Use of the wrong tense

Using the infinitive instead of a finite verb.

Don’t say: Sir, to go home to get my book.

ü Say: Sir, may I go home to get my book.

The infinitive simply names an action without reference to person, number or time. Therefore, it can’t make sense without the help of a finite verb.

Use of the wrong tense

Using a wrong tense with an improbable condition.

Don’t say: If he would/’d ask me, I would/’d stay.

ü Say: If he asked me, I would/’d stay.

Express an improbable condition by the past tense and use the conditional in the main clause. This use of the past tense doesn’t indicate a time but a degree of probability.

Use of the wrong tense

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.

If the verb in the main clause is in the future, the verb in the time clause must be in the present tense.

Use of the wrong tense

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.

Use the past perfect when the time of one past action is more past than that of another. Put the action which was completed first in the past perfect and the second action in the past tense.

Use of the wrong tense

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.

Use of the wrong tense

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.

The verb after a since clause of time is generally in the present perfect tense.

Use of the wrong tense

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.

Use of the wrong tense

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.

Use of the wrong tense

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.

Use of the wrong tense

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.

Use of the wrong 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.

Use of the wrong tense

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 of the wrong tense

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.