Learning English as a Spanish speaker comes with unique challenges, especially grammar.

While Spanish and English share some similarities due to their Latin and Germanic roots, key differences in sentence structure, verb usage, and pronouns often lead to common mistakes.

Understanding these differences and practicing the right techniques can help Spanish speakers improve their English fluency.

Subject Pronouns

One of the first challenges Spanish speakers face when learning English is the proper use of subject pronouns. In Spanish, subject pronouns (yo, tú, él, ella, nosotros) are often omitted because the verb conjugation already indicates the subject.

However, in English, subject pronouns are always required in sentences. For example, in Spanish, you might say “Voy al trabajo,” but in English, you must say, “I go to work.” Omitting “I” would make the sentence incomplete.

To develop this habit, practice forming full sentences with subject pronouns, even when speaking casually.

A great way to reinforce this is by reading and listening to native English content, such as news articles or podcasts, and paying attention to sentence structure.

Adjective Placement

Another significant difference between Spanish and English grammar is adjective placement. In Spanish, adjectives usually come after the noun, whereas in English, they come before it.

For example, “Un coche rojo” in Spanish translates to “A red car” in English. This reversal can cause errors in speaking and writing.

One way to practice correct adjective placement is to describe everyday objects in English. Try looking around your home and forming sentences such as “a big table,” “a comfortable chair,” or “a bright lamp.” The more you practice, the more natural it will become.

Avoiding Double Negatives

Spanish allows double negatives for emphasis, such as “No tengo nada.” However, in English, using two negatives cancels out the meaning.

If you say, “I don’t have nothing,” the sentence logically means you do have something. The correct way to express this idea in English would be, “I don’t have anything.”

To break this habit, try replacing “nothing” with “anything” in negative sentences. Reading English books and paying attention to how negative expressions are used can also help reinforce this rule.

Differentiating Between “Make” and “Do”

In Spanish, the verb “hacer” is commonly used for both “make” and “do,” but in English, they have distinct meanings. “Make” is used when creating or producing something, such as “I make coffee,” whereas “do” is used for actions, tasks, or work, such as “I do my homework.”

A helpful way to master this distinction is to memorize common expressions. For example, we say “make a mistake” and “make a decision” but “do the laundry” and “do your best.” Practicing these phrases regularly will help reinforce their correct usage.

Conquering False Cognates (False Friends)

False cognates are words that look similar in both languages but have different meanings. Some of the most confusing include “embarrassed” (which does not mean “embarazada,” but rather “ashamed”), “actually” (which means “in fact,” not “actualmente”), and “library” (which means “biblioteca,” not “librería”). Memorizing these words will prevent misunderstandings in conversations.

One effective method to learn them is by creating flashcards with the English word on one side and its correct meaning on the other. Regular practice with these flashcards can significantly improve vocabulary retention.

Learning the Correct Prepositions

Prepositions are another common source of mistakes. In Spanish, certain prepositions do not translate directly into English, leading to errors such as “married with someone” instead of “married to someone.”

Similarly, many Spanish speakers mistakenly say “listen to music” instead of “listen to music.”

The best way to learn prepositions is through exposure. Reading books, watching English TV shows, and listening to native speakers will help develop an intuitive understanding of their correct usage.

Additionally, practicing writing sentences using the correct prepositions can be beneficial.

Using the Correct Verb Tenses

English has more verb tenses than Spanish, making it challenging to use them correctly. One of the most common mistakes is using the present simple instead of the present continuous.

For example, “I go to school now” should be “I am going to school now.” Another frequent mistake is mixing up past simple and present perfect, such as saying “I have gone to the store yesterday” instead of “I went to the store yesterday.”

To improve verb tense usage, keep a journal and write about daily activities, ensuring that different tenses are correctly applied.

Practicing with an English Tutor can also help refine tense usage through guided exercises.

Speaking with Proper Word Order

Word order in English follows a strict structure: Subject + Verb + Object. Unlike Spanish, where sentence structure can be more flexible, English requires a specific order to make sense.

Saying “To the store I went” instead of “I went to the store” sounds unnatural to native speakers.

To internalize this rule, practice rewriting Spanish sentences into English and checking for proper structure.

Reading well-written English material and observing sentence patterns can also help reinforce correct word order.

Conclusion

Taking structured lessons is one of the fastest ways to correct grammar mistakes. Finding English classes near me can provide interactive learning opportunities with native speakers and professional tutors who specialize in helping Spanish speakers transition smoothly to English.

In addition to formal lessons, using language learning apps, watching English TV shows with subtitles, and engaging in English conversation groups can significantly enhance grammar retention and overall fluency.

One of the best ways to improve fluency is by integrating English into daily life. If possible, try communicating in English at work, even if it’s just simple phrases.

Watching English news channels, movies, or even YouTube videos can help reinforce listening skills. Joining English-speaking conversation groups or finding language exchange partners can also be incredibly effective.