Using the present tense after as if or as though instead of the past.
Don’t say: Janine talks as if she knows everything.
ü Say: Janine talks as if she knew everything.
Use the past tense after the phrase as if or as though. Use the subjective were with the verb to be after as if: He acts as if he were a rich man.
Using the future in a clause of time, instead of the present tense.
Don’t say: I’ll see you when I shall come back.
ü Say: I’ll see you when I come back.
Using the past tense instead of the past perfect.
Don’t say: The train already left before I arrived.
ü Say: The train had already left before I arrived.
Using the verb to use for the present habitual action.
Don’t say: I use to get up at six every morning.
ü Say: I get up at six every morning.
ü Or: I am accustomed to getting up at six, etc.
The verb to use doesn’t express a habit in the present. I use means I employ: I use a pen to write with.
Note: Used to expresses a past state or habit and it usually refers to some old situation, which no longer exists. Examples: I used to see him every day. My father used to play football with me.
The continuous form of the tense misused.
Don’t say: I’m understanding the lesson now.
ü Say: I understand the lesson now.
As a rule, verbs denoting a state rather than an act have no continuous forms, like understand, know believe, like, love, belong, prefer, consist, mean, hear, see, etc.
Using the simple present instead of the present perfect after a since clause of time.
Don’t say: Since he came, we are happy.
ü Say: Since he came, we’ve been happy.
Using the simple past tense with a recent action, instead of the present perfect.
Don’t say: The clock struck.
ü Say: The clock has struck.
If we are speaking of an action just finished, we must use the present perfect instead of the simple past tense. For example, immediately after the clock strikes, we shouldn’t say The clock struck, but The clock has struck.
Using the present perfect instead of the simple past tense.
Don’t say: I have seen a good film yesterday.
ü Say: I saw a good film yesterday.
Use the simple past tense (and not the present perfect) for an action completed in the past at a stated time.Using the past simple tense after an auxiliary verb, instead of the past participle.
Don’t say: I’ve forgot to bring my book.
ü Say: I’ve forgotten to bring my book.
Use the past participle (and not the past tense) with the auxiliary verb have and its parts.
Using can instead of could in a subordinate clause.
Don’t say: Ben thought he can win the prize.
ü Say: Ben thought he could win the prize.
Can changes to could in subordinate clauses, when the verb in the main clause is in the past simple tense.
Using will/’ll instead of would/’d in a subordinate clause.
Don’t say: He said (that) he will/’ll come tomorrow.
ü Say: He said (that) he would/’d come tomorrow.
Will/’ll changes to would/’d in subordinate clauses, when the verb in the main clause is in past tense.
Using the third person singular after can, must, etc., instead of the infinitive without to.
Don’t say: Ian can speaks English very well.
ü Say: Ian can speak English very well.
After the verbs can, must, may, shall, and will, use the infinitive without to, and not the third person of the present.
Using the past tense after did instead of the infinitive without to.
(a) To ask questions:
Don’t say: Did you went to school yesterday?
ü Say: Did you go to school yesterday?
(b) To make negatives:
Don’t say: I did not went to school yesterday.
ü Say: I did not go to school yesterday.
Use the present infinitive without to, not the past tense after the auxiliary did.
Using the past tense after did instead of the infinitive without to.
(a) To ask questions:
Don’t say: Did you went to school yesterday?
ü Say: Did you go to school yesterday?
(b) To make negatives:
Don’t say: I did not went to school yesterday.
ü Say: I did not go to school yesterday.
Use the present infinitive without to, not the past tense after the auxiliary did.
Note: the answer to a question beginning with did is always in the past tense: Did you see the picture? – Yes, I saw the picture; or Yes, I did.
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After certain adjectives:
There is no harm in + -ing.
Don’t say: There’s no harm to visit her now.
ü Say: There’s no harm in visiting her now.
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After certain adjectives:
It’s no use + -ing.
Don’t say: It’s no use to cry like a baby.
ü Say: It’s no use crying like a baby.
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After certain adjectives:
Have difficulty in + -ing.
Don’t say: She has no difficulty to do it.
ü Say: She has no difficulty in doing it.
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After certain adjectives:
Worth + -ing.
Don’t say: Is today’s film worth to see?
ü Say: Is today’s film worth seeing?
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After certain adjectives:
Busy + -ing.
Don’t say: He was busy to revise the exams.
ü Say: He was busy revising for the exams.
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After words which regularly take a preposition:
Remember + -ing.
Don’t say: I don’t remember to have seen him.
ü Say: I don’t remember seeing him.
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After words which regularly take a preposition:
Mind (object to) + -ing.
Don’t say: Would you mind to open the door?
ü Say: Would you mind opening the door?
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After words which regularly take a preposition:
Finish + -ing.
Don’t say: Have you finished to speak?
ü Say: Have you finished speaking?
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After words which regularly take a preposition:
Enjoy + -ing.
Don’t say: I enjoy to play football.
ü Say: I enjoy playing football.
