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Common Writing
Mistakes
Lesson #2
The Clash of the Tenses
Unnecessary tense
shift
"Tense" refers to the form of a verb that
indicates time. Unless you're referring to
different time periods, shifts in verb tense
create a garbled sense of when something is
happening.
Past, Present, Future -
Simple
In English, there are three basic tenses: past,
present and future
Perfect and Continuous
When a verb tense is “perfect” it indicates a set period
of time in which the action of the verb takes place.
“She has been to five movies.” (Present perfect)
“We had been with her often before her death.” (Past
perfect)
When a verb tense is “continuous” it indicates an
ongoing action.
“I am going to school.” (Present continuous)
“I was knitting.” (Past continuous)
Present Tenses
Simple present: She wants a drink.
Present continuous: They are walking home.
Present perfect: She has written five letters.
Past Tenses
Simple past: Peter lived in China in 1965.
Past continuous: I was reading.
Past perfect: We had been to see her several
times before she visited us.
Future Tenses
Simple future: Peter lives in China.
Future continuous: I will be travelling by
train.
Future perfect: We will have arrived in the
States by the time you get this letter.
Perfect Continuous
Present perfect continuous: You have been
waiting here for two hours.
Past perfect continuous: He had been
watching her for some time when she turned
and smiled.
Future perfect continuous: By the end of your
course, you will have been studying for five
years.
Use of Present Perfect