Do you make mistakes while using verb tenses in English? You’re not alone. Many learners have trouble with past, present, and future forms. In this blog post, you will learn about common verb tense errors, why they happen, and how to correct them in simple steps.
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What are Verb Tense Errors?
Verb tense errors happen when the wrong tense (past, present, future) is used in a sentence. These mistakes make your sentence confusing or unclear.
- He go to school yesterday. ❌
- He went to school yesterday. ✅
Important Note: Verb tense must match the time of the action.
Common Verb Tense Errors
| Wrong Sentence | Correct Sentence | Error Type |
|---|---|---|
| She eat lunch now. | She is eating lunch now. | Present continuous |
| I am went to market. | I went to market. | Past tense confusion |
| He was play football. | He was playing football. | Past continuous |
| They will came tomorrow. | They will come tomorrow. | Future tense mix |
| I have saw the movie. | I have seen the movie. | Present perfect wrong |
Tense Error Chart
| Tense Name | Right Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present Simple | Everyday actions | I play football. |
| Present Continuous | Happening now | I am eating dinner. |
| Past Simple | Finished past action | She went to school. |
| Past Continuous | Past action in progress | They were studying. |
| Present Perfect | Action with present link | He has finished work. |
| Future Simple | Action in future | I will go tomorrow. |
Common Mistakes with the Use of Verb Tenses
Verb tenses tell us when an action happens — in the past, present, or future. But many English learners make mistakes with verb tenses. Here are explanations for these mistakes with corrections.
1. Using Present Instead of Past
Mistake:
Yesterday, I go to the market.
Correct:
Yesterday, I went to the market.
✅ Tip: Use past tense for actions that are finished.
2. Using Past Instead of Present
Mistake:
I watched TV every day.
Correct:
I watch TV every day.
✅ Tip: Use present simple for daily routines or habits.
3. Mixing Tenses in One Sentence
Mistake:
She was cooking and eats at the same time.
Correct:
She was cooking and eating at the same time.
✅ Tip: Keep same tense for same time actions.
4. Forgetting Helping Verbs
Mistake:
He not playing now.
Correct:
He is not playing now.
✅ Tip: Use is/are/am with present continuous tense.
5. Wrong Future Tense Use
Mistake:
I will going to school tomorrow.
Correct:
I will go to school tomorrow.
✅ Tip: Don’t use “will” + verb+ing together.
6. Using Present Perfect Instead of Past Simple
Mistake:
I have seen him yesterday.
Correct:
I saw him yesterday.
✅ Tip: Use past simple with specific time like “yesterday.”
Why These Errors Happen?
Here are some simple reasons learners make these mistakes:
-
Mixing tenses in one sentence
I was go to school. ❌
I was going to school. ✅ -
Translating from mother tongue
He go yesterday. ❌
He went yesterday. ✅ -
Forgetting time clue words (yesterday, now, tomorrow)
She is eat now. ❌
She is eating now. ✅
Tenses Used in Different Contexts
1. Talking about Daily Routines
I wake up at 6 AM. (Present simple)
2. Talking about Ongoing Action
He is watching TV. (Present continuous)
3. Describing Past Events
They visited the zoo yesterday. (Past simple)
4. Describing Experiences
She has been to Dubai. (Present perfect)
5. Talking about Future Plans
We will meet next week. (Future simple)
How to Fix Verb Tense Mistakes
Follow these tips:
- Think about time (past, present, future)
- Use time words to guide tense
- Practice common tense forms
- Check verb forms in a list or dictionary
Use “go” in present
Use “went” in past
Use “will go” in future
Verb Tense Error Examples
-
❌ She eat lunch now.
✅ She is eating lunch now. -
❌ I am went to school.
✅ I went to school. -
❌ He was play football.
✅ He was playing football. -
❌ They will came tomorrow.
✅ They will come tomorrow. -
❌ We has finished our work.
✅ We have finished our work. -
❌ She is go to market.
✅ She is going to market. -
❌ He have eaten breakfast.
✅ He has eaten breakfast. -
❌ I was seen the movie.
✅ I saw the movie. -
❌ They was playing cricket.
✅ They were playing cricket. -
❌ She will goes to school.
✅ She will go to school. -
❌ I had saw that man before.
✅ I had seen that man before. -
❌ He go to work every day.
✅ He goes to work every day. -
❌ We are went shopping.
✅ We went shopping. -
❌ He cooking dinner now.
✅ He is cooking dinner now. -
❌ They has been playing since morning.
✅ They have been playing since morning. -
❌ She don’t like tea.
✅ She doesn’t like tea. -
❌ He were sick last night.
✅ He was sick last night. -
❌ I am hear the music.
✅ I am hearing the music. -
❌ He will eating pizza later.
✅ He will eat pizza later. -
❌ They goes to school yesterday.
✅ They went to school yesterday. -
❌ We playing football now.
✅ We are playing football now. -
❌ I have finish my work.
✅ I have finished my work. -
❌ She is danced on stage.
✅ She danced on stage. -
❌ He will be comes later.
✅ He will come later. -
❌ The sun rise in the east.
✅ The sun rises in the east. -
❌ They are know the answer.
✅ They know the answer. -
❌ I was study English last night.
✅ I was studying English last night. -
❌ She have go to college.
✅ She has gone to college. -
❌ We will gone there tomorrow.
✅ We will go there tomorrow. -
❌ You was right.
✅ You were right.
FAQs About Verb Tense Errors
Q1: How do I know which tense to use?
A: Look at the time words in your sentence (like “now,” “yesterday,” “tomorrow”).
Q2: What’s the most common verb tense mistake?
A: Mixing past and present tense in one sentence.
Q3: Is it okay to use only one tense while speaking?
A: For short sentences, yes. But for good English, use correct tense.
Q4: How can I learn tenses better?
A: Practice daily, use tense charts, and write small sentences.
Q5: Can I fix my mistakes quickly?
A: Yes! Start with common tenses, and slowly correct yourself while speaking or writing.
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