Common English mistakes that Polish speakers make
English isn’t like Polish – it will feel strange at first to learn, understand and speak English. There are some big differences between the two languages after all!
For example, the grammar and word order in English is stricter than in Polish, causing confusion
for Polish speakers.
Let’s go through some common mistakes Polish speakers make and how to fix them.
Present Simple vs Present Continuous vs Present Perfect
There are different versions of the present tense in English that work in different ways. Polish speakers often confuse either the present simple with the present perfect OR the present simple with the present continuous.
Don’t say, in the present simple:
● ❌ I know him for 5 years. [trans. Znam go pięć lat.]
Instead, say:
● ✅ I have known him for 5 years.
In English, we use the present perfect (have + past participle, have + known) to describe states that started in the past but are continuing in the present.
The third version of the present tense in the English language is the present continuous. The difference between the present simple and the present continuous is how you talk about an action: when did the action take place? Do you do this all the time?
As an example, the present simple is used to describe things you do regularly:
● ✅ I play football every Tuesday.
Polish people might say:
● ❌ I’m playing football every Tuesday. [trans. Gram w piłkę co wtorek.]
The present continuous is mostly used to show how you were interrupted while doing something
else. For example:
● I was running towards a goal when my opponent tackled me.
Double Negatives
● ❌ I don’t know no one here. [trans. Nikogo tu nie znam.]
● ✅ I don’t know anyone here.
Don’t try to translate anyone/anything/anywhere into Polish – there is no exact equivalent of these words in this context.
Problem with long vowels
This is most noticeable in the pronunciation of “e” and “i”-type sounds. There’s a trick to the different vowel pronunciations – Here’s the trick to the different “e” and “i” sounds, which explain in this video below.
Articles
● ❌ Do you have the cat? [trans. Czy masz kota?]
So, the correct way to ask if someone has a cat in English is:
– Plurals: I like books.
– Most countries: I live in Germany. I study in Japan.
– Subjects you learn in school: I study history. I’m very good at science.
Prepositions
To native English speakers, it sounds very old-fashioned or very formal to ask:
● ❌ At what are you looking?(trans. Na co patrzysz?)
● ❌With whom were you talking when I saw you? (trans. Z kim rozmawiałeś kiedy Cię widziałam?)
● ✅ What are you looking at?
● ✅ Who were you talking with when I saw you?
Final thoughts
With practice, you will be confident when you speak English. At Speak Up London, our teachers understand the challenges of learning English and are here to help you improve.
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As an American who’s lived in London for a few years now, I really appreciated this breakdown. The subtle differences in vocabulary, like “boot” for “trunk,” still trip me up sometimes. Your point about the pacing and rhythm of the speech is spot-on—it’s something you don’t fully grasp until you’re immersed in it.
As someone who learned American English but now works with a UK-based team, this was a helpful read. I’m still getting used to saying ‘lift’ instead of ‘elevator’ in meetings! The point about different vocabulary leading to genuine confusion is so true.
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As an American who lived in London for a year, I really appreciated this breakdown. The subtle differences in vocabulary, like “boot” for “trunk,” were the most surprising and often led to funny misunderstandings. It’s fascinating how two versions of the same language can evolve such distinct flavours.
As an American who’s lived in London for a few years, I really appreciated this breakdown. The point about collective nouns often taking a plural verb in British English (e.g., “the team are playing”) was something that confused me at first, but now it feels perfectly natural. It’s these subtle grammatical differences, beyond just vocabulary, that are so interesting.