Blog about English
Frequent learner mistakes involving English tenses.
English tense choices express relationships between time and the way an event or situation is viewed.
The main contrasts involve Simple and Continuous aspect, Perfect and non-Perfect forms, and different present, past, and future reference points.
She works in London.
Она работает в Лондоне.
Present Simple: permanent situation.
She is working from home this week.
На этой неделе она работает из дома.
Present Continuous: temporary situation.
I have finished the report.
Я закончил отчёт.
Present Perfect: completion with present relevance.
I have been working on the report all morning.
Я работаю над отчётом всё утро.
Present Perfect Continuous: duration of ongoing activity.
Use the Present Simple for general, habitual, or stable situations and the Present Continuous for temporary, ongoing, or developing situations.
A common mistake is using the Present Continuous for permanent states or the Present Simple for actions happening around the moment of speaking.
She is liking ice cream.
Она любит мороженое.
Incorrect: stative verb "like" should be in Present Simple: "She likes ice cream."
I work at home today.
Я работаю дома сегодня.
Incorrect if temporary: use Present Continuous "am working" for current temporary situation.
He is owning a car.
У него есть машина.
Incorrect: "own" is stative; use Present Simple "owns".
Use the third person singular form correctly in the Present Simple.
A common mistake is She work instead of She works or He go instead of He goes.
She work in a bank.
Она работает в банке.
Incorrect: add -s to main verb in third person singular: "She works".
He go to school every day.
Он ходит в школу каждый день.
Incorrect: should be "goes".
It rain a lot in autumn.
Осенью часто идёт дождь.
Incorrect: "rains".
Use do or does correctly in Present Simple questions and negatives.
Common mistakes include Does she works? instead of Does she work? and She does not likes it instead of She does not like it.
Does she works here?
Она здесь работает?
Incorrect: after "does" use base form "work": "Does she work here?"
She does not likes it.
Ей это не нравится.
Incorrect: after "does not" use base form "like": "She does not like it."
Do he play football?
Он играет в футбол?
Incorrect: use "Does" for third person singular: "Does he play football?"
Use did with the base form of the main verb in Past Simple questions and negatives.
Common mistakes include Did you went? instead of Did you go? and I did not saw it instead of I did not see it.
Did you went to the party?
Ты ходил на вечеринку?
Incorrect: after "did" use base form "go": "Did you go...?"
I did not saw it.
Я этого не видел.
Incorrect: after "did not" use base form "see": "did not see".
She did not finished her homework.
Она не закончила домашнее задание.
Incorrect: use "finish" not "finished".
Choose was and were according to the subject.
Common mistakes include I were instead of I was and They was instead of They were.
I were at home yesterday.
Вчера я был дома.
Incorrect: use "was" with I.
They was happy.
Они были счастливы.
Incorrect: use "were" with they.
She were sleeping.
Она спала.
Incorrect: use "was" with she.
Use the correct present participle spelling in Continuous forms.
Common mistakes include runing instead of running, makeing instead of making, and lieing instead of lying.
He is runing fast.
Он бежит быстро.
Incorrect spelling: "running" (double n).
She is makeing dinner.
Она готовит ужин.
Incorrect: drop final e before -ing: "making".
They are lieing on the beach.
Они лежат на пляже.
Incorrect: change ie to y: "lying".
Continuous and Perfect constructions require their appropriate auxiliary verbs.
Common mistakes include I working instead of I am working and She finished already instead of She has already finished when Present Perfect meaning is intended.
I working now.
Я сейчас работаю.
Incorrect: need auxiliary "am": "I am working now."
She finished already.
Она уже закончила.
Incorrect if Present Perfect intended: need "has finished".
They watching TV last night.
Они смотрели телевизор вчера вечером.
Incorrect: Past Continuous requires "were watching".
Distinguish between finished past time and past events connected to the present.
Common mistakes include I have seen him yesterday and I saw him many times in my life when the intended meaning requires the Present Perfect.
I have seen him yesterday.
Я видел его вчера.
Incorrect: specific past time "yesterday" requires Past Simple "saw".
I saw him many times in my life.
Я видел его много раз в жизни.
Incorrect if speaking about experience: use "I have seen him many times".
She went to Spain.
Она ездила в Испанию.
Acceptable as a simple past event, but if it is an experience with no time, Present Perfect "has been" is more natural.
Do not normally use the Present Perfect with finished past time expressions such as yesterday, last year, or in 2020.
Use the Past Simple when the action belongs to a completed past time period.
I have visited my friend last week.
Я навестил друга на прошлой неделе.
Incorrect: use Past Simple "visited" with finished time "last week".
She has graduated in 2020.
Она окончила университет в 2020 году.
Incorrect: use "graduated".
They have moved here two years ago.
Они переехали сюда два года назад.
Incorrect: use "moved".
Use the past participle rather than the Past Simple form after have, has, or had.
Common mistakes include I have went instead of I have gone and She had saw instead of She had seen.
I have went to the store.
Я сходил в магазин.
Incorrect: past participle of go is "gone", not "went".
She had saw that movie before.
Она видела этот фильм раньше.
Incorrect: past participle of see is "seen".
They have wrote the report.
Они написали отчёт.
Incorrect: past participle of write is "written".
Use for with a duration and since with a starting point.
For example, I have lived here for ten years and I have lived here since 2016.
I have lived here since ten years.
Я живу здесь десять лет.
Incorrect: use "for ten years" (duration) or "since 2014" (starting point).
She has worked there since five years.
Она работает там пять лет.
Incorrect: should be "for five years".
We have known them for 2018.
Мы знаем их с 2018 года.
Incorrect: "since 2018", not "for 2018".
Choose already, yet, and still according to their meaning and grammatical position.
Common mistakes include using already in ordinary negatives, placing still incorrectly, and confusing yet with already.
I already have finished.
Я уже закончил.
Uncommon word order: usually "I have already finished" or "I already finished" (AmE).
She didn't finish yet.
Она ещё не закончила.
Acceptable in AmE, but in BrE often "She hasn't finished yet."
He is still working here.
Он всё ещё работает здесь.
Correct usage of still.
Choose between the Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous according to whether the focus is on result, completion, state, duration, or activity.
Common mistakes include using the continuous form with stative verbs or using the Present Perfect when the ongoing activity and duration are central.
I have been knowing her for years.
Я знаю её много лет.
Incorrect: stative "know" not used in continuous; use "have known".
She has been reading five books this week.
На этой неделе она прочитала пять книг.
Incorrect if completion is meant: use "has read five books".
I have written emails all morning.
Я пишу письма всё утро.
If duration is emphasized, use "have been writing".
Use the Past Simple for completed events and the Past Continuous for activities in progress around a past reference point.
Common mistakes include using the Past Continuous for short completed events or the Past Simple for background activities.
I was cooked dinner last night.
Вчера вечером я приготовил ужин.
Incorrect: for a completed action use Past Simple "cooked", not Past Continuous.
She slept when the phone rang.
Она спала, когда зазвонил телефон.
If the sleeping was in progress, use Past Continuous "was sleeping".
They were arriving at six yesterday.
Они прибыли в шесть вчера.
Incorrect: "arrive" is a short completed event; use Past Simple "arrived".
Use the Past Perfect when an earlier past event needs to be related to another past reference point.
Common mistakes include using had with the Past Simple instead of the past participle and using the Past Perfect unnecessarily when the sequence is already clear.
I had went to the store before I came home.
Я сходил в магазин перед тем, как пришёл домой.
Incorrect: past participle of go is "gone": "had gone".
After I had finished, I had went home.
После того как я закончил, я пошёл домой.
Incorrect: later action should be Past Simple "went", not Past Perfect.
She had left before I arrived.
Она ушла до того, как я пришёл.
Correct usage: Past Perfect for earlier action.
Choose between the two forms according to whether completion or duration and ongoing activity are more important.
Common mistakes include using the continuous form when the completed result is central or using the simple Perfect when duration is the main focus.
She had been written three reports before the meeting.
Она написала три отчёта до встречи.
Incorrect: for completed result use Past Perfect simple "had written".
They had been painting the room when I arrived.
Они красили комнату, когда я пришёл.
If the painting was completed before arrival and result mattered, use "had painted".
He had worked all day before the party.
Он работал весь день перед вечеринкой.
If emphasizing duration, use Past Perfect Continuous "had been working".
Choose will and be going to according to the type of future meaning being expressed.
Common mistakes include using will automatically for every future statement and using going to without the appropriate form of be.
I will to help you.
Я помогу тебе.
Incorrect: will is followed by base form without to: "will help".
We are going to will travel.
Мы собираемся путешествовать.
Incorrect: don't mix going to and will; use "are going to travel".
She is going to calls you.
Она собирается позвонить тебе.
Incorrect: after going to use base form "call".
Use the Present Continuous for established personal arrangements and other future forms according to their intended meaning.
Common mistakes include confusing arrangements with general intentions or fixed timetables.
I am going to see the dentist at three tomorrow.
Я собираюсь пойти к зубному врачу завтра в три.
If it is a fixed arrangement, Present Continuous is more precise: "I am seeing the dentist at three tomorrow."
The train is leaving at 8:30 tomorrow.
Поезд отправляется завтра в 8:30.
Incorrect for timetable: use Present Simple "leaves".
We are going to fly to Rome next week.
Мы собираемся лететь в Рим на следующей неделе.
If arrangement with tickets bought, "We are flying to Rome next week" is more natural.
Use a present form rather than will in many subordinate time clauses referring to the future.
For example, I will call you when I arrive, not when I will arrive.
I will call you when I will arrive.
Я позвоню тебе, когда приеду.
Incorrect: use present simple "arrive" after when.
We will start as soon as everyone will be ready.
Мы начнём, как только все будут готовы.
Incorrect: use "everyone is ready".
Before she will leave, I will give her the keys.
Перед тем как она уйдёт, я дам ей ключи.
Incorrect: use "Before she leaves".
Use will be followed by the -ing form when an activity will be in progress at a future reference point.
Common mistakes include omitting be, using the base form after will be, or confusing the Future Continuous with the Future Perfect.
I will working at ten.
В десять я буду работать.
Incorrect: need "be": "will be working".
She will be work tomorrow.
Завтра она будет работать.
Incorrect: use -ing form "working".
They will be finish by six.
Они закончат к шести.
Incorrect: for completion by a time use Future Perfect "will have finished", not Future Continuous.
Use will have followed by the past participle when an action will be completed before a future reference point.
Common mistakes include omitting have, using the wrong participle, or using the Future Perfect where simple future meaning is intended.
I will finished the work by Friday.
Я закончу работу к пятнице.
Incorrect: need "have": "will have finished".
She will have finish by six.
Она закончит к шести.
Incorrect: use past participle "finished".
They will have arrived yesterday.
Они приедут вчера.
Incorrect: Future Perfect cannot be used with past time expression.
Use will have been followed by the -ing form when the duration or ongoing nature of an activity up to a future point is important.
Common mistakes include omitting been, using the past participle, and confusing duration with completed results.
By June, I will have working here for five years.
К июню я буду работать здесь пять лет.
Incorrect: need "been": "will have been working".
By then, she will have been worked here for a year.
К тому времени она будет работать здесь год.
Incorrect: use -ing form "working".
By Friday, I will have been finishing the project.
К пятнице я закончу проект.
Incorrect: for completion use Future Perfect simple "will have finished".
Choose simple forms with stative verbs when they describe states rather than dynamic activities.
Common mistakes include I am knowing, I have been knowing, and I was understanding when the intended meanings normally require simple forms.
I am knowing the answer.
Я знаю ответ.
Incorrect: use Present Simple "know".
She has been understanding the problem for a while.
Она понимает проблему уже некоторое время.
Incorrect: use "has understood" or "has known about".
He was believing in ghosts when he was a child.
Он верил в привидений, когда был ребёнком.
Incorrect: use Past Simple "believed".
Tense choice is not determined by time expressions alone.
The same time expression can occur with different tenses depending on whether the speaker is focusing on completion, duration, repetition, sequence, or relevance.
I have seen him yesterday.
Я видел его вчера.
Incorrect despite time expression: specific past time requires Past Simple.
She is working here since 2020.
Она работает здесь с 2020 года.
Incorrect: "since" with Present Continuous suggests temporary; use "has been working" or "has worked".
They will finish by the time we arrive.
Они закончат к тому времени, как мы приедем.
Ambiguous: if completion before arrival is meant, use "will have finished".
Do not use a Perfect tense simply because one event happened before another.
Use the Past Perfect or other Perfect forms when the relationship to a reference point is meaningful or needs clarification.
I had finished my homework and then I had watched TV.
Я закончил домашнее задание и потом посмотрел телевизор.
Unnecessary Past Perfect in second clause; use Past Simple "watched".
After she had eaten dinner, she had gone to bed.
После того как она поужинала, она пошла спать.
Second action should be Past Simple "went".
He has seen the film yesterday.
Он видел фильм вчера.
Present Perfect overused; use Past Simple.
Do not use Continuous forms automatically for every action that lasts for some time.
Consider whether the situation is stative, whether duration is relevant, and whether the action is being viewed as ongoing.
I am loving this weather.
Мне нравится эта погода.
Stative verb "love" normally simple: "I love".
She is owning a car.
У неё есть машина.
Stative "own" not continuous: "owns".
We are having a house.
У нас есть дом.
Incorrect: possession "have" is stative: "have".
Reported speech sometimes involves shifting a tense backwards, but backshifting is not mechanically required in every context.
Common mistakes include changing tenses unnecessarily when a statement remains true or when the original time perspective is intentionally preserved.
She said that she is tired.
Она сказала, что устала.
Acceptable if still tired, but if reporting past, backshift: "was tired".
He told me that he will call later.
Он сказал мне, что позвонит позже.
If the reporting verb is past, often backshift to "would call".
They said that they have finished.
Они сказали, что закончили.
If completion happened before the saying, backshift to "had finished".
Maintain a consistent tense perspective unless a deliberate shift is needed.
Unnecessary changes between Past Simple, Past Continuous, and Present forms can make a narrative difficult to follow.
She opened the door, walks inside, and sat down.
Она открыла дверь, входит внутрь и села.
Inconsistent: should be either all past ("opened, walked, sat") or all present.
He was cooking when the phone rings.
Он готовил, когда зазвонил телефон.
Inconsistent past and present; use "rang".
I am reading a book and then I went to bed.
Я читаю книгу, а потом пошёл спать.
Inconsistent; choose one timeframe.
The correct tense is determined by the relationship between the event, the reference point, and the speaker's intended focus.
A reliable approach is to identify the reference time first, then consider whether the event is complete, ongoing, repeated, temporary, earlier than another event, or connected to the present.
I have worked here since 2015.
Я работаю здесь с 2015 года.
Present Perfect: state starting in past continuing to now.
I am working here until Friday.
Я работаю здесь до пятницы.
Present Continuous: temporary arrangement.
By next year, I will have been working here for ten years.
К следующему году я буду работать здесь десять лет.
Future Perfect Continuous: duration up to future point.