Verb Tenses

COMMON MISTAKES
Verb Tenses: Common Mistakes
Subject Verb Agreement
▪ It is important that the verb agrees with the
subject in present simple and present perfect
tense. To do this, identify the subject. This is
more complicated when there is a long noun
phrase. The subjects in the examples
are underlined.
Verb Tenses: Common Mistakes
Subject Verb Agreement
Examples
Error Correction Explanation
The variety of online The variety of online ‘The variety of’ is used
courses available at courses available at with singular verb
university have increased university has increased form (has).
since 2008. since 2008.
This graph show the This graph shows the ‘This graph’ is a 3rd
types of dwellings of types of dwellings of person singular
Melbourne residents in Melbourne residents in subject, so add -s to
1988 and in 2000. 1988 and in 2000. the verb in simple
present.
Verb Tenses: Common Mistakes
Past Simple and Past Participle Form
▪ Simple past tense and past participle can be
difficult to form as some verbs are regular and
some are irregular. Working on improving your
knowledge of the correct form of these verbs is
important.
Verb Tenses: Common Mistakes
Past Simple and Past Participle Form
Example
Error Correction Explanation
The number of The number of The verb ‘rise’ is
employees in the employees in the retail irregular in the
retail and hospitality and hospitality simple past, so it
sectors rised by sectors rose by 6,000 does not follow the
6,000 from January from January to July. regular -ed ending.
to July.
Verb Tenses: Common Mistakes
Using Present Perfect with a Specific Time
▪ Present perfect can be used with the time
markers ‘since’ and ‘from’ to show change over
time but it should never be used for a completed
action at a specific time. To express something
which happened at a specific time or on a specific
date, use simple past tense.
Verb Tenses: Common Mistakes
Using Present Perfect with a Specific Time
Examples
Error Correction Explanation
In 1999, there has In 1999, there was an In both these examples,
been an increase of 5% increase of 5% in people the verb is a completed
in people working in the working in the tourism action which
tourism industry. industry. occurred at a specific
time in the past
(1999 / the second half
The amount of debt per The amount of debt per
of 2020). Therefore, use
household has risen by household rose by 10% in the
simple past (was / rose).
10% in the second half of second half of 2020.
2020.