Correct use of tenses

Present continuous and perfect

• Incorrect: It is raining for two days.
• Correct: It has been raining for two days.
• Incorrect: The baby is sleeping for three hours now.
• Correct: The baby has been sleeping for three hours
now.
• Here the error lies in using the present continuous
instead of the present perfect continuous. We use the
present perfect continuous tense to talk about an
action which started in the past, has gone on till the
present and is still continuing.
• Incorrect: I have seen him yesterday.
• Correct: I saw him yesterday.
• Incorrect: He has returned from London last
week.
• Correct: He returned from London last week.
• Here the error lies in using the present perfect
tense instead of the simple past tense. The
present perfect is a present tense. It can’t be
used with adverbs of past time.
• Incorrect: See that you will not do any
damage.
• Correct: See that you do not do any damage.
• It is wrong to use the future tense in the
subordinate clause when the verb in the main
clause is in the imperative mood.
• Incorrect: I will call you when the dinner will be
ready.
• Correct: I will call you when the dinner is ready.
• Incorrect: He will help if you will ask him.
• Correct: He will help if you ask him.
• When the verb in the main clause is in the future
tense, the verb in the subordinate clause should
be in the present and not in the future.
• Incorrect: I had been to New York recently.
• Correct: I went to New York recently.
• Incorrect: I had written to him last week.
• Correct: I wrote to him last week.
• Incorrect: We had gone to the pictures last night.
• Correct: We went to the pictures last night.
• Here the error lies in using the past perfect
tense instead of the simple past. The past perfect is
not used simply to say that something happened
sometime ago. This meaning is conveyed by using the
simple past.
• Incorrect: He said that he was suffering from fever for three days.
• Correct: He said that he had been suffering from fever for three days.
• Incorrect: The man complained that his watch was stolen.
• Correct: The man complained that his watch had been stolen.
• Incorrect: The doctor concluded that the man died twelve hours ago.
• Correct: The doctor concluded that the man had died twelve hours ago.

• Here the error lies in using the simple past instead of the past perfect or
the past continuous instead of the past perfect continuous.
• The past perfect denotes an action completed at some point in the past
before some other past action commenced. When two actions in the past
have to be referred to, the past perfect should be used for the earlier
action, and the simple past for the later one.
• Incorrect: I have seen him yesterday.
• Incorrect: I had seen him yesterday.
• Correct: I saw him yesterday.
• Explanation
• The present perfect tense is not used with adverbs of past time.
Although past perfect tense can be used with adverbs of past time, it is
not used to simply say that something happened some time ago. That
meaning is expressed with the simple past tense.
• I sent the money yesterday. (NOT I had sent the money yesterday. / NOT I
have sent the money yesterday.)
• I finished that report last week. (NOT I had finished that report last week.
/ NOT I have finished that report last week.)
• I visited my parents last week. (NOT I had visited my parents last week. /
NOT I have visited my parents last week.)
• The past perfect tense is only used to talk about the earlier of two past
actions.
• A common mistake while making sentences in the past tense is the usage of the
word 'did'.
Wrong: I didn't went to New York in the last year.
Correct: I didn't go to New York in the last year.
Wrong: I did called her last week.
Correct: I did call her last week.
Question: Have you ever been to the US?
Wrong: I go to the US last year.
Correct: I did go to the US last year.
Question: Didn't you eat last night?
Wrong: I did ate.
Correct: I did eat.
• 'Did' indicates that the action has happened in the past. Hence, the other verb
should be in present tense.
• Also, 'Did' / 'Do' are used to stress a point. For example:
• Question: Did you go to America last year?
Correct: I did.
Question: Does anybody here speak French?
Answer: I do.
•
There is a mistake many of us make while using the present tense. There are two form of the present tense.
The simple present tense
The present continuous tense

The simple present tense is used for two main types of action:
Habits - Actions which happen regularly (every day, every week, etc.)
Example - Sneha goes to class every day.
Explanation - Doing something "Every day" makes it a habit.
States of being - Things which do not often change (opinions, conditions, etc.)
Example - Pramod lives in Mumbai.
Explanation - This is a state of being, because it will not change (or change infrequently).
• The present continuous tense is used for two main types of action:
A temporary action happening now (but it will stop in the future).
Example - It's raining outside.
Explanation - It's raining right now, but it may stop soon.
A definite plan for the future. Something we intend to do, usually in the near future.
Example - The Olympics are taking place here next year.
Explanation - This is already certain.
Examples
Wrong: I am getting up every day at 6 am.
Correct: I get up every day at 6 am.
Wrong: I have a party next week.
Correct: I am having a party next week.
• VK Kanniappan, 62 years and a doctor from Karaikal, sent these
bloopers he's heard and read:
Wrong: What is the madision for psoriasis?
Correct: What is the medicine for psoriasis?
Wrong: If you are not esperience, try to get help.
Correct: If you have no experience, try to get help.
Wrong: Suppose if you knows the value, then why you fear to buy?
Correct: If you know the value, why are you afraid to buy?
Wrong: Myself working in a MNC.
Correct: I am working in a MNC.