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Common English mistakes Polish speakers make, and how to fix them

If your first language is Polish, your English mistakes follow Polish grammar and sounds — no articles, one verb for borrow and lend, and a set of false friends that look safe. Transfer, not carelessness, and each one has a clear fix.

The big ones. 1) Missing articles — the biggest: "I am doctor", "I bought car" → "a doctor", "a car". 2) "I have 30 years" (mam 30 lat) → "I'm 30". 3) "I am interesting in" → "I'm interested in" (interesting describes the thing, interested the person); same for boring/bored. 4) Borrow vs lend (pożyczyć covers both): you borrow from someone; they lend to you. 5) "On the picture", "at Monday" → "in the picture", "on Monday". 6) Present for present perfect: "I know him since school" → "I've known him since school". 7) "Learn" for "teach" (uczyć): "he learned me" → "he taught me"; "make homework" → "do homework". 8) False friends: "actually" (aktualnie = currently), "eventually" (ewentualnie = possibly), "sympathetic" (sympatyczny = nice), "pension" (pensja = salary), "chef" (szef = boss), "ordinary" (ordynarny = vulgar), "receipt" (recepta = prescription), "hazard" (= gambling). 9) Questions without inversion and double negatives: "You like it?" → "Do you like it?"; "I didn't see nobody" → "anybody". 10) Sounds: "th" as /f/, /t/, /d/ or /s/ ("fink", "dis"), final devoicing ("bag" → "back"), and "bad" vs "bed" — open wider for "bad".

A list won't fix these; making them out loud and being corrected in the moment will. Airi is built for that: she hears the pattern, fixes the one mistake that matters in her reply, and keeps the conversation going. Speak with her daily and these stop being habits within a few weeks. Free to start, no card.

A quick example with Airi

I have 29 years, I am very interesting in IT and my friend borrowed me his laptop.
Three Polish-to-English classics! Try: "I'm 29, I'm very interested in IT, and my friend lent me his laptop."
I'm 29, I'm very interested in IT, and my friend lent me his laptop.
Perfect. Now: 'I bought ___ car' — which word goes in the gap?

How to get the most from it

Every singular noun needs a/an/the

A doctor, the car, an idea — say it every time until it's automatic.

Interested (you) vs interesting (it)

I'm interested. The film is interesting.

Borrow from, lend to

I borrowed his laptop. He lent me his laptop.

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Frequently asked questions

Why are articles so hard for Polish speakers?
Polish has none, so the category doesn't exist in your grammar. Daily out-loud practice with correction is what makes them automatic.
Is 'actually' a false friend?
Yes — 'aktualnie' means currently; English 'actually' means 'in fact'. Same trap with 'eventually'. Airi flags them.
Is Airi available in Poland?
Yes — it works worldwide on phone or laptop. Free to start with 300 credits, no card.

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