16 Common English Verb Errors Beginners Make: How to Fix Them? —Series Part 2

In their everyday interactions, beginners make common English verb errors. If these are not fixed they can greatly affect their performance and slow down confidence building. In this post under English grammar essentials, you’ll learn 16 more common verb mistakes beginners make. And you will know how to handle them easily. Learn more here about the site and how to get started.

Ready?

Mistakes:

1. English Verb Mistakes: “Bring” vs. “Take”— Direction Matters →”Bring” = Trazer; “Take” = Levar

These verbs depend on where the object is going.

Bring = toward the speaker

• Bring the book to me.

Take = away from the speaker

• Take the book to your room.

Mistake to Avoid:

❌Can you take this to me?
✅ Can you bring this to me?

English Verb Mistakes: Practice

Write 2 sentences with bring and 2 with take.

See also common mistakes: series part 1

2. Mistakes with English Verbs: “Come” vs. “Go”— Similar but Not the Same →”Come” = vir; “Go” = ir

Come = toward the speaker

• Come here, please.

Go = away from the speaker

• Go to the store.

Mistake to Avoid:

❌ I’m coming to the supermarket. (when you’re not at the supermarket)
✅ I’m going to the supermarket.

English Verb Mistakes: Practice

Write 3 sentences using come and go. Sometimes incorrect use of English verbs is due to lack of practice.

3. English Verb Mistakes: “Hear” vs. “Listen”— Passive vs. Active →”Hear”= Ouvir; “Listen”= Escutar

Hear = sound enters your ears naturally

• I hear music outside.

Listen = you pay attention

• I listen to music every day.

Mistake to Avoid:

❌ I’m hearing to music.
✅ I’m listening to music.

English Verb Mistakes: Practice

Write 2 sentences with hear and 2 with listen.

For more practices, check also our free speaking practice resources.

4. English Verb Mistakes: “Live” vs. “Stay”→”Live = Viver; “Stay”= Ficar

Incorrect use of English verbs sometimes happens due to confusion to meanings:

Live = where you permanently reside

• I live in Maputo.

Stay = temporary

• I’m staying at a hotel.

Mistake to Avoid:

❌ I’m living at a hotel this week.
✅ I’m staying at a hotel this week.

English Verb Mistakes: Practice

Write 3 sentences using live and stay.

Look for = try to locate

5. Common English Verb Errors: “Look For” vs. “Find” → “Look for” = Procurar; “Find”= Achar

• I’m looking for my keys.

Find = you located it

• I found my keys.

Mistake to Avoid:

❌I’m finding my phone.
✅ I’m looking for my phone.

English Verb Mistakes: Practice

Write 2 sentences with look for and 2 with find.

See also English verb tenses for details.

6. Incorrect Use of English Verb: ”Teach” vs. “Learn”— Opposite Actions→”Teach”= Ensinar; “Learn”=Aprender

Teach = give knowledge

• She teaches English.

Learn = receive knowledge

• I learn English.

Mistake to Avoid:

❌ I teach English at school. (when you are a student)
✅ I learn English at school.

English Verb Mistakes: Practice

Write 2 sentences with teach and 2 with learn. This can help you overcome the incorrect use of the two English verbs.

7. English Verb Mistakes: “Start” vs. “Begin” →”Start”=Iniciar; “Begin”= Começar

Good news: these verbs are almost the same.

Start = more common in everyday English

• Let’s start the lesson.

Begin = slightly more formal

• The movie begins at 8.

The incorrect use of the two English verbs results in the following common mistakes:

Mistake to Avoid:

❌The class is beginning now. (Not wrong, but unnatural in casual speech)
✅ The class is starting now.

Practice

Write 3 sentences using start and begin.

8. Incorrect Verb Forms: “Put” vs. “Place”→”Put”= Pôr; “Place”= Colocar /Posicionar)

Put = everyday English

• Put your bag on the table.

Place = formal

• Please place your signature here.

Mistake to Avoid:

❌ Place your phone on the bed. (sounds too formal)
✅ Put your phone on the bed.

Practice

Write 3 sentences using put.

9. English Verb Mistakes: “Ask” vs. “Ask For” →”Ask” = Pedir; “Ask for” = Perguntar

The incorrect use of these two English verbs is due to the similarity of the forms. Here is how to differentiate them:

Ask = request information

• I asked her a question.

Ask for = request an object

• I asked for water.

Mistake to Avoid:

❌I asked a coffee.
✅ I asked for a coffee.

English Verb Mistakes: Practice

Write 2 sentences with ask and 2 with ask for.

10. Common English Verb Errors: “Spend” vs. “Waste”→”Spend” = Gastar / Dedicar/Passar; “Waste” = Desperdiçar

Spend = use time or money

• I spent two hours studying.
• I spent $10 on lunch.

Waste = use badly

• Don’t waste your time.
• Don’t waste money on things you don’t need.

Mistake to Avoid:

❌ I wasted some money on food. (Food is necessary)
✅ I spent some money on food.

English Verb Mistakes: Practice

Write 2 sentences with spend and 2 with waste.

11. Mistakes with English Verbs: “Hope” vs. “Wish” →”Hope” = esperar / ter esperança; “Wish” = desejar

Hope = something possible

• I hope you feel better.
• I hope it doesn’t rain.

Wish = something impossible or unlikely

• I wish I had a car. (I don’t have one)
• I wish I were taller.

Common mistake resulting in the incorrect use of the two English verbs:

❌ I hope I had more money.
✅ I wish I had more money.

English verb mistakes: Practice

Write 2 sentences with hope and 2 with wish.

12. English Verb Mistakes: “Look” vs. “Look Like” →”Look” = Olhar; “Look Like” = Parecer

Look = focus your eyes

• Look at the board.

Look like = describe appearance

• She looks like her mother.

Mistake to Avoid:

❌ He looks his father.
✅ He looks like his father.

Practice

Write 3 sentences using look like.

13. “Remember” vs. “Remind”— Opposites! →”Remember = Lembrar; “Remind” = Recorder Alguém sobre algo

One way that helps avoid the incorrect use of these two English verbs is to understand their meaning:

Remember = you keep something in your mind

• I remember your birthday.

Remind = someone helps you remember

• Please remind me tomorrow.

Common mistake as a result of incorrect use of the above English verbs:

❌ Can you remember me to call her?
✅ Can you remind me to call her?

English Verb Mistakes: Practice

Write 2 sentences with remember and 2 with remind.

14. “Miss” vs. “Lose” — →”Miss” = Sentir Falta/ Não alcançar; “Lose’ = Perder/Deixar de Ter

Miss = you can’t catch/attend something

• I missed the bus.
• I missed the meeting.

Lose = you can’t find something

• I lost my keys.

Mistake to Avoid:

❌ I missed my keys.
✅ I lost my keys.

📝 Practice

Write 2 sentences with miss and 2 with lose.

15. “Stop to Do” vs. “Stop Doing” →”Stop to do” = Parar para Fazer; “Stop Doing” = Parar de Fazer

Example:

• I stopped to drink water. (I paused walking)
• I stopped drinking soda. (I gave up drinking)

Mistake to Avoid:

❌ I stopped to smoke last year.
✅ I stopped smoking last year.

English Verb Mistakes: Practice

Write 2 sentences using each structure.

16. Incorrect Use of the English Verbs: “Stay” and “Keep” →”Stay” = Ficar; “Keep” = Continuar

Stay = remain in a place or condition

• Stay here.
• Stay calm.

Keep = continue doing something

• Keep studying.
• Keep going.

Mistake to Avoid:

❌ Stay going.
✅ Keep going.

Practice

Write 3 sentences using keep.

How to handle common English verb errors and make use of them? Mistakes are not just errors — they’re signals. They show you exactly where your internal grammar system is still forming. This gives you a road map for improvement.