Understanding Tense Confusion
Let’s explore some common mistakes that many of us make while using tenses. Remember, making mistakes is a natural part of learning! Let’s see how we can fix them.
- Mixing Time Words with Wrong Tenses
Incorrect Pattern: Using time words that don’t match the tense
– ❌ Yesterday, I will go to school.
– ❌ Tomorrow, I went to the park.
– ❌ Now, I played cricket.
Why This Happens: Sometimes we forget that certain time words (yesterday, tomorrow, now) need specific tenses.
The Fix: Remember these simple matches:
– Yesterday → Past Tense (went, played, studied)
– Now → Present Continuous (am/is/are + ing)
– Tomorrow → Future Tense (will + verb)
Correct Versions:
– ✅ Yesterday, I went to school.
– ✅ Tomorrow, I will go to the park.
– ✅ Now, I am playing cricket.
- Present Continuous Formation Errors
Incorrect Pattern: Forgetting ‘am/is/are’ or misusing ‘-ing’
– ❌ She playing with dolls.
– ❌ They reading books.
– ❌ I walking to school.
Why This Happens: We sometimes forget that present continuous needs both a helping verb (am/is/are) and the -ing form.
The Fix: Remember the formula:
Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing
Correct Versions:
– ✅ She is playing with dolls.
– ✅ They are reading books.
– ✅ I am walking to school.
- Simple Present Third Person Confusion
Incorrect Pattern: Forgetting to add ‘s/es’ for he/she/it
– ❌ He play football.
– ❌ She write stories.
– ❌ The dog bark loudly.
Why This Happens: We forget that he/she/it needs an extra ‘s’ or ‘es’ in simple present tense.
The Fix: Add ‘s’ or ‘es’ for he/she/it in simple present:
– For most verbs: add ‘s’ (plays, writes)
– For verbs ending in -sh, -ch, -ss, -x, -o: add ‘es’ (watches, passes)
Correct Versions:
– ✅ He plays football.
– ✅ She writes stories.
– ✅ The dog barks loudly.
- Future Tense Formation Errors
Incorrect Pattern: Misusing ‘will’ or forgetting it
– ❌ I going to play tomorrow.
– ❌ Tomorrow we meeting friends.
– ❌ She come next week.
Why This Happens: We sometimes forget that future actions need ‘will’ or ‘going to’.
The Fix: Use either ‘will + verb’ or ‘am/is/are going to + verb’
Correct Versions:
– ✅ I will play tomorrow.
– ✅ Tomorrow we will meet friends.
– ✅ She will come next week.
OR
– ✅ I am going to play tomorrow.
– ✅ Tomorrow we are going to meet friends.
– ✅ She is going to come next week.
- Past Tense Irregular Verbs
Incorrect Pattern: Using regular ‘-ed’ ending for irregular verbs
– ❌ I goed to the market.
– ❌ She catched the ball.
– ❌ He runned fast.
Why This Happens: We apply the regular -ed rule to irregular verbs.
The Fix: Learn common irregular verbs and their past forms:
– go → went
– catch → caught
– run → ran
Correct Versions:
– ✅ I went to the market.
– ✅ She caught the ball.
– ✅ He ran fast.
Remember These Golden Rules:
- Time words are your friends – they tell you which tense to use
- Present continuous always needs both am/is/are AND -ing
- He/She/It needs ‘s’ or ‘es’ in simple present
- Future needs ‘will’ or ‘going to’
- Some verbs are irregular – they need special past forms
Practice Activity: Error Correction Journal
Keep a small notebook where you write down tense mistakes you notice in your own writing or speaking. Writing down corrections helps remember them better!
Note for Parents:
Encourage children to identify these common patterns in their own writing. Regular practice in spotting and correcting these errors will help strengthen their understanding of tenses.
Suggested Grammar Books for Practice for Grade 3
Essentials of English Grammar and Composition BUY NOW
Primary School English Grammar and Composition by Wren & Martin BUY NOW
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