Top Mistakes Spanish Learners Make

Level: B1 (review for all levels). These five errors persist well past the beginner stage. Each has a clear rule and a lesson that drills it, so you can stop second-guessing them.

By the end of this page you can…

…recognise the five most common Spanish errors, understand why they happen, and apply a one-line fix to each.

1. ser vs estar

Spanish has two verbs for “to be”. Ser gives identity and permanent traits; estar gives states, feelings and location.

• Es aburrido = “He is boring” (a trait, ser). Está aburrido = “He is bored” (a passing state, estar).
• Soy profesor (I’m a teacher, identity) vs Estoy cansado (I’m tired, state).

2. Forgetting gender and number agreement

Articles and adjectives must match the noun in both gender and number. English has none of this, so learners drop it.

• ❌ la problema blanco → ✅ el problema (problema is masculine) and adjectives agree: la casa blanca, los coches rojos.
• Change every word in the phrase together: un libro nuevo → unos libros nuevos.

See noun gender and definite articles.

3. “There is” — hay, not es or está

To introduce something’s existence, Spanish uses hay (from haber), the same word for singular and plural. Use está/están only for where a specific, known thing is.

• ❌ Es un problema for “There is a problem” → ✅ Hay un problema.
• ✅ El libro está en la mesa = “The book is on the table” — a known thing’s location takes estar.

4. por vs para

Both can translate as “for”, which hides two different ideas. Por points to a cause, a means or an exchange; para points to a goal, a recipient or a deadline.

• Gracias por la ayuda (thanks for the help — cause). Este regalo es para ti (this gift is for you — recipient).
• Estudio para el examen (I study for the exam — goal) vs Viajo por trabajo (I travel because of work).

5. Using estar for states that take tener

Many English “be” phrases are “have” phrases in Spanish. Age, hunger, thirst, fear and heat use tener.

• ❌ Estoy hambre / Soy 20 años → ✅ Tengo hambre (I’m hungry), Tengo veinte años (I’m twenty).
• Also: tengo sed (I’m thirsty), tengo frío (I’m cold), tengo miedo (I’m afraid).

How to say it

A few sounds trip up English speakers in these words:

A few fixed sentences to copy

1. Soy profesor.
   I am a teacher.
   identity → ser
2. Estoy cansado.
   I am tired.
   state → estar
3. Hay un problema.
   There is a problem.
   existence → hay
4. El libro está en la mesa.
   The book is on the table.
   location → estar
5. La casa blanca es grande.
   The white house is big.
   gender agreement
6. Gracias por la ayuda.
   Thanks for the help.
   por = cause
7. Este regalo es para ti.
   This gift is for you.
   para = recipient
8. Tengo veinte años.
   I am twenty years old.
   age → tener

Practice

Practice

Fixing common mistakes

Try each one, then press Check. No sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere — it all runs in your browser.

1 Choose 'I am tired.'

Soy cansado Estoy cansado Tengo cansado Hay cansado

Check

Show answer

Estoy cansado — A passing state takes estar: estoy cansado.

2 Complete: ____ un problema. (There is a problem.)

Check

Hint: the existence word from haber

Show answer

Hay — Existence uses hay, not es or está.

3 Match each phrase with the right verb.

• identity (teacher) Match for identity (teacher) — choose — estarhaysertener
• a mood (tired) Match for a mood (tired) — choose — estarhaysertener
• there is a car Match for there is a car — choose — estarhaysertener
• I'm hungry Match for I'm hungry — choose — estarhaysertener

Check

Show answer

• identity (teacher) → ser
• a mood (tired) → estar
• there is a car → hay
• I'm hungry → tener

ser = identity, estar = state/location, hay = existence, tener = hunger/age/cold.

4 Which is correct for 'This gift is for you'?

Este regalo es por ti Este regalo es para ti Este regalo está para ti Este regalo hay para ti

Check

Show answer

Este regalo es para ti — A recipient or goal takes para: para ti.

Quiz

Check yourself

Common Spanish mistakes quiz

9 questions · pick an answer and you'll see straight away if it's right.

0/9 0 answered

1. 1'He is bored' (a passing state) is…

   A Es aburrido B Está aburrido C Tiene aburrido D Hay aburrido
   Show answer

   Está aburrido — A state takes estar; es aburrido means 'he is boring' (a trait).

2. 2Which verb gives identity and permanent traits?

   A estar B ser C haber D tener
   Show answer

   ser — Ser is for identity, origin and essence; estar is for states and location.

3. 3'There is a problem' is…

   A Es un problema B Está un problema C Hay un problema D Son un problema
   Show answer

   Hay un problema — Existence uses the invariable hay.

4. 4Does hay change for plural?

   A Yes, it becomes hayn B Yes, it becomes han C No, hay is invariable D Only in Spain
   Show answer

   No, hay is invariable — Hay stays the same: hay un coche, hay muchos coches.

5. 5'The white house' is…

   A la casa blanco B el casa blanca C la casa blanca D las casa blancas
   Show answer

   la casa blanca — casa is feminine singular, so both article and adjective are feminine: la casa blanca.

6. 6'Thanks for the help' (cause) uses…

   A para B por C de D en
   Show answer

   por — A cause or reason takes por: gracias por la ayuda.

7. 7'I study for the exam' (goal) uses…

   A por B para C de D a
   Show answer

   para — A goal or purpose takes para: estudio para el examen.

8. 8'I am twenty years old' is…

   A Soy veinte años B Estoy veinte años C Tengo veinte años D Hay veinte años
   Show answer

   Tengo veinte años — Age uses tener: tengo veinte años.

9. 9'I'm hungry' is…

   A Estoy hambre B Soy hambre C Tengo hambre D Hay hambre
   Show answer

   Tengo hambre — Hunger uses tener: tengo hambre.

Next

• The biggest fix first: ser vs estar
• Existence: hay (there is / there are)
• Agreement basics: noun gender and definite articles
• Back to Start Learning Spanish Here