---
license: cc-by-4.0
language:
- en
tags:
- esl
- grammar
- language-learning
- error-analysis
- writing
pretty_name: ESL Grammar Error Patterns (45 patterns, 12 categories)
size_categories:
- n<1K
---

# ESL Grammar Error Patterns

Forty-five recurring grammar errors made by learners of English as a second language, each paired
with the incorrect form, the corrected form, and the underlying rule. Twelve categories. The
dataset is **qualitative** — it contains no measurements.

## Columns

| column | meaning |
| --- | --- |
| `error_id` | stable identifier (G001…) |
| `category` | one of 12 error categories (article_misuse, preposition_errors, …) |
| `l1_language_family` | first-language family the pattern is most associated with |
| `error_pattern` | short description of the error |
| `incorrect_example` | the erroneous sentence |
| `correct_example` | the corrected sentence |
| `rule_explanation` | the grammar rule that applies |
| `frequency_rank` | **editorial ordering only — see limitations** |

## How it was checked

Verified 2026-07-31 by inspection. Because the file is qualitative there is nothing to recompute;
what was checked instead is that a sample across categories reads correctly against standard
English usage — article omission before singular count nouns, present perfect with *yet/already*,
past participle after auxiliary *have*, gerund-taking vs infinitive-taking verbs. Those corrections
and rule explanations are sound.

## Limitations (read before citing)

- **`frequency_rank` is an editorial ordering, not a measured corpus frequency.** No corpus study
  is cited and none was performed. Do not present it as data about how often learners actually make
  these errors, and do not quote it as a number.
- **One prescriptive caveat, recorded rather than smoothed over:** row `G021` marking *"Did you eat
  yet?"* incorrect in favour of *"Have you eaten yet?"* follows the traditional prescriptive rule
  and is defensible ESL pedagogy, but the simple past is standard in American English. Treat that
  row as style guidance, not an error.
- `l1_language_family` indicates the family a pattern is *most associated with*, not that speakers
  of other families never make it.

## Provenance

Compiled as an ESL teaching reference and verified by inspection 2026-07-31. The error/correction
pairs and rule explanations are the usable content. This grammar-correction reference is maintained
alongside the writing tool at [belikenative.com](https://belikenative.com).

## Licence

Released under CC-BY-4.0. Attribution appreciated.