Simple Past Tense Errors: Here’s Your Guide to Correct English Grammar
Before you jump on to memorising different types of tenses in English grammar tables and timelines, take a moment to ask yourself – will you be able to recall, choose and apply the exact correct tense in the middle of a conversation? No. Nobody can unless you take 30 seconds to break before every line you speak. So how do you tackle errors of simple past tense?
Thus to improve your use of tenses you need them as they are used in real conversations, understand types of errors you are making and then work upon them by practice.
Types of Simple Past Tense Errors
The best way to identify where you might possibly make an error, is to put yourself into the middle of a conversation. The one below is between two friends who usually meet for an evening jog.
Past Tense Examples
Neha: So how was your weekend?
Pooja: Nothing much went to the Mall watched a movie, went to the Donuts shop and come back home
Neha: That sounds like every weekend. There has been at least one interesting experience every weekend.
Pooja: Well, actually there was one. When we went for lunch, there was this restaurant which had an amazing spread in their lunch buffet and they have live western music.
We went inside, started having our meal, and then suddenly my daughter started running and standing right in front of the band and to my surprise, they started playing twinkle-twinkle little stars.
The Conversation Continues
Neha: Wow, that’s sweet
Pooja: I know, they went on to play 4 more rhymes. Piya was so happy and excited.
Pooja: Anyways, how was your weekend?
Neha: Well, I would say, It was special, because of a rather unexpected visitor from our past.
Pooja: Really, “our past”, as in your and mine, then you must tell me more.
English Grammar Error Type 1 – Mixing Past with Present
One of the most common errors of simple past tense in English we all commit is, mixing past with the present. In the above example: In all the words marked bold, the past has been mixed with present.
Error Correction in English Grammar
Error 1- Nothing much went to the Mall watched a movie, went to the Donuts shop and come back home
- Error correction: Nothing much, went to the Mall watched a movie, went to the Donuts shop and then came back home.
Error 2- When we went for lunch, there was this restaurant which had an amazing spread in their lunch buffet and they have live western music.
- Error correction: When we went for lunch, there was this restaurant which had an amazing spread in their lunch buffet and they had live western music.
Error 3- We went inside, started having our meal, and then suddenly my daughter started running and standing right in front of the band and to my surprise, they started playing twinkle-twinkle little stars.
By now you have a clear idea about this type of error of past tense. Thus correction for the last error is for you to do, meanwhile, we continue with the gossip between Neha and Pooja.
Want to know more about Simple Past Tense Errors, click here