Using the correct tense is one of the biggest challenges for English learners. Even advanced students often make mistakes when talking about the past, present, or future. These errors can confuse listeners and change the meaning of a sentence. Understanding common tense mistakes and learning how to avoid them can greatly improve your accuracy and confidence in English. In this guide, we will look at the most frequent tense usage errors and explain them in simple, clear language to help you speak and write better English.
What Are Tenses Anyway?
Before we dive into the mistakes, let’s quickly talk about what tenses are.
Tenses show the time of an action. There are three main ones:
- Past Tense: For things that already happened (like “I walked”).
- Present Tense: For things happening right now (like “I walk”).
- Future Tense: For things that will happen later (like “I will walk”).
Sounds simple, right? But sometimes, people mix these up or forget to stick to one tense.
Mistake 1: Switching Tenses in the Same Story
Imagine you’re telling your friend about your weekend.
You say, “I went to the park, and I play with my dog. Then we eat ice cream.”
Did you spot the problem?
You started with “went” (past tense), but then jumped to “play” and “eat” (present tense).
This mix-up confuses your friend because they won’t know if you’re talking about the past or right now.
How to Fix It: Stick to one tense for the whole story unless the time actually changes. So, it should be: “I went to the park, and I played with my dog. Then we ate ice cream.” All past tense—nice and clear!
Quick Tip: Before you write or speak, decide if your story is about the past, present, or future. Then use that tense all the way through.
Mistake 2: Forgetting the “-ed” in Past Tense
Have you ever said “I walk to school yesterday” instead of “I walked to school yesterday”?
Forgetting to add “-ed” to verbs is a super common mistake. Words like “walk,” “jump,” or “talk” need that little ending to show they happened in the past.
Why It Happens: Sometimes we’re in a rush, or we don’t hear the “-ed” when we say it fast. But in writing, it’s a big clue that something’s wrong.
How to Fix It: When you’re talking about yesterday, last week, or any time before now, check your verbs. Ask yourself, “Does this need an ‘-ed’?” For example, “I jump” becomes “I jumped,” and “I talk” becomes “I talked.”
Fun Practice: Say these out loud: “I danced,” “I laughed,” “I kicked.” Feel how the “-ed” changes the word? Now you’ll remember it!
Mistake 3: Mixing Up “Will” for Future Tense
The future tense can be tricky.
Some students forget to use “will” and say things like “I go to the store tomorrow” instead of “I will go to the store tomorrow.”
Without “will,” it sounds like it’s happening now, not later.
Why It Happens: We don’t always use “will” when we talk casually, like “I’m going to the park later.” But in proper writing, “will” helps make the future clear.
How to Fix It: When you’re talking about something that hasn’t happened yet—like tomorrow, next month, or when you’re a grown-up—add “will” before the verb. So, “I play soccer” becomes “I will play soccer.”
Quick Tip: Look for time words like “tomorrow,” “soon,” or “next year.” They’re hints you need future tense!
Mistake 4: Using Present Tense for Habits Wrongly
The present tense is great for habits—like things you do every day.
But some students use it wrong.
For example, “Yesterday, I eat breakfast” should be “Yesterday, I ate breakfast.” The present tense “eat” doesn’t fit with “yesterday.”
Why It Happens: We love using present tense for habits (“I eat cereal every morning”), so it sneaks into other sentences by mistake.
How to Fix It: If you’re talking about one specific time in the past (like yesterday or last Friday), use past tense. Save present tense for things that happen all the time, like “I brush my teeth every night.”
Fun Practice: Try this: “I read books every day” (present tense for a habit). Now change it to one time: “I read a book yesterday” (past tense). See the difference?
Mistake 5: Confusing “Has” and “Have” with Past Tense
Here’s a tricky one! Some verbs use “has” or “have” with another word to show the past, like “I have finished” or “She has jumped.”
But students sometimes say “I have jump” or “She has walk” instead of adding “-ed” or using the right past form.
Why It Happens: These are called “perfect tenses,” and they’re a little fancy. The rule is: “have” or “has” needs a special past verb form—like “jumped,” “walked,” or “eaten.”
How to Fix It: When you use “has” or “have,” pair it with the right past verb. For example:
- Wrong: “I have play.”
- Right: “I have played.”
- Wrong: “She has eat.”
- Right: “She has eaten.”
Quick Tip: If it sounds funny, double-check your verb. It usually needs an “-ed” or a special past form (like “gone” instead of “go”).
Mistake 6: Overusing “-ing” Words
Words like “running,” “singing,” or “writing” are awesome, but using them too much can mess up your tense.
For example, “I am running to school yesterday” doesn’t work because “yesterday” is past, but “am running” is present.
Why It Happens: The “-ing” form feels active and fun, so we stick it everywhere!
How to Fix It: Use “-ing” when something is happening right now or was happening for a while in the past with “was.” Like:
- Now: “I am running to school.”
- Past: “I was running to school yesterday.”
If it’s just a one-time past thing, skip the “-ing”: “I ran to school yesterday.”
Fun Practice: Change these: “I am jumping now” to past (answer: “I jumped” or “I was jumping”). Try it with “sing” too!
Why Tenses Matter
Now that we’ve covered these mistakes, you might wonder, “Why does this even matter?”
Tenses are like road signs—they guide your reader or listener through your story.
If you mix them up, it’s like giving someone a map with wrong directions.
They’ll get lost! Plus, using tenses right makes you sound smart and helps you do better in school.
How to Get Better at Tenses
Want to be a tense pro?
Here are some easy tricks:
- Read a Lot: Books use tenses the right way. Notice how they switch between past, present, and future.
- Practice Out Loud: Tell a story about your day in past tense, then try it in present tense. Hear the difference?
- Check Your Work: After writing, read it again. Ask, “Does the time make sense?”
- Play a Game: With a friend, take turns saying a sentence in past, present, or future tense. Catch each other’s mistakes!
Let’s Wrap It Up
Tenses might seem small, but they’re a big deal in how we share ideas.
Mixing them up, forgetting “-ed,” or skipping “will” are all super common mistakes—even for learners like you!
But now you know how to spot them and fix them.
Whether you’re writing about your weekend, your dreams, or a funny moment, using the right tense will make your story shine.
So, next time you write or talk, think: Is this past, present, or future?
Stick to your choice, and you’ll be amazed at how clear and cool your words sound.
Keep practicing, and soon, tenses will be your superpower!
What story will you tell next?
You may also like these English learning articles:
- There vs. Their vs. They’re: What’s the Difference?
- How to Use Prepositions in English with Confidence
- English Grammar: The Difference between ‘So’ & ‘Too’
- Mastering Prepositions of Place in English: A Comprehensive Guide
- Learn the Difference Between “Either” and “Neither”
