English Struggles

No worries!

As we approach or have already begun a new year, what are some of the common problems that we see with students who are learning English and how do we help?

Here are some common problems ESL students face when learning verbs:

1. Verb Tenses Confusion!  Choosing the right tense can be very confusing for students! Many students struggle to choose the correct tense, especially when their native language has fewer tenses or structures that don’t match English patterns (e.g., mixing past simple and present perfect).

2. Irregular Verbs!  One of the biggest challenges is the one for irregular verbs!  Memorizing irregular forms like go–went–gone can be difficult because they don’t follow predictable rules, leading to errors in both writing and speaking.

3. Subject–Verb Agreement!  Adding the -s!  Learners may forget to adjust the verb according to the subject, especially with the third-person singular “-s” in the present tense (He run instead of He runs).

4. Auxiliary Verb Usage!  Using do, does, did, have, will, etc., in questions and negatives can be confusing, especially for learners whose native languages don’t use auxiliary verbs.

5. Verb–Preposition Combinations!   Phrasal verbs and collocations (look after, give up, turn on) often cause trouble because the meaning changes and isn’t always literal.

Even though these can bee difficult, I believe that with practice and fun activities, students will overcome all of these challenges!  I hope that everyone has a great year!