10 Common Grammar Mistakes CBSE Students Must Avoid Before Board Exams
Grammar forms the foundation of effective communication. In the CBSE English examination, even students with good ideas often lose marks because of avoidable grammatical errors. A strong command of grammar not only improves writing skills but also helps students perform better in comprehension, creative writing, and literature answers.
The good news is that most grammar mistakes are easy to correct with regular practice and careful attention. This guide discusses ten common errors that students should eliminate before appearing for their board examinations.
1. Subject-Verb Agreement
The verb must agree with the subject in number and person.
Incorrect: The list of books are on the table.
Correct: The list of books is on the table.
Always identify the main subject before choosing the correct verb.
2. Confusing Their, There and They're
- Their – shows possession.
- There – indicates a place.
- They're – short form of "They are".
Example: They're taking their bags over there.
3. Incorrect Tense Usage
Maintain consistency while writing. Avoid shifting unnecessarily from one tense to another.
Incorrect: She entered the room and starts crying.
Correct: She entered the room and started crying.
4. Misuse of Articles
Use a, an, and the correctly.
- A university
- An umbrella
- The Earth
Remember that articles depend on pronunciation rather than spelling.
5. Wrong Prepositions
Prepositions are commonly tested in board examinations.
Correct Usage:
- Interested in
- Good at
- Afraid of
- Responsible for
- Depend on
6. Sentence Fragments
Every sentence should have both a subject and a verb.
Incorrect: Because he was tired.
Correct: Because he was tired, he went to bed early.
7. Run-on Sentences
Do not join multiple independent ideas without proper punctuation or conjunctions.
Incorrect: I studied hard I scored well.
Correct: I studied hard, so I scored well.
8. Pronoun Errors
Pronouns should clearly refer to the correct noun.
Incorrect: When Rahul met Aman, he was nervous.
The sentence is unclear because "he" may refer to either Rahul or Aman.
Rewrite the sentence to remove ambiguity.
9. Incorrect Punctuation
Punctuation affects clarity.
Use commas, full stops, apostrophes, quotation marks, and colons correctly.
Incorrect: Lets eat Grandma.
Correct: Let's eat, Grandma.
10. Spelling Errors
Frequent spelling mistakes reduce the overall quality of your answers.
Some commonly misspelled words include:
- Accommodation
- Beginning
- Separate
- Necessary
- Environment
- Government
- Receive
- Successful
How to Improve Your Grammar
Improvement requires regular practice rather than memorisation.
- Read quality newspapers and books daily.
- Practice grammar exercises regularly.
- Write short essays every week.
- Review mistakes after every test.
- Learn one grammar topic at a time.
- Solve previous years' CBSE English papers.
Revision Checklist Before the Examination
- Check subject-verb agreement.
- Review punctuation carefully.
- Correct spelling mistakes.
- Ensure tense consistency.
- Use appropriate vocabulary.
- Read every answer once before submission.
Conclusion
Grammar is a skill that develops through continuous practice. Eliminating these common mistakes can significantly improve your writing and help you secure higher marks in the CBSE English examination.
Remember that every well-written answer reflects clear thinking, careful preparation, and attention to detail. Start practising today, and your confidence in English will continue to grow.