The Most Common Grammatical Mistakes in Spanish and How to Avoid Them

Spanish is one of the most interesting and rich languages in the world, but that also means that learning it can be a bit complex for new students. One of the most important challenges in Spanish, even for native speakers, is avoiding falling into some of the most frequent grammatical mistakes.

In this article, we will analyze these common mistakes one by one to teach you how to avoid them with clear examples.

Let’s get started!

Lack of agreement between gender and number

In Spanish, it is crucial that all adjectives, articles, and pronouns agree with the gender (masculine or feminine) or number (singular or plural) of the noun in order for all our sentences to be grammatically correct. However, one of the most common mistakes, especially at the beginning, is forgetting this rule. Example:

• Incorrect: La libros están en mi escritorio. (The article in this sentence is feminine and singular, while our noun is masculine and plural)
• Correct: Los libros están en mi escritorio. (The books are on my desk.)

Tip to avoid it: Before writing or speaking, first identify whether the noun you will use is masculine or feminine, and then whether it is singular or plural. This way, you can ensure that the article and the adjective you choose also agree correctly with your noun.

Incorrect use of verb tenses

Another aspect of Spanish that can be confusing at first is that it has many different verb tenses. Therefore, it is also common to make the mistake of mixing tenses inconsistently. Example:

• Incorrect: Ahora estudié para el examen. (Now I studied for the exam.)
• Correct: Ahora estudio para el examen. (Now I study for the exam.)

Tip to avoid it: When constructing your sentence, try to be clear about the time in which the action you want to talk about occurred: whether it was in the past, whether it is happening now in the present, or whether it will happen in the future. This will allow you to choose the correct verb tense to narrate the action properly.

Incorrect use of irregular verbs

It is also important to remember that in Spanish there are many irregular verbs that do not follow the common conjugation rules, which can cause confusion and mistakes when speaking or writing. Example:

• Incorrect: El vaso estaba rompido. (The word “rompido” does not exist in Spanish.)
• Correct: El vaso estaba roto. (The glass was broken.)

Tip to avoid it: Study in detail and familiarize yourself with the most common irregular verbs. Practice their conjugation by making lists, flashcards, or using applications like Promova to help you memorize them.

Errors in the use of prepositions

Prepositions in Spanish can be confusing for beginner students, especially because many of them do not have an exact translation in other languages. However, using them incorrectly can strip the sentence of meaning or even completely change it. Example:

• Incorrect: Estoy trabajando para ti. (I am working for you.) (I am your employee)
• Correct: Estoy trabajando por ti. (I am working for you.) (For your benefit)

Tip to avoid it: Learn the most common combinations of verbs and prepositions, and pay attention to how they are used in sentences already in context when you listen to or read texts in Spanish.

Lack of accents on key words

If accents or “tildes” are not added correctly to the words that require them, their meaning can be completely modified, and therefore, it could also change the meaning of the whole sentence or even turn it nonsensical. Example:

• Incorrect: Yo quiero mucho a mi papa. (You are saying that you love a potato, the vegetable.)
• Correct: Yo quiero mucho a mi papá. (You are saying that you love your father.)

Tip to avoid it: Study the basic rules of accentuation and practice daily by writing words with accents so that you can improve your writing.

Errors in the use of punctuation marks

Punctuation in Spanish can be complex, but it is important to check that we are using the appropriate punctuation marks at the right moments, as its incorrect use can also completely change the meaning of our sentences. Example:

• Incorrect: Vamos a comer niños. (You are saying that the children will be eaten.)
• Correct: Vamos a comer, niños. (You are telling the children to go eat.)

Tip to avoid it: Always review your texts before sending or publishing them. Reading them aloud can also help you identify some incorrect pauses.

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Incorrect uses of homophones

Homophones are words that sound the same but have completely different meanings, which makes them confusing. This is perhaps the most common mistake of all, as even native Spanish speakers often get confused as well. 
However, it is very important that you learn to differentiate them and write them correctly so that your sentences make sense. Here are some of the words that are most commonly confused:

Tú vs. tu

• Tú: Personal pronoun used to refer to the person being spoken to.

Tú estás leyendo este artículo. (You are reading this article.)

• Tu: A possessive adjective used to indicate belonging.

Tu ropa está en la lavadora. (Your clothes are in the washing machine.)

Por qué vs. porque vs. porqué vs. por que

• Por qué: Used in direct or indirect questions to ask for the cause or reason for something.

¿Por qué no hiciste la tarea? (Why didn’t you do the homework?)

• Porque: A conjunction used to introduce explanations or reasons.

No quiero comer melón porque no me gusta. (I don’t want to eat melon because I don’t like it.)

• Por que: This is a combination of the preposition "por" and the conjunction "que," which we use to express the cause or purpose of the action we are describing.

Lucharon por que se aprobara esa ley. (They fought for that law to be approved.)

• Porqué: When the word “porque” has an accent on the "e," it becomes a noun synonymous with "the reason" or "the motive."

No entiendo el porqué de su decisión. (I don’t understand the reason for his/her decision.)

A ver vs. haber

• A ver: Is an expression that means to observe, verify, or reflect on something.

Vamos a ver si encontramos la pelota. (Let’s see if we find the ball.)

• Haber: A verb used as an auxiliary in compound tenses or to express existence.

Debe haber una solución a este problema. (There must be a solution to this problem.)

Note: There are other variants of words that some people use in their texts, such as “aber” or “avér,” which are not only incorrect but also do not exist in Spanish.

Ay vs. ahí vs. hay

• Ay: An interjection used to express pain, emotion, or surprise.

¡Ay! Me golpeé el dedo. (Ouch! I hit my finger.)

• Ahí: An adverb that indicates place. Note that this word always carries a tilde when spelled correctly.

Mi perro está ahí, debajo de la mesa. (My dog is there, under the table.)

• Hay: A form of the verb haber that indicates the existence of something.

Hay muchas frutas en la tienda. (There are many fruits in the store.)

Echo vs. hecho

• Echo: A form of the verb echar, which means to throw or to launch.

Yo echo las llaves en el cajón al llegar a casa. (I throw the keys in the drawer when I get home.)

• Hecho: The participle of the verb hacer (do), which is what people often confuse with the word echo, but it can also refer to an event (for example, a historical fact).

He hecho mi tarea. (I have done my homework.)

Has vs. haz

• Has: A form of the verb haber (have) in the second person singular of the present perfect.

¿Has ido a Brasil alguna vez? (Have you ever been to Brazil?)

• Haz: This is an imperative form of the verb hacer (do) that we use to give orders or instructions to someone. It can also be a noun that refers to a bundle of things (for example, “un haz de flores” means a bundle of flowers).

Haz tu tarea antes de jugar. (Do your homework before playing.)

Halla vs. haya vs. aya vs. allá

• Halla: A form of the verb hallar, which means to find.

Ella halla paz en la naturaleza. (She finds peace in nature.)

• Haya: Comes from the verb haber (have) in its subjunctive or imperative form.

Espero que la comida no se haya quemado. (I hope the food hasn’t burned.)

• Aya: An old word that describes a person responsible for taking care of children.

La aya cuida a los pequeños por las tardes. (The nanny takes care of the little ones in the afternoons.)

• Allá: An adverb of place that we use to indicate distance.

Allá está la plaza. (The square is over there.)

Sino vs. si no

• Sino: A word we use to contrast two ideas.

No quiero la paleta naranja, sino la azul. (I don’t want the orange popsicle, but the blue one.)

• Si no: A combination of two words: "si" ((if) (which expresses a condition) and "no" (which is a negation). We use them to talk about a negative condition.

Si no se apresura, llegará tarde. (If he/she doesn’t hurry, he/she will arrive late.)

Tip to avoid them: Study the meaning of each one of the words and pay close attention to how they are spelled correctly. Then you can practice using them in some sentences. Reading texts in Spanish will also help you see them in context and understand their uses better.

General tips to avoid grammatical mistakes

• Practice every day: Write a few simple texts each day and review them. If you make a mistake, don’t get discouraged! Try again until you master it.
• Use reliable resources: Consult reliable dictionaries and learning apps when reviewing your texts.
• Read and listen to Spanish: As we mentioned earlier, you can learn a lot by reading or listening to the correct structures of Spanish in real contexts. You can start by reading some simple books that interest you, watching movies or series, or perhaps listening to songs or podcasts in Spanish.
• Don’t be shy to ask for help: You can ask for feedback from a native speaker, a friend, or perhaps a classmate or teacher if you need it. Many times, just the fear of feeling embarrassed of asking prevents us from seeing that there are many people happy to help.

Summary

We know that it can be a bit overwhelming to see all these mistakes and have to memorize so many rules, especially if you are starting to learn Spanish. But don’t get discouraged!

You will see that with just a little time and consistent practice through your Promova app, you will progress much faster than you think. We believe in you!