2. COMMON MISTAKES IN VERB
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Mistakes is something incorrectly.
So common mistakes in verb is general
something incorrectly in verb.
4. Error # 1
The incorrect usage of the past participle
How about this sentences?
• We seen the movie last night.
• I done a good job.
• He gone out of town.
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5. • “Seen,” “done,” and “gone” are past
PARTICIPLES! They are not past tense verbs!
What’s a past participle, you might ask? It is a
verb that relies on a helping verb to create the
past perfect tense; these verbs cannot stand
alone. In this case, you would need a form of
“have” to stand with the participle.
6. True sentences :
• We have/had seen the movie last night.
• I have/had done a good job.
• He has/had gone out of town.
7. Error # 2
Mistaking objects of the preposition as a subject.
How about this sentences?
• One of the children have gone home sick.
• Each of those ideas are good.
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8. • Why are these verbs incorrect?
Children and Ideas should NOT be seen as the
subject in this sentence. If you read the
sentence carefully. ONE and EACH are singular
noun, and it is also the subject of the sentence.
9. True sentences :
• One of the children has gone home sick.
• Each of those ideas is good
10. Error # 3
Mistaking singular indefinite pronouns as plural
subjects
how about this sentences?
• Either Dinda or Abdi run on the cross country
team.
• Neither Nauval nor Memey understand the
calculus problem.
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11. Either and neither are both singular indefinite
pronouns. They are also the subjects. Just
because there are two names within the
sentence (Gina/Mary or Joshua/Corey), it
doesn’t mean that the subjects are plural. The
conjunction OR makes the two names
SEPARATE, not TOGETHER. That is why the
subjects are NOT plural.
12. True sentences
• Either Dinda or Abdi runs on the cross country
team. (Either runs/Gina runs/Mary runs)
• Neither Nauval nor Memey understands the
calculus problem. (Neither understands/Joshua
understands/Corey understands)
13. Error # 4
Being careless and not making your simple
subjects and verbs agreement!
How about this sentences?
• They is not happy.
• Our dog run wild!
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14. • In the first sentence, “they” is the subject;
“they” is a plural pronoun. Plural subjects
need plural verbs. In this case, “is” is NOT
correct because it is a SINGULAR verb.
15. • In the second sentence, “dog” is the subject.
Since “dog” is singular, it needs a singular
verb in order for the sentence to agree.
16. True sentences
• They are not happy.
• He is not happy.
• Our dog runs wild!
• Our dogs run wild!
17. Error # 5
Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda
• When people speak, they often slur words so that
it sounds like they're saying "I shoulda known
better," or "I could've done better." It's important
to remember that the words they are slurring
are could have, would have, and should have,
not could of, would of, or should of.
18. Example :
• Wrong: You should of locked the door when
you left the house.
Right: You should have locked the door when
you left the house.
• Wrong: I could of danced all night.
Right: I could have danced all night.
19. Error # 6
Using “be” by itself!
• He be feeling better today.
• I be going to the store tonight.
• They be coming over next week.
20. • This error makes English teachers cringe. The
verb “be” is NEVER to be used on its own.
NEVER. There are FEW times you can use this
verb by itself, but NOT in this context. In THIS
context, you are using the present participle.
You NEED a form of “be,” but NOT the word
“be.”
21. True sentences
• He is feeling better today.
• I am going to the store tonight.
• They are coming over next week.
22. Why can you use “be” in THESE
sentences and not in the previous
examples? Well, this is why:
• Be good! is a command. The verb “be” is NOT
used in this case as a helping verb.
• Be here! is also a command.
23. Exercise
Correct these error sentences!
• Zaid eaten tempe and tahu
• Every student have done assignment from
Mrs. Vivi
• Either Ipin or Upin play football in the field
• Fahmi or Yenny are cooking fried rice
• Their house keeper sweep the floor
• He be a teacher
