Common Verb Mistakes: Mixing Tenses

Mixing tenses within a sentence without a clear reason can make your writing confusing and difficult to understand. Here are some examples of common mistakes:

Inconsistent Tense Usage:

• Incorrect: I went to the store and I will buy some milk.
  • Explanation: The first part of the sentence is in the past tense (“went”), while the second part is in the future tense (“will buy”). This creates a mismatch in time.
• Correct: I went to the store and bought some milk.

Mixing Past Simple and Past Continuous:

• Incorrect: I was eating dinner when the phone rang and I answered it.
  • Explanation: Both actions happened in the past, so both should be in the past simple tense.
• Correct: I was eating dinner when the phone rang and I answered it.

Mixing Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous:

• Incorrect: I have been living here for two years and I moved here last year.
  • Explanation: “Have been living” is present perfect continuous, while “moved” is past simple. This creates a mismatch in time.
• Correct: I have been living here for two years. I moved here last year.

Practice Exercises:

1. I was walking down the street when I saw a dog and I pet it.
2. I have been studying English for three years and I started learning it last year.
3. I will go to the store and I buy some milk.
4. She was eating dinner when the phone rang and she answered it.
5. I have been living here for five years and I moved here last month.

Answers:

1. Correct
2. Incorrect: “started learning” should be “started”
3. Incorrect: “buy” should be “bought”
4. Correct
5. Incorrect: “moved” should be “have moved”

Verb Tense Practice: Mixing Tenses

Identify the incorrect verb tense in each sentence and provide the correct form.

1. I was walking down the street when I saw a dog and I pet it.
2. I have been studying English for three years and I started learning it last year.
3. I will go to the store and I buy some milk.
4. She was eating dinner when the phone rang and she answered it.
5. I have been living here for five years and I moved here last month.

Answers:

1. Correct
2. Incorrect: “started learning” should be “started”
3. Incorrect: “buy” should be “bought”
4. Correct
5. Incorrect: “moved” should be “have moved”