Fixing Grammar Errors
Verb Forms and Tenses
What’s the Problem?
Quick Fix
A. The wrong form of a verb is used
with a helping verb.
A thief in the park had stole a
woman’s purse.
Always use a past participle with a
helping verb.
B. A helping verb is missing.
Agent Lance seen the incident
happen.
Add a helping verb.
C. An irregular verb form is spelled
incorrectly.
Unfortunately, Lance had not wore his
glasses.
Look up the correct spelling and use
it.
D. A past participle is used
incorrectly.
The thief got away long before
Lance seen him.
To show the past, use the past form
of a verb.
A thief in the park had stolen a
woman’s purse.
Agent Lance had seen the incident
happen.
Unfortunately, Lance had not worn
his glasses.
The thief got away long before Lance
saw him.
OR
Change the verb to the past perfect
form by adding a helping verb.
The thief got away long before Lance
had seen him.
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E. Different tenses are used in the
same sentence without a valid
reason.
Lance lost his chance because he
forgets his glasses.
Use the same tense throughout the
sentence.
Lance lost his chance because he
forgot his glasses.
QUICK-FIX GRAMMAR AND STYLE CHARTS
QF9