Most common errors come from translating directly from Urdu: missing or extra articles, the wrong tense, extra prepositions and a few fixed phrases. They are not signs of poor English. They are patterns, and patterns can be retrained.
Articles: a, an and the
Urdu has no direct equivalent of a and the, so they are often dropped or added.
| Instead of | Say |
|---|---|
| I am doctor. | I am a doctor. |
| He is best student in class. | He is the best student in the class. |
| The life is difficult. | Life is difficult. |
Tenses
| Instead of | Say |
|---|---|
| I am knowing him for years. | I have known him for years. |
| I am living here since 2019. | I have been living here since 2019. |
| Did you went? | Did you go? |
Verbs like know, understand and want are not usually used in the continuous form: I understand, not I am understanding.
Extra or wrong prepositions
| Instead of | Say |
|---|---|
| discuss about the plan | discuss the plan |
| return back | return |
| married with her | married to her |
| good in English | good at English |
Questions
| Instead of | Say |
|---|---|
| Where you are going? | Where are you going? |
| What you want? | What do you want? |
Phrases that sound unusual to international listeners
| Instead of | Consider |
|---|---|
| Do one thing… | Here's an idea… / Could you… |
| Kindly do the needful. | Could you please take care of this? |
| I'll revert to you. | I'll get back to you. |
| Same to same | Exactly the same |
These are widely understood in Pakistan, but in international emails, interviews and exams the alternatives sound more natural.
How to fix them for good
Pick two or three of these at a time. Notice them when you read, listen for them in conversations, and ask someone to correct you when you slip. Trying to fix everything at once rarely works; fixing a few patterns properly does.
See our English Language courses: Basic, Intermediate and Advanced.
Frequently asked questions
Why do Urdu speakers make article mistakes in English?
Because Urdu has no direct equivalent of a and the. The fix is practice with common patterns until the correct article becomes automatic.
Is it wrong to say 'discuss about'?
In standard English, discuss is used without about: discuss the plan, not discuss about the plan.
Is 'kindly do the needful' correct English?
It is understood in South Asia but sounds old-fashioned or unusual internationally. 'Could you please take care of this?' is more natural.
How can I stop making the same mistakes?
Focus on two or three patterns at a time, practise them in speaking and writing, and get regular correction from a teacher.
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Written by the Learning Bubble teaching team. If something here does not match your situation, ask us. We would rather give you a straight answer than have you guess.