Introduction — Введение
After years of teaching English to Russian speakers in Barcelona and beyond, I have seen the same mistakes come up again and again. The good news: most of them have simple, logical explanations.
После многих лет преподавания английского русскоязычным студентам в Барселоне и за её пределами, я вижу одни и те же ошибки снова и снова. Хорошая новость: у большинства из них есть простые, логичные объяснения.
1. Missing Articles — Пропуск артиклей
Russian has no articles. English has three: a, an, the. This is one of the hardest things for Russian speakers to master.
В русском языке нет артиклей. В английском их три: a, an, the. Это одна из самых сложных вещей для русскоязычных.
Wrong: I have dog. She is good dog. Right: I have a dog. She is a good dog.
Quick rule: Use a/an for something mentioned for the first time or non-specific. Use the for something already mentioned or specific.
2. He/She Confusion — Путаница с he/she
In Russian, gendered pronouns follow the noun's grammatical gender, not biology. In English, he = male person, she = female person — always.
В русском языке род местоимений следует грамматическому роду существительного. В английском he = мужчина, she = женщина — всегда.
Wrong: My mother called. He said dinner is ready. Right: My mother called. She said dinner is ready.
3. Wrong Word Order in Questions — Неправильный порядок слов
Russian questions often use intonation rather than word order. English requires inversion.
Русские вопросы часто используют интонацию, а не порядок слов. В английском требуется инверсия.
Wrong: You are coming tomorrow? Right: Are you coming tomorrow?
Wrong: Where you are going? Right: Where are you going?
4. Present Simple Instead of Present Continuous — Путаница времён
Because Russian has one present tense, the distinction feels unnecessary.
Wrong: I read a book right now. Right: I am reading a book right now.
5. Overusing "Will" for Future — Избыточное использование will
Russian speakers often default to will for all future situations. English has several future forms.
Wrong: I will meet my friend tonight. (planned arrangement) Right: I am meeting my friend tonight.
Wrong: Look at those clouds. It will rain. Right: Look at those clouds. It is going to rain.
6. "Make" vs "Do" — Путаница make и do
Russian uses one verb (делать) for both. English splits them into two.
| Make | Do | |------|----| | make a mistake | do homework | | make a decision | do the dishes | | make money | do exercise |
Wrong: I did a mistake. Right: I made a mistake.
7. "Say" vs "Tell" — Путаница say и tell
Both translate as говорить/сказать in Russian.
Say — focus on the words spoken (no object needed) Tell — focus on the person receiving the information (object required)
Wrong: She said me the truth. Right: She told me the truth.
Wrong: He told that he was tired. Right: He said that he was tired.
8. Double Negatives — Двойное отрицание
Double negatives are correct in Russian. In English they cancel each other out.
Wrong: I don't know nothing. Right: I don't know anything. / I know nothing.
9. "Borrow" vs "Lend" — Путаница borrow и lend
Russian uses одолжить for both directions. English has two separate verbs.
Borrow — you take something from someone Lend — you give something to someone
Wrong: Can you borrow me your pen? Right: Can you lend me your pen? / Can I borrow your pen?
10. Literal Translation of Russian Phrases — Дословный перевод
| Russian (literal) | Wrong English | Right English | |-------------------|---------------|---------------| | Как тебя зовут? | How do they call you? | What is your name? | | Мне 25 лет | I have 25 years | I am 25 years old | | На улице холодно | Outside is cold | It is cold outside |
The Pattern Behind the Mistakes
Most of these errors come from the same place: translating Russian grammar rules into English. The solution is not to memorise exceptions — it is to understand why English works differently.
Большинство этих ошибок имеют одну причину: перенос русских грамматических правил в английский. Решение — не заучивать исключения, а понять, почему английский работает иначе.
That is exactly what EnglishSpark is built to do.
Practice With EnglishSpark
Every mistake in this list is covered in our A1 to B1 courses — with bilingual explanations, interactive exercises and instant feedback. Unit 1 of every level is completely free.
Каждая ошибка из этого списка рассматривается в наших курсах A1–B1. Юнит 1 каждого уровня бесплатно.