COMMON VERB FORM ERRORS FROM STUDENT WRITING SAMPLESThe sentences in the table below are based on sentences written by English language learners. They have different types of verb form errors, all of which are classified in the table that follows.
The verb in bold typeface is incorrect. Click the lesson icon for instruction.
| INCORRECT USE OF AN AUXILIARY VERB WITH SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE VERBS | Notes | |
| 1. | Stress always puts me in a hard situation. Relaxing my mind and exercising are both to help me reduce stress. |  Present tense verbs have two forms: +s (helps) and no-s (help). In affirmative statements, no auxiliary verb is used with simple present. Relaxing my mind and exercising both HELP me reduce stress. |
| 2. | A news event is often last around a few minutes and then other news emerges. | The tense is simple present form. The correct form should be...A news event often...  last  lasts (or holds the attention of the public for only a short time.)
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| 3. | I am agree that community colleges should charge tuition and fees. | Spanish-speakers transpose this verb form directly from Spanish. There is no be-form in the English verb agree. The correct form is .
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| 4. | If you study without spending any money, you will think that if you are fail you will not lose anything. | Another unnecessary and incorrect use of an auxiliary verb with a simple present form. The correct verb form is ...if you .
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| 5. | People who only want their own success are not focus on the whole work environment and create uncomfortable working conditions for others. | The auxiliary verbs for simple present negative statements are DO and DOES. Are is never an auxiliary verb for simple present form. The negative form with the correct auxiliary verb is... People who only want their own success on the work environment. |
| 6. | In fact many people want to continue their studying after they finish high school, but they can't do because the tuition and fees at community colleges have gradually increased. | The auxiliary verb by itself carries the meaning of the previous clause. They want to continue their studies, but they CAN'T... |
| 7. | Many financial aid programs are not only help to pay for students' tuition, fees, and supplies, but also grant them some cash for basic necessities. |
Omit the auxiliary in the verb phrase. Financial aid programs not only help pay for tuition, fees, and supplies but also provide money for expenses. |
| FAILURE TO USE THE FULL INFINITIVE AFTER AN ADJECTIVE | ||
| 8. | It is impossible have a relationship with a person who is unfaithful. | Use a full infinitive (to+base) to complement the adjective. The infinitive functions as the adjective complement. Fill in the full infinitive. It is impossible a relationship with an unfaithful partner. |
| 9. | To achieve happiness it is necessary be honest with our partner. | Use the full infinitive after an adjective. It is necessary honest... |
| 10. | It is difficult take care of a family with an irresponsible wife. | Note that all three sentences requiring infinitives as adjective complements have the pattern (filler subject) IT + IS + ADJECTIVE + INFINITIVE. It is difficult a family with an irresponsible wife. |
| PROBLEMS WITH INFINITIVE FORM AND PARALLEL INFINITIVES | ||
| 11. | I don't have a social life because of not having enough time to socialized with others. | The full infinitive form is to + base. The writer doesn't have enough time . |
| 12. | Charging tuition and fees is the best way makes students study hard. | Infinitives also function as noun complements. In other words, they complete the meaning of the noun. The writer states an opinion about the best way students study. |
| 13. | When my father asked me to sit down and talked about things, my answer was, "Talk about what if we don't have anything in common?" | The conjunction and joins two parallel parts - infinitives in this case. To does not need to be repeated since the agent (me) is the same for both infinitives. He asked me to sit down and . |
| 14. | My oldest sister taught us how to clean ourselves, organized our clothes, and helped with the housework. | The sentence is ambiguous. Did the sister do three things or teach the writer three things? The serial items are not parallel. Either the sister taught her siblings how to wash themselves, and she organized their clothes and helped with the housework, or she taught them how to wash themselves, organize their clothes, and help with the housework. The latter sentence uses parallel infinitives. |
| 15. | Another lesson that I learned from my brother is that I don't giving up when I have hard jobs. | Sometimes a NEGATIVE INFINITIVE is needed rather than a noun clause. This is one such example. The lesson I learned is not to give up when I have hard jobs. |
| PROBLEMS WITH USING CORRECT VERBAL FORMS | ||
| 16. | As time went by, I loathed and was not interesting the math class for a whole semester. | The verb is to interest. Use the correct participles. The math class wasn't to him. He loathed math and was not in the class. |
| 17. | Two weeks later my patient's mom died. His family was devastating. | The verb is to devastate. Use correct participals. The death was . His family was . |
| 18. | One good way of given free education to community college students would be to first establish some rules. I don't feel bad about given up an opportunity in order to help my brothers. I believe I did the right think. | A noun or gerund must follow a preposition. The gerund may sound like the past participle to these writers. But they are not the same. The gerund form is GIVING. Use the correct words in the second sentence. I don't feel bad about up an opportunity in order to help my brothers. I believe I did the right . |
| 19. | The first thing Ivgee did that night was taking me out dancing. Another thing that Ivgee did was introducing me to all the soldiers on the base. | The -ing form is incorrect, or at least very awkward, with this sentence structure. An infinitive with or without to is the standard form. The first thing Ivgee did that night was to me out dancing. Another thing Ivgee did was (to) me to the soldiers. |
| 20. | I learned that there is no such thing as someone giving you money and not taking it back. This lesson has helped me be a little smarter and think everything through when make a decision. | The phrase comes from a dependent clause: when I make a decision... To reduce a clause with an active verb, omit the subject and change the verb to the present participial verbal....when making a decision. Now try it with different tenses: After he made his decision → after his decision... After he had made a decision → After a decision... | 21. | When my sisters tried to go out with me, I felt embarrass, and my brother was a baby, so took care of him was a bigger problem for me. | Felt is a linking verb. The writer describes the feeling he had. We use past participles to describe feelings that are the result of some cause (passive meaning). The correct verbal would be ... I felt ... The second clause needs a subject phrase. Gerunds function as subjects. The correct form would be...so him was a bigger problem. |
| 22. | When I was a kid, I had nothing to worry about. But when I grew up, I became worry about myself. | She became . | 23. | To avoid stress, I recommend to be organized to chose what is important to do first, and to be patient. | The verb recommend is followed by a gerund object, not an infinitive object, so this is a word form error (selection of the wrong verbal for an object) . Also, the writer should insert the preposition by to explain how one is to be organized, using parallel infinitive phrases. Be sure to write a passive gerund for "to be organized." I recommend by what is important to do first, and by patient. |
| PROBLEMS IN VERB PHRASES WITH MODAL AUXILIARIES | ||
| 24. | People should put a lot of effort into their work and not wasting time. |
There is one subject in this sentence and two verbs. [SUBJECT + VERB + VERB].The verbs must be parallel. The modal aux should goes with both verbs and does not need to be repeated. Write the parallel verb forms. People should a lot of effort into their work and not time. |
| 25. | I could do everything I wanted in China, but here I even couldn't a very simple thing.. | Unlike #24 above, this sentence has two clauses, each with its own subject and verb. Both clauses need a full modal verb phrase. Also, the adverb even should follow the modal....I couldn't even do what???? |
| 26. | Minh told me I should calm down and controlled myself. | In the noun clause, I is the subject of the compound verb and the modal should goes with both. AUX + BASE and + BASE = I should calm down and myself. |
| 27. | I told the drivers they should came back and get the truck that was stuck in the riverbed. Thanks to the operation, he can visits his family. Honesty and responsibility are the most imortant values that everybody should has. I have to faced whatever problem I have alone. I couldn't qualified for financial aid because my income was too high. | All of the highlighted verb phrases with modals violate the rule MODAL AUX = BASE. Rewrite the verb phrases correctly. should came → can visits → should has → have to faced → couldn't qualified → , or, as a matter of FACT, didn't qualify. |
| 28. | I came to the USA knowing that I would not achieved my goal of graduating from a university. | The student is trying to maintain consistent past tense. However, he should let the modal do it for him. Write the correct modal verb phrase and hit enter. WOULD NOT + BASE = |
| 29. | My friends left around 10 p.m. and I went to bed at 10:30. I could be able to sleept because I got a big headache. | The error in logic is the most serious error. The modal has to be negative form for the sentence to make sense. The possible affirmative forms are given below. Write the negative form of each. can sleep / could sleep .... / am able to sleep / was able to sleep ... I / I . |
| 30. | When I lived in Sudan, I met someone who loved me so much, and he asked me to marry him. I would loved to marry him, for I never loved anyone as much as I did to Alex. | The writer is trying to express preference or desirability for a past time frame. Due to the meaning of the modal, perfect form is needed.
Can you fill in the perfect modal form? I to marry him, for I never loved anyone as much as I loved Alex. The simple past tense aux (did) should not be followed by to. While the aux did is correct here, it would be good to put more emphasis on the verb loved. |
| CONFUSION OVER ACTIVE AND PASSIVE USAGE AND FORM | ||
| 31. | If you wouldn't pass your drivers test after three times, your writing exam would be expire. |
What type of condition is this? factual hypothetical Because it's a statement of fact, the first modal should be pass. Should the verb in the main clause be active or passive voice? active passiveInstead of would be expire, the correct form is . |
| 32. | I had to take a test to be gone to school. | For what purpose did the writer take the test? He took it to school. Better wording would be to enroll in school. The active form of the infinitive is required here. |
| 33. | With the financial help I gave my friend, her mother was recovered after the operation. |
Recover is different from the verb cure. The doctor cured her mother. Her mother was cured. Because of the treatment she received, her mother . The verb recover should be active and past tense. |
| 34. | My master was the third monk who was tracking down by the communists. |
The phrase "by the communists" indicates that something happened to the master. The correct form is the passive form, .
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| 35. | I was doing well in college until my sister got divorce. My sister was working but she got lay off. That day I almost got fire. |
There are two passive forms: BE + PAST PARTICIPLE GET + PAST PARTICIPLE Write the correct forms of the verbs in the sentences. got divorce should be got lay off should be got fire should be |
| 36. | When working in a company, people need credibility with the owner so that they will be promote in their careers. Community colleges should have a bigger budget to hire well-educated instructors so that students will be benefited. |
These sentences show problems with using future passive vs. future active form. Simple future passive form = WILL BE + PAST PARTICIPLE. Should the highlighted verb in the first sentence be active or passive form? Will the subject act or be the receiver of the action? active passive Write the correct form for the verb promote: Should the verb in the second sentence be active or passive form? active passiveWrite the correct form for the verb benefit: |
| 37. | This event took place when religions still were repressing by the Vietnamese communist government. |
This sentence requires a past progressive passive verb phrase. The form of past progressive passive is WAS/WERE+BEING + PAST PARTICIPLE. Write the correct past progressive passive plural form for the verb repressed. still Note the placement of the adverb within the verb phrase. |
| 38. |
John couldn't find any part-time job. Every job that he applied for was required at least 8 hours a day. NoteStudents overuse passive verb forms. If the subject is the agent (does the action of the verb) or does not undergo any action (nothing happens to the subject), the verb should be active voice. Note the following errors in which students threw in a passive form incorrectly. Write the correct active form after each. • Most students have to earn money to pay for their studies, except those who are received financial aid and fee waivers. • I am doing well in college since I have been received a lot of support from my boyfriend and my sisters. When I was in high school, I was often compared my grades with those of my classmates. I often my grades... . |
What required 8 hours? The job. The verb should be ACTIVE VOICE. Write it.
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| PROBLEMS WITH VERB FORMS IN CONDITIONAL CLAUSES | ||
| 39. | If students marry and have school debts, their financial issues would affect their lives. |
The statement is true in many cases but not all. The conditional statement expresses a future prediction or possibility. The verb tense in the main clause should reflect that. Therefore, would affect should be .
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| 40. | If students had a chance to finish their education without any loans, their lives would have been more pleasant. |
This conditional sentence speculates about the present. Hypothetical (contrary-to-fact) conditional statements about the present require past tense. Would have been should be . |
| 41. | America could save money on security and jails if the government spends millions more on education. |
The writer is mixing prediction with speculation, so the sentence doesn't work. The past form could save followed by an if-clause signals speculation to the reader. To be consistent with the main clause, the verb in the if-clause should be . If the writer wishes to express a prediction or future possibility, the sentence should read as follows: America will save money on security and jails if the government spends more on education. |
| 42. | I listened to Long and didn't give up my job. Now I am the assistant supervisor at that supermarket. If I didn't hear Long, I lost that job. |
First of all, the writer is confusing the verb hear with the verb listen to. The conditional sentence should express speculation about the past. Speculation about the past requires PAST PERFECT in the conditional clause and the PERFECT MODAL in the main clause. Write the correct forms, using the modal would in the main clause. If I to Long, I my job. |
| 43. | Sometimes I wonder what would have happed if ex-President Bill Clinton would not had his education. |
The correct spelling of the verb is happen / happened. Both the present and past forms have two syllables. Past perfect is required in the if-clause to speculate about the past. Fill in the correct forms. What if ex-President Bill Clinton his education? |
| 44. | If community college education is free, it would benefit immigrants in California. |
The writer knows that community college education is not free. The sentence fails to signal speculation about the present and future. The only form of be used in hypothetical conditionals is .
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| 45. | If these criminals had the opportunity to go to college, they would have been able to accomplish something, and they will be different persons today. | This sentence speculates about the past and the present. To express that (some) criminals did not have the opportunity to go to college, The verb in the if-clause should be past perfect. Write it. They didn't accomplish anything, so the verb in the first main clause is correct. It shows speculation about the past. However, the second main clause speculates about the present. Therefore, will be should be . |
| 46. | I surely cannot do this well if I don't received their support. |
The writer is speculating about the present. We use past tense to speculate about the present. Fill in the correct forms. I surely this well if I their support. |
| PROBLEMS WITH USING CORRECT VERBALS AFTER CAUSATIVE VERBS AND VERBS OF PERCEPTION | ||
| 47. | As I was leaving Vietnam, I told my daughter I loved her more than I loved her brother. It made her felt good, so she didn't cry when I flew to the United States. |
Causative verbs make, let, have, help are followed by the BASE form of the verb...It made her good.
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| 48. | It is possible for spouses to live permanently together. But there are some unacceptable behaviors which can make them to live separately or in some cases can cause divorce. |
The full infinitive is not used after the causative verbs make, let, have or help. Certain behaviors can make couples choose to live separately. |
| 49. | My cousin told me that she heard my mother-in-law said to her mother that I'm not good enough for her son because I'm not pretty. |
The BASE form is used after verbs of perception. She heard her mother-in-law she was not good enough for her son. |
| 46. | I have seen some poor people became millionaires, and I have seen other poor people became political leaders in this country. |
Yes, many things are possible, but NOT the past form after a verb of perception. The correct form would be I have seen poor people millionaires and political leaders in this country.
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| 50. | I saw my friend took notes on her essay mistakes. |
Please take note of this. In this context the verbal could be the base form (I saw my friend notes on her essay) or the present participle to emphasize duration (I saw my friend notes on her essay). ♦ Remember! VERB OF PERCEPTION + OBJECT + VERBAL (BASE OR PRESENT PARTICIPLE DEPENDING ON THE EMPHASIS THE WRITER PLACES ON THE ACTION OF THE VERBAL) |