Error in Tenses


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Error in Tenses

Introduction : Verbs come in three tenses: past, present, and future.

  • The past is used to describe things that have already happened (e.g., earlier in the day, yesterday, last week, three years ago).
  • The present tense is used to describe things that are happening right now, or things that are continuous.
  • The future tense describes things that have yet to happen (e.g., later, tomorrow, next week, next year, three years from now).
  • Error in Tenses : Important rules of tense that help in identifying and correcting errors are :

    A)  In present Indefinite sentences, the number and person of the subject plays a very important role. If the subject is singular number third person, affix 's' or 'es' to the verb. If the verb ends in any of these:  ss , o, z, sh, ch, then add 'es' instead of 's' with the verb. Example : pass-passes, do-does, mix-mixes, catch-catches etc.

  • The girl miss her family. (Incorrect)
  • The girl misses her family  (Correct)
  • B) When the main verb is in future, use Present Simple in clauses beginning with 'if', 'till', 'as soon as', 'when', 'unless', 'until', 'even if', 'in case and as', e.g.

  • We shall wait to she arrives. (Incorrect)
  • We shall wait till she arrives.  (Correct).
  • C) Present Simple must be used instead of the Present Continuous with verbs of perception (feel, etc) which cannot be used normally in continuous form.

  • We are see with our eyes. (Incorrect)
  • We are seeing with our eyes. (Incorrect)
  • D) One must not use adverbs of past time like 'yesterday', 'last month', 'ago', 'short while ago', etc, with Present Perfect tense.

  • He is completed his book yesterday. (Incorrect)
  • He completed his book yesterday.  (Correct)
  • E) Use of Past Continuous with When and While : 'When' us usually used when one action was completed and another action was going on. 'While' is used when two actions were going on at a time.

  • If he arrived, his wife washing her clothes. (Incorrect)
  • When he arrived, his wife washing her clothes. (Correct)
  • Sample Questions
    (More Questions for each concept available in Login)
    Question : 1

    Read the following sentence and identify and correct the errors.

    He is completed his book yesterday.

    Right Option : C
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    Explanation
    Question : 2

    Read the following sentence and identify and correct the errors.

    Maya did not went to school yesterday. 

    Right Option : A
    View Explanation
    Explanation
    Question : 3

    Read the following sentence and identify and correct the errors.

    If he arrived, his wife washing her clothes.

    Right Option : B
    View Explanation
    Explanation
     
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