Common Grammatical Errors Made by Japanese: How to Avoid Them

English is a challenging language to master, even for native speakers. For non-native speakers, the complexity of the language can be overwhelming. This is especially true for native Japanese speakers, who often struggle with English grammar rules. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most common grammatical errors made by native Japanese speakers and provide tips on how to avoid them.

Subject-Verb Agreement

One of the most common grammatical errors made by native Japanese speakers is subject-verb agreement. Japanese has no concept of grammatical number, so it can be difficult to remember to change the verb form to match the subject in English.

For example, many Japanese speakers may say “She like apples” instead of “She likes apples.” To avoid this error, it’s important to practice using the correct verb form with different subjects.

×：The team is all wearing different uniforms.
○：The team members are all wearing different uniforms.

×：One of the reasons for the delay are the weather conditions.
○：One of the reasons for the delay is the weather conditions.

×： The news on TV are always bad.
○：The news on TV is always bad.

×：Each of the students have a different opinion.
○：Each of the students has a different opinion.

×：The number of people attending the event were fewer than expected.
○：The number of people attending the event was fewer than expected.

Articles

Another common error made by native Japanese speakers is the use of articles. Japanese does not have articles, so it can be difficult to remember to use “a” or “the” in English.

For example, a Japanese speaker may say “I want apple” instead of “I want an apple.” To avoid this error, it’s important to practice using articles in English and to pay attention to how they are used in context.

×：I’m going to library.
○：I’m going to the library.

×：He has a car and a bike. The car is red and bike is blue.
○：He has a car and a bike. The car is red and the bike is blue.

×：I want to eat apple.
○：I want to eat an apple.

×：I’m an engineer and I work for software company.
○：I’m an engineer and I work for a software company.

×：She is going to university to become doctor.
○：She is going to the university to become a doctor.

Prepositions

Native Japanese speakers also commonly struggle with prepositions. Japanese has no prepositions, so it can be difficult to remember to use the correct preposition in English.

For example, a Japanese speaker may say “I go to school by walk“ instead of “I go to school on foot.” To avoid this error, it’s important to practice using prepositions in context and to memorize common prepositional phrases.

×：He is studying in the university.
○：He is studying at the university.

×：I will meet you on the weekend.
○：I will meet you at the weekend.

×：She’s been working here since two months.
○：She’s been working here for two months.

×：He’s interested with photography.
○：He’s interested in photography.

×：’m looking forward to meet you.
○：I’m looking forward to meeting you.

Verb Tenses

Verb tenses can also be a challenge for native Japanese speakers. Japanese does not have a separate tense for the past, present, and future, so it can be difficult to remember to use the correct tense in English.

For example, a Japanese speaker may say “Yesterday I go to the store” instead of “Yesterday I went to the store.” To avoid this error, it’s important to practice using different verb tenses in context and to pay attention to how they are used in English.

×：I already ate breakfast before I come to work.
○： I already ate breakfast before I came to work.

×：I have seen that movie yesterday.
○：I saw that movie yesterday.

×：He was living in New York for three years.
○：He had been living in New York for three years.

×：I will have finished my project by tomorrow.
○：I will have finished my project by tomorrow.

×：I have been knowing him since high school.
○：I have known him since high school.

Modal Verbs

Native Japanese speakers may also struggle with modal verbs, such as “can,” “should,” and “would.” Japanese does not have modal verbs in the same way that English does, so it can be difficult to remember how to use them correctly.

For example, a Japanese speaker may say “I must to go home” instead of “I must go home.” To avoid this error, it’s important to practice using modal verbs in context and to pay attention to how they are used in English.

×：I must to finish my homework before I can go out.
○：I must finish my homework before I can go out.

×：Can you please may close the window?
○：Can you please close the window?

×：I should to study harder if I want to pass the exam.
○：I should study harder if I want to pass the exam.

×：She can to speak three languages fluently.
○：She can speak three languages fluently.

×：He would of gone to the party if he wasn’t busy.
○：He would have gone to the party if he wasn’t busy.

English grammar can be challenging, even for native speakers. For non-native speakers, the complexity of the language can be overwhelming. Native Japanese speakers often struggle with English grammar rules, but with practice and attention to detail, it is possible to overcome these challenges. By avoiding these common grammatical errors, Japanese speakers can communicate more effectively in English and feel more confident in their language skills.