Spanish and English share thousands of words and many grammatical patterns. But the differences between the two languages cause specific, predictable errors that Spanish speakers repeatedly make in English.
These aren’t random mistakes. They follow patterns. Once you recognise the pattern, you can start to correct it.
This article covers the most common ones — with explanations and practical examples.
1. Forgetting “a” and “the” (The Article Problem)
Spanish uses articles similarly to English in some ways, but Spanish speakers often omit or add articles where English doesn’t expect them.
Common error: “She is doctor.” Correct: “She is a doctor.”
Common error: “The life is difficult sometimes.” Correct: “Life is difficult sometimes.”
Why it happens: In Spanish, articles follow specific gender and number rules. In English, articles are uncountable, countable, and specific in different ways that don’t directly match Spanish grammar.
How to fix it: Learn the three situations for “the”: specific things both speaker and listener know about (“Pass me the salt”), categories used in their entirety (“the sun”, “the moon”), and unique items. Use “a” for singular countable nouns in a general sense. Use no article for plurals and uncountable nouns in general (“Water is essential”, not “The water is essential” as a general statement).
2. Using Continuous (present and present perfect) Instead of Simple Present
English uses the simple present for habits and general truths. Spanish speakers often use a continuous form when a simple form is more natural.
Common error: “I am living in Melbourne since two years.” Correct: “I have been living in Melbourne for two years.” / “I’ve lived in Melbourne for two years.”
Common error: “He is always going to the gym in the mornings.” Correct: “He always goes to the gym in the mornings.”
Why it happens: The Spanish present tense (vivir, ir) covers situations that English splits between simple present and present perfect.
How to fix it: Use simple present for routines and facts. Use present perfect continuous (have been + -ing) for actions that started in the past and are still continuing. The clue is often the time phrase: “for two years,” “since last month.”
3. The False Friend Trap
Spanish and English share many words from Latin roots, but some words that look similar have completely different meanings. These are called false cognates or “false friends.”
| Spanish word | Common mistake | Actual meaning |
|---|---|---|
| embarazada | embarrassed | pregnant |
| sensible | sensible (reasonable) | sensitive |
| actual | real / true | current / present |
| éxito | exit | success |
| realizar | to realise | to carry out / to achieve |
| recordar | to record | to remember |
| librería | library | bookshop |
| compromiso | compromise | commitment / engagement |
Why it happens: Spanish and English share a huge Latin vocabulary. Many words look identical but diverged in meaning over centuries.
How to fix it: When you use a word that looks like Spanish, double-check its English meaning. The most dangerous ones are embarazada/embarrassed and sensible/sensitive, which come up in everyday conversation.
4. Ser vs Estar — Choosing the Wrong Form of “To Be”
Spanish has two verbs for “to be”: ser (permanent characteristics) and estar (temporary states). English has only “to be.” This creates errors in the opposite direction — Spanish speakers sometimes treat English “to be” as if the ser/estar distinction still applies.
This mostly appears in awkward or overly literal translations:
Common error: “The food is being very cold.” (treating a state as temporary and ongoing) Correct: “The food is very cold.” / “The food has gone cold.”
Why it happens: The ser/estar distinction influences how Spanish speakers think about states and actions, sometimes producing progressive forms where English doesn’t use them.
How to fix it: Use “is/are” (simple) for states. Reserve “is/are being” for temporary behaviour (“He’s being very rude today”), not physical states.
5. Subject Pronoun Omission
Spanish allows subject pronouns to be dropped because verb endings indicate the subject. English doesn’t.
Common error: “Is very important to practise every day.” Correct: “It is very important to practise every day.”
Common error: “Was a long meeting.” Correct: “It was a long meeting.”
Why it happens: Es muy importante and Fue una reunión larga work in Spanish without a subject. The English brain translates directly and omits “it.”
How to fix it: Every English sentence needs a subject. If there’s no clear person or thing as the subject, use “it.”
6. Prepositions: En, A, Por, Para vs In, On, At, For, By
Spanish and English prepositions don’t map to each other directly. The same Spanish preposition can require different English prepositions depending on context.
| Spanish | English — correct use |
|---|---|
| en la mañana | in the morning |
| en lunes | on Monday |
| en las 9 | at 9 o’clock |
| en casa | at home |
| casado con | married to (not married with) |
| depende de | depends on (not depends of) |
| diferente a/de | different from (in formal English) |
How to fix it: Prepositions are best learned in fixed phrases (at home, on Monday, in the morning) rather than through translation. Whenever you learn a new phrase, note the preposition that goes with it.
7. Overusing “Make” When “Do” Is Needed
Spanish uses hacer for both “make” and “do.” In English these are different words with different uses.
Common error: “I need to make my homework.” Correct: “I need to do my homework.”
Rule of thumb: Use make when you’re producing or creating something (make a cake, make a decision, make a noise). Use do for tasks, activities, and general actions (do your homework, do the shopping, do well).
| Use “make” | Use “do” |
|---|---|
| make a mistake | do a course |
| make a suggestion | do research |
| make progress | do the dishes |
| make an effort | do your best |
| make a phone call | do exercise |
The Bottom Line
Most English errors made by Spanish speakers follow predictable patterns rooted in how the two languages differ. Learning to recognise these patterns — articles, prepositions, false cognates, subject pronouns — is faster than treating every error as a separate problem.
Focus on one pattern at a time. Notice it in your own speaking and writing. Correct it deliberately. Over time, the new habit replaces the old one.