scissors are sharp.
  3. Wrong: The police is coming. | Correct: The police are coming.
  4. Wrong: Many a men are present. | Correct: Many a man is present.
  5. Wrong: The cattle is grazing. | Correct: The cattle are grazing.
  6. Wrong: He is my cousin brother. | Correct: He is my cousin.
  7. Wrong: Open to page ten. | Correct: Open at page ten.
  8. Wrong: He is junior than me. | Correct: He is junior to me.
  9. Wrong: I am owing him money. | Correct: I owe him money.
  10. Wrong: He has white hairs. | Correct: He has white hair.
  11. Wrong: He put off the light. | Correct: He put out the light.
  12. Wrong: She is my namesake. | Correct: She bears the same name as I.
  13. Wrong: He gave me an information. | Correct: He gave me some information.
  14. Wrong: She has two furnitures. | Correct: She has two pieces of furniture.
  15. Wrong: He gave me an advice. | Correct: He gave me a piece of advice.

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