Common Grammar Mistakes to Avoid for Studying Overseas

Studying overseas presents exciting opportunities for Indian students, but effective communication, particularly through accurate English grammar, is crucial for academic success and seamless integration. This blog post addresses common grammatical mistakes frequently made by Indian students learning English.

As an Indian student preparing to study overseas, you're embarking on an exciting journey that extends far beyond academics. Whether you're heading to the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, your ability to communicate effectively in English will significantly impact your experience. 

Numerous Indian students have a solid grasp of English fundamentals, acquired through years of schooling and use in social spaces. Even then, some specific grammatical nuances can frequently cause confusion, impact academic writing, and even obstruct their daily communication in a foreign land. This article is specifically designed to address these common grammatical challenges faced by Indian students preparing to study abroad. Therefore, we will delve into frequently encountered grammatical errors, providing clear explanations, relatable examples, and practical tips to help you avoid these pitfalls.

Why Grammar Matters?

While many Indian students have a solid foundation in English, mastering grammar nuances is crucial for:

• Academic success: Clearly communicating your ideas in papers and presentations
• Social integration: Building meaningful relationships with peers from diverse backgrounds
• Professional development: Preparing for future careers in English-speaking environments

The specific grammatical challenges in English typically arise from the structural differences between English and the various native languages spoken across the country, as well as the varying emphasis placed on certain grammatical elements within the Indian education system. The field of Error Analysis in language acquisition shows that the errors learners make are usually systematic rather than random. Recognizing these patterns is your first step toward improvement.

Common Grammatical Mistakes Made by Indian Students Abroad

Indian students tend to make mistakes in the following areas:

1. Verb Tenses

The English tense system indicates not just when an action happens but also its nature (simple, continuous, or perfect). Hence, some of the most commonly noted errors made by Indiann students include:

• Using present tense instead of past in reported speech
• Confusing the use of present simple tense and present continuous tense
• Misusing past tenses (simple past vs. present perfect)
• Inconsistent tense use within the same piece of writing
• Incorrectly selecting future forms ("will" vs. "be going to")

Example correction:

Incorrect sentence: She said, “I go to the store”.❌ 
Correct sentence: She said that she went to the store.✅ 

2. Articles (a, an, the)

Many Indian languages don't have direct equivalents for articles, leading to:

• Omitting necessary articles ("I am going to market")
• Confusion between "a" and "an" based on sound rather than spelling. For example, “a university” and “an umbrella”
• Uncertainty about when to use definite vs. indefinite articles

Example correction:

Incorrect sentence: I have a umbrella.❌ 
Correct sentence: I have an umbrella.✅ 

3. Prepositions

These small words indicating relationships between noun, pronoun and other words are often idiomatic and context-dependent:

• Incorrect use of "in" and "on" for location and time
• Redundant use of "about" after "discuss"
• Use of incorrect  prepositions with transportation modes

For Example:

Incorrect sentence: Eagles fly on the sky.❌
Correct sentence: Eagles fly in the sky. ✅ 

4. Subject-Verb Agreement

Ensuring verbs match their subjects in number can be tricky:

• Confusion with collective nouns
• Agreement errors when prepositional phrases separate subjects and verbs
• Issues with indefinite pronouns and compound subjects

For Example:

Incorrect sentence: The team are playing well.❌ 
Correct sentence: The team is playing well. ✅

Other Common Grammar Mistakes to Avoid

Other than the above common mistakes, here are some other sets of grammatical mistakes that Indian students are found making. 

• Using reflexive pronouns inappropriately ("Myself I am Suresh babu")
• Adding redundant words ("revert back")
• Using "pass out" to mean graduation
• Saying "doing a mistake" instead of "making a mistake"
• Incorrect pluralisation of compound nouns ("son-in-laws")
• Confusion between homophones (words with similar sounds) like - their, there, and they're

Regional Variations in English

While moving abroad, Indian students must adapt to the locally defined version of the English language. The most common and major difference that comes into consideration is in the use of British and American English. Both these forms of English have different spellings, meanings, slangs, and common day-to-day terms (colloquial terms) which are not accepted interchangeably in their concerned countries. Hence, understanding the regional differences in the language will help you adapt to your new environment. Below, we have highlighted a few regional differences in the usage of specific words:

Regional differences in English words (US and UK)
UK English Words	US English Words
Vocabulary: boot, flat, lift, autumn, pram	Vocabulary: trunk, apartment, elevator, fall, stroller
Spelling: colour, analyse, centre	Spelling: color, analyze, center

Note: In India, UK English is generally used. So, Indian students are often used to British English. When making a shift abroad for higher education, they must either go to a nation that has a likewise English trend or if going to USA - make sure to accalmatize yourself with the common terms and vocabulary of the local region.

Understanding Language Register

Knowing when to use formal versus informal language is crucial. Here are a few cases where and how the formal and informal English languages are used:

Formal English (for academic settings)	Informal English (for social settings)
Avoids contractions and slang	More relaxed and conversational
Uses proper names	Includes contractions, idioms, and personal opinions
Features complex sentence structures	Helps build rapport in casual interactions
Minimal use of first-person pronouns

Strategies to Improve Your Grammar

Check out the tips and strategies below to work on improving your grammar for seamless interaction in daily life upon moving abroad. 

1. Learn from Native Speakers: Listen actively to natural speech patterns, pay attention to sentence stress and intonation, and observe how grammar is used in context.
2. Practice Consistently: Start with the basics and gradually progress, read extensively across different genres, write regularly (journals, essays), think in English when possible, and focus on your specific areas of difficulty.
3. Make use of technology: Use grammar-checking tools like Grammarly, LanguageTool, ProWritingAid, and language learning apps like Duolingo, Hello English, and BBC Learning English for added assistance.
4. Find language exchange partners: Connect with native speakers for conversation practice and seek specific feedback on your grammar.

Mastering English grammar is an investment in your future. With dedication and the right strategies, you will navigate your overseas experience with confidence and thrive in both academic and social environments.

If you have any doubts, feel free to drop your queries in the comments box below.