Right Form of Verbs: 20 Common Verb Form Mistakes in English (And How to Fix Them)
Right form of verbs: 20 common errors and how to correct them
Getting the right form of verbs is key to using English accurately. Even advanced learners can slip up on verb forms, leading to confusion or awkward sentences. In this guide we will explore 20 frequent mistakes and how to fix them, using simple examples and clear explanations.
Why are Verb Forms So Important?
Verbs show us time, action, and state. Using the wrong verb form can completely change your meaning.
For instance,
Wrong: She go to school every day.
Correct: She goes to school every day.
Let's look at 20 verb form mistakes that learners often make - and how to fix them.
20 Common Mistakes with verb Forms (and the Right Way)
1. Missing 's' in Present Simple ( Third Person)
Incorrect: He eat rice everyday.
Correct: He eats rice everyday.
Tip: For he/she/it, add -s/-es to the verb in the present simple.
2. Mixing Up Past and Past Participle
Incorrect: I have went to the store.
Correct: I have gone to the store.
Tip: Use the past participle (gone) after have/has/had.
3.Wrong Verb After 'Did'
Incorrect: She didn't went to class.
Correct: She didn't go to class.
Tip: After 'did' always use the base form of the verb.
4. Incorrect Verb After 'To'
Incorrect: I want going home.
Correct: I want to go home.
Tip: Use the infinitive ( To + base form) after ' want '.
5. Forgetting -ing after prepositions
Incorrect : He is good at play football.
Correct: He is good at playing football.
Tip: After a preposition , use the verb + ing form.
6. Confusing 'Been' with 'gone'
Incorrect: He has gone to the office . (But he is back.)
Correct: He has been to the office.
Tip: Use 'gone' if the person hasn't returned, use 'been' if they have returned.
7. Verb After Modal Verbs
8. Using Present Instead of Perfect Tense
9. Wrong Use of Continuous Tense
Incorrect: She is know the answer. Correct: She knows the answer. Tip: Some verbs (like "know") aren’t normally used in continuous form.
10. Wrong Verb After ‘Let’
Incorrect: Let him goes home. Correct: Let him go home.Tip: Use the base form after “let.”
11. Confusing ‘Have’ with ‘Has’
Incorrect: She have a bike. Correct: She has a bike. Tip: Use has for third-person singular subjects.
12. Incorrect Passive Voice
Incorrect: The book writes by her. Correct: The book is written by her. Tip: Use be + past participle in passive sentences.
13. Double Past Tense
Incorrect: After he reached, he ate.Correct: After he had reached, he ate.Tip: Use past perfect for the earlier of two past actions.
14. Wrong Verb After ‘Would Rather’
Incorrect: I’d rather to stay inside.Correct: I’d rather stay inside.Tip: No "to" — just the base form after "would rather."
15. Wrong Verb in Unreal Conditional
Incorrect: If I was you, I’d do it. Correct: If I were you, I’d do it. Tip: Use were for imaginary or unreal situations.
16. Improper Use of ‘Suggest’
Incorrect: I suggest to eat vegetables.Correct: I suggest eating vegetables.Tip: After "suggest," use verb + ing.
17. No Tense Shift in Reported Speech
Incorrect: He said he is tired.Correct: He said he was tired.Tip: In indirect speech, shift the tense back one step.
18. Incorrect Irregular Verb Forms
Incorrect: He runned fast.Correct: He ran fast.Tip: Learn irregular verbs — they don’t follow the -ed rule.
19. Misusing ‘Being’
Incorrect: He is being a teacher.Correct: He is a teacher.Tip: Use “being” only for temporary roles or behavior.
20. Mixing Present Perfect with Past Time Words
Incorrect: I have seen him yesterday.Correct: I saw him yesterday.Tip: Don’t use the present perfect with specific past time expressions.
Tips to Improve Verb Accuracy
Review irregular verbs regularly.
Practice daily with examples.
Use grammar tools like Grammarly or Cambridge English.
Read English texts to see verbs used in context.Final Thoughts
Review irregular verbs regularly.
Practice daily with examples.
Use grammar tools like Grammarly or Cambridge English.
সিলেট আইটি বাড়ির নীতিমালা মেনে কমেন্ট করুন। প্রতিটি কমেন্ট রিভিউ করা হয়।
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