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Use of The Wrong Tense

The document discusses common errors in using verb tenses in English, including using the wrong tense after auxiliary verbs like "did", "does", "can", and "may". It provides examples of incorrect sentences and the corresponding correct ones. The main rules covered are: using the infinitive without "to" rather than the past or third person singular after auxiliary verbs; maintaining the proper sequence of tenses between main and subordinate clauses; and using the past participle rather than past simple after perfect aspect verbs.

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30 views

Use of The Wrong Tense

The document discusses common errors in using verb tenses in English, including using the wrong tense after auxiliary verbs like "did", "does", "can", and "may". It provides examples of incorrect sentences and the corresponding correct ones. The main rules covered are: using the infinitive without "to" rather than the past or third person singular after auxiliary verbs; maintaining the proper sequence of tenses between main and subordinate clauses; and using the past participle rather than past simple after perfect aspect verbs.

Uploaded by

adewaleajani20
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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USE OF THE WRONG TENSE I

1. 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?

Say: Did you go to school yesterday?

(b) To make negatives:

Don’t Say: I did not went to school yesterday.

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.
2. Using the third person singular after does instead of the infinitive without to.

(a) To ask questions:

Don’t Say: Does the gardener waters the flowers?

Say: Does the gardener water the flowers?

(b) To make negatives:

Don’t Say: The man doesn't waters the flowers.

Say: The man doesn't water the flowers.

After the auxiliary does use the infinitive without to, and not the third person of the present.

Note: The answer to a question beginning with Does is always in the present tense, third person: Does
he like the cinema? - Yes, he likes the cinema; or Yes, he does.
3. Using the third person singular after can, must, etc., instead 6f the infinitive without to.

Don’t Say: Ian can speaks English very well.

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.

4. Wrong sequence of tenses.

Don’t Say: Rachel asked me what I am doing.

Say: Rachel asked me what I was doing.

When the verb in the main clause is in the past tense, use a past tense in subordinate clauses.

Note: This rule doesn't apply (1) to verbs within quotations, (2) to facts that are true at all times. We
say:

1. She said, 'I am waiting for your answer'


2. He said that London is a great city

5. Using will/'ll instead of would/'d in a subordinate clause.

Don’t Say: He said (that) he will/’ll come tomorrow.

Say: He said (that) he would/'d come tomorrow.

Will/'ll change to would/'d in subordinate causes when the verb in the main clause is in past tense.

6. Using may instead of might in a subordinate clause.

Don’t Say: Last Sunday Alisa told me that she may come.

Say: Last Sunday Alisa told me that she might come.

May changes to might in subordinate clauses, when the verb in the main clause is in the past simple
tense.
Note: The conjunction that is never preceded by a comma.

7. Using can instead of could in a subordinate clause.

Don’t Say: Ben thought he can win the prize.

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.

8. Using the past simple tense after to + the infinitive.

Don’t Say: He tried to kicked the ball away.

Say: He tried to kick the ball away.

Don't use the simple past tense after to.

10. Using the past simple tense after an auxiliary verb, instead of the past participle.
Don’t Say: I've forgot to bring my book.

Say: I've forgotten to bring my book.

Use the past participle (and not the past tense) with the auxiliary verb have its parts.

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