IELTS Grammar Mistakes Russian and Kazakh Speakers Make
The most common IELTS grammar mistakes for Russian and Kazakh speakers are missing or extra articles, wrong prepositions, wrong tense choice and word order copied from the first language. These errors feel natural because they come from how your own language works, but you can fix them one pattern at a time. Grammar is one of four equal criteria in both Writing and Speaking, so cutting repeated errors helps, but no tip can guarantee a band.
Why these mistakes matter
The criterion is called Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Range means you use a mix of simple and complex sentences. Accuracy means how often your errors appear and whether they make your meaning hard to follow.
A mistake that you repeat ten times in one essay is more noticeable than one slip. That is why it is worth finding your own repeated errors first.
Russian and Kazakh have no articles. Russian uses case endings and Kazakh uses suffixes where English uses small words such as on, of and to. Word order in your languages is also different. So the ten mistakes below are very common patterns, not signs of a weak learner.
Articles (mistakes 1 and 2)
1. Missing a or an before a singular noun
A singular countable noun usually needs a, an or the.
Wrong: The internet is useful tool for students.
Right: The internet is a useful tool for students.
2. Using the for general ideas
Use no article for plural or uncountable nouns when you speak in general.
Wrong: The people need the money to buy the food.
Right: People need money to buy food.
Use the only when the listener or reader knows exactly which one: the money that she saved.
Prepositions and noun forms (mistakes 3, 4 and 5)
3. Wrong preposition after a verb or adjective
Translating word by word often gives the wrong preposition. Learn the verb or adjective together with its preposition.
Wrong: Success depends from hard work, and I am good in maths.
Right: Success depends on hard work, and I am good at maths.
4. Adding a preposition that English does not need
Some English verbs take a direct object with no preposition.
Wrong: Governments should discuss about this problem. Students enter to university at 17.
Right: Governments should discuss this problem. Students enter university at 17.
5. Treating uncountable nouns as countable
Words such as information, advice, research, knowledge and equipment have no plural form in standard English.
Wrong: Young people get many informations and advices online.
Right: Young people get a lot of information and advice online.
Verbs and tenses (mistakes 6, 7 and 8)
6. Using will after if
In a real condition, use the present simple after if and will in the main clause.
Wrong: If the government will build more parks, people will be healthier.
Right: If the government builds more parks, people will be healthier.
7. Present simple instead of present perfect
Russian often uses one present-tense form for something that started in the past and continues now. English needs the present perfect for this idea, especially with since and for.
Wrong: I live in Almaty since 2015.
Right: I have lived in Almaty since 2015.
Note that the past simple with for can be correct when the time is finished: I lived in Astana for two years (but I do not live there now). If you still live there, say I have lived in Astana for two years.
8. Leaving out be, it or there
In present-tense sentences, Russian often leaves out the verb to be. English always needs a verb, and often a subject such as it or there.
Wrong: My town very big. Is difficult to find a good job.
Right: My town is very big. It is difficult to find a good job.
Word order (mistakes 9 and 10)
9. Putting the adverb between the verb and object
In English, do not put words like very much between the verb and its object.
Wrong: I like very much sport. Always I walk to work.
Right: I like sport very much. I always walk to work.
Frequency adverbs (always, often, never) usually go before the main verb, but after am/is/are.
10. Question order inside a statement
After phrases such as I don't know or Can you tell me, use normal statement order, not question order.
Wrong: I am not sure what should the government do.
Right: I am not sure what the government should do.
This matters in Speaking Part 3 as well, where you answer abstract questions without preparation time.
Quick list: common mistakes and fixes
- no article before a singular noun: add a, an or the.
- the with general plurals: remove it (People need money).
- depend from, good in: learn depend on, good at.
- discuss about: remove about.
- informations, advices: use the singular form.
- will after if: use the present simple.
- present simple with since or for: use the present perfect when the situation continues now.
- missing is or it: check that every sentence has a verb.
- very much after the verb: move it to the end of the clause.
- question order in indirect questions: use subject, then verb.
How to find your own mistakes
Do not try to fix all ten at once. Take one Writing answer and read it three times. First check only articles. Then check only prepositions. Then check verbs.
Keep a small error log with the wrong sentence and the corrected one. After a few answers you will see which two or three mistakes are yours. Work on those first.
The same list helps in Speaking. Choose one pattern, such as have lived or depends on, and use it correctly in your next practice answer.
Practise it
Take your last Task 2 answer and underline every noun, preposition and tense you are unsure about. Correct them using the ten patterns above and write the corrected sentences in your error log. Then write a new paragraph and check it for your top three mistakes only.
Questions learners ask
Do grammar mistakes stop me getting band 7?
Grammar is one of four equal criteria, so frequent errors can limit your Grammatical Range and Accuracy score. Using a range of structures is also important, not only avoiding errors. No single mistake decides your band.
Which mistake should I fix first?
Fix the one you repeat most often in your own writing. For many Russian and Kazakh speakers this is articles, so start by checking every singular noun.
Do the same grammar rules matter in Speaking?
Yes. Grammatical Range and Accuracy is also a Speaking criterion with equal weight. Speaking is faster, so choose one or two patterns to practise until they feel automatic.