Common Tense Errors in IELTS Speaking and Writing Test: Things You Should Avoid
Different types of tense mistakes are made by the students in forming sentences. While students who receive 5 Band have basic mistakes in writing as well as speaking, students getting 7 or above may be committing mistakes when writing complex sentences.
Let us first study the different types of tenses along with examples and common errors.
Types of Tenses and Errors
There are three types of tenses used to form sentences to express emotions and thoughts viz. past, present and future. Following are the rules given in the tabular form that can help you remember how to form a sentence at what time or in which situation.
Before you learn the different types of tenses, understand the terms used for explanation in the table below:
- Singular Subject – Refers to 1 person – Example: I, He, She etc.
- Plural Subject – Refer to >1 person – Example: We, They etc.
- Assertive sentences: Sentences, ending with a full stop (.), implying something is true
- Negative sentences: Sentences with NOT, implying something is untrue
- Interrogative sentences: Sentences ending with a question mark (?) that require you to answer.
- Verb (1st), verb (2nd) and verb(2nd) stand for the first form of the verb, the second form of verb and third form of verb respectively.
Rules of Tenses
We will learn the rules of tenses in a very simple way, considering two examples and changing them as per the tense type:
- Michael goes to the office.
- They go to the office.
In the first sentence, the subject is “Michael”, the verb is “go” and the object is “office”.
In the second sentence, the subject is “they”, the verb is “go” and the object is “office”.
Different Types of Tenses
Past Tense in Assertive Sentences
Past SimplePast ContinuousPast PerfectPast Perfect ContinuousSingular subject + verb (2nd) + object
Plural subject + verb (2nd) + object
Singular subject + was + verb (1st) + object
Plural subject + were + verb (1st) + ING + object
Singular subject + had + verb (3rd) + object
Plural subject + had + verb (3rd) + object
Singular subject + had been + verb (1st) + ING + for/ since
Plural subject + had been + verb (1st) + ING + for/ since
Example:
Michael went to the office.
They went to the office.
Example:
Michael was going to the office.
They were going to the office.
Example:
Michael had gone to the office.
They had gone to the office.
Example:
Michael had been going to the office for 6 months.
They had been going to the office for 6 months.
Common error:
On Diwali, I went to the market and buy wonderful stuff at the cheapest price from the market.
On Diwali, I went to the market and bought wonderful stuff at the cheapest price from the market.
Common error:
It was yesterday evening when I driving my car, I met with an accident.
It was yesterday evening when I was driving my car, I met with an accident.
Common error:
I have already finished my work before my boss entered the office.
I had already finished my work before my boss entered the office.
Common error:
I was working in this company for 5 years.
I had been working in this company for 5 years.
Past Tense in Negative Sentences
Past SimplePast ContinuousPast PerfectPast Perfect ContinuousSingular subject + DID NOT + verb (1st) + object
Plural subject + DID NOT + verb (1st) + object
Singular subject + was + NOT + verb (1st) + object
Plural subject + were + NOT + verb (1st) + object
Singular subject + had + NOT + verb (3rd) + object
Plural subject + had + NOT + verb (3rd) + object
Singular subject + had NOT been + verb (1st) + for/ since
Plural subject + had NOT been + verb (1st) + for/ since
Example:
Michael did not go to the office.
They did not go to the office.
.
Example:
Michael was not going to the office.
They were not going to the office.
Example:
Michael had not gone to office.
They had not gone to the office.
Example:
Michael had not been going to work for 6 months.
They had not been going to work for 6 months.
Common errors based on tenses:
I have not fun at the party I attend last night.
I did not have fun at the party I attended last night.
Common errors based on tenses:
In the mall, people not shopping for accessories.
In the mall, people were not shopping accessories.
Common errors based on tenses:
When he asked me, I said I have not got the invitation.
When he asked me, I said I had not got the invitation.
Common errors based on tenses:
The manager is not been maintaining the plant well for over a year and hence he was fired.
The manager had not been maintaining the plant well for over a year and hence he was fired.
Past Tense in Interrogative Sentences
Past SimplePast ContinuousPast PerfectPast Perfect ContinuousDID + Singular subject + verb (1st) + object + (?)
DID + Plural subject + verb (1st) + object + (?)
WAS + Singular subject + verb (1st) + ING + object + (?)
WERE + Plural subject + verb (1st) + ING + object + (?)
HAD + Singular subject + verb (3rd) + object + (?)
HAD + Plural subject + verb (3rd) + object + (?)
HAD + Singular subject + been + verb (1st) + ING+ for/since + (?)
HAD + Plural subject + been + verb (1st) + ING + for/since + (?)
Example:
Did Michael go to the office?
Did they go to the office?
Example:
Was Michael going to the office?
Were they going to the office?
Example:
Had Michael gone to the office?
Had they not gone to the office?
Example:
Had Michael been going to the office for 6 months?
Had they been going to the office for 6 months?
Common errors:
Yesterday, I go to visit the park and had great fun.
Yesterday, I went to visit the park and had great fun.
At that time, I do not understand the problem.
At that time, I did not understand the problem.
Do you like to play games when you were a child?
Did you like to play games when you were a child?
Common Error:
In school, do the school giving you financial aid?
In school, was the school giving you financial aid?
Was you enjoying your holidays in summer?
Were you enjoying your holidays in summer?
Common error:
Have you dealt with this company 3 years ago?
Had you dealt with this company 3 years ago?
Common error:
Have you been learning to play any musical instrument since childhood?
Had you been learning to play any musical
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