You've mastered the Kana and started your first textbook, but the grammar is already throwing curveballs! As a Japanese tutor, I see the same fundamental errors pop up repeatedly. These mistakes often stem from trying to apply English logic to Japanese syntax. Here are five key linguistic mistakes beginners make, and how to fix them to build a solid foundation. 1. The Location Trap: Confusing に and で This is the most common particle mix-up for beginners. The Mistake:  Using t