Verb errors involving tense

Most tense errors involve the Simple (Indefinite) Present Tense, the Simple Past Tense, and the Present Perfect Tense.

The Simple Present Tense is a general-time tense. It usually indicates that a condition is always true or that an action always occurs. It may also indicate that an action regularly occ urs.

The Earth rotates round the Sun.

The atmosphere surrounds the Earth.

John often stays at this hotel.

Generally, the lectures of this professor are very interesting.

The Simple Past Tense indicates that an action took place at a specific time in the past.

They moved to Simferopol five years ago. This house was built in the 1990s. Dinosaurs lived millions of years ago.

The Present Perfect Tense usually indicates that an action began at some time in the past and continues to the present. It may also indicate that an action took place at an unspecified time in the past.

Mr. Brandon has worked for this company since 1990. Mary hasn't been to a doctor for a year. Nick has recently returned from the US.

For a Ukrainian/Russian speaker it is often difficult to see the difference between the Simple (Indefinite) Tense and the Progressive (Continuous) Tense. Compare the following sentences:

John often stays at this hotel (in general). John is staying at this hotel (now, this week, this summer).

John drives to his office (usually). John is driving to his office (now, today, in the immediate future).

If you want to state a fact you will say: The Earth rotates round the Sun. If you want to emphasize that it is an everlasting process you will say: The Earth is permanently rotating round the Sun (with the adverbs always, constantly, ever, permanently).

If you want to state a fact you will say: She is beautiful. If you want to sound humorous or critical about much effort she takes at the moment to try and look beautiful you will say: She is being beatiful.

Unit 1-4. RECEPTIVE MULTILINGUALISM