English is a widely spoken language in Singapore, yet many students struggle with grammar due to the unique blend of languages in the country’s linguistic landscape. Mistakes in grammar can affect writing clarity, comprehension, and even oral communication skills, which are crucial for academic and professional success. Enrolling in English tuition in Singapore can be a game-changer for students seeking to overcome these challenges.
Mistake #1: Subject-Verb Agreement Errors
One of the most common grammar mistakes among Singaporean students is subject-verb agreement. This occurs when the verb form does not match the subject in number or person.
Common Errors:
- She go to school every day. (Incorrect)
- She goes to school every day. (Correct)
- The group of students are excited for the trip. (Incorrect)
- The group of students is excited for the trip. (Correct)
How Tuition Helps:
English tutors reinforce proper grammar through structured exercises, breaking down sentence structures and providing real-life examples. Tutors also help students understand tricky subjects like collective nouns, ensuring that phrases like “a team of players” are treated as singular rather than plural.
Mistake #2: Misuse of Prepositions
Prepositions such as in, on, at, to, and for can be confusing for students, leading to errors in both written and spoken English.
Common Errors:
- I am interested on science. (Incorrect)
- I am interested in science. (Correct)
- She is good in mathematics. (Incorrect)
- She is good at mathematics. (Correct)
How Tuition Helps:
Through practice and correction, tuition centres guide students in mastering prepositions by using memory aids, sentence construction drills, and exposure to commonly misused phrases in Singaporean English.
Mistake #3: Confusion Between Countable and Uncountable Nouns
Singaporean students often mix up countable and uncountable nouns, leading to incorrect use of quantifiers like much, many, fewer, and less.
Common Errors:
- There are less students in class today. (Incorrect)
- There are fewer students in class today. (Correct)
- I have many luggages. (Incorrect)
- I have a lot of luggage. (Correct)
How Tuition Helps:
English tutors break down the difference between countable and uncountable nouns through categorisation exercises and quizzes. This also helps students refine their academic writing, an essential component of excelling in PSLE and O-Level exams.
Mistake #4: Wrong Use of Tenses
Tense errors are common in both written and spoken English, especially when students mix past, present, and future tenses in the same sentence.
Common Errors:
- Yesterday, I go to the library. (Incorrect)
- Yesterday, I went to the library. (Correct)
- By next year, she finished her degree. (Incorrect)
- By next year, she will have finished her degree. (Correct)
How Tuition Helps:
English tutors use structured timelines and practice drills to reinforce tense consistency. Students gain confidence in using the correct tense for different contexts, ensuring clarity in communication.
Mistake #5: Incorrect Word Order in Questions
Many students struggle with forming grammatically correct questions. They may mix up auxiliary verbs or forget to invert the sentence structure.
Common Errors:
- You are going where? (Incorrect)
- Where are you going? (Correct)
- She can play the piano? (Incorrect)
- Can she play the piano? (Correct)
How Tuition Helps:
English tutors provide structured lessons on forming questions correctly, using examples from past exams to prepare students for oral and written assessments. This is particularly helpful for students preparing for their oral examinations.
Mistake #6: Confusion Between “Your” and “You’re”
Homophones like your and you’re cause confusion among students, leading to writing errors.
Common Errors:
- Your very smart. (Incorrect)
- You’re very smart. (Correct)
- I like you’re idea. (Incorrect)
- I like your idea. (Correct)
How Tuition Helps:
Tutors use sentence structure analysis and proofreading exercises to help students differentiate between contractions (you’re = you are) and possessive pronouns (your).
Mistake #7: Overuse of Singlish in Writing
While Singlish is a defining aspect of Singaporean culture, its influence on formal writing often leads to grammatical mistakes.
Common Errors:
- I go school already. (Incorrect)
- I have already gone to school. (Correct)
- Can help me do this, lah? (Incorrect)
- Can you help me do this? (Correct)
How Tuition Helps:
Tuition programmes teach students how to distinguish between informal spoken English and the correct structures used in academic writing. Tutors also encourage self-correction strategies to improve fluency.
Why Grammar Mastery Matters
Good grammar is not just about passing exams—it impacts overall communication skills, essay writing, and even job opportunities in the future. Many students preparing for PSLE and O-Level English exams find that tuition helps reinforce their grammar foundation, making them more confident in their academic pursuits.
Conclusion
Grammar mistakes are common among Singaporean students, but they are entirely fixable with consistent learning and practice. Tuition for English plays a crucial role in addressing these errors through structured lessons, real-world examples, and continuous feedback. By working with an experienced tutor, students can overcome these challenges and gain a stronger command of the English language, preparing them for academic success and beyond.
