THE USE OF A WRONG TENSE 02

Dialog

Alright, listen up. Here's a sentence for you: Every morning I am going for a walk. Is that correct English, you?

Um, I think... no? It sounds a bit off.

Hmph. You're not entirely wrong for once. It should be: Every morning I go for a walk. You use the simple present tense for things you do as a habit, not the present continuous. Unless you say you are always going, but that's different. Honestly, you should know this by now. I'm just telling you for my own amusement, you know.

Next. How about this one: I use to rise at six every morning. Is that perfectly correct?

Oh, I think that one is right. My grandpa says he used to do things all the time.

Wrong! Completely wrong! "I use to rise" in the present means you employ something to rise, which is nonsensical here. It implies a tool, not a habit. You should say: I rise at six every morning, or I am accustomed to rising at six. "Used to" is only for past habits, not present ones! Honestly, you really need to pay more attention. It's a good thing I'm here to set you straight.

Okay, focus. What about this: Last year I was walking to school every day. Is that how you'd say it?

That sounds okay to me. It's something you did in the past, right?

You're close but still missing the point. For a habit in the past, you use the simple past tense. So, it should be: Last year I walked to school every day. The past continuous is for an action that was ongoing when something else happened, like I was walking to school when I met you. See the difference? It's quite obvious if you actually think about it. But I suppose you tried your best.

Right. Here’s a tricky one. The train left before I arrived. Correct?

Ooh, that one feels like it could be right. But I'm not sure.

It's not right! If one action happened before another in the past, the first one needs the past perfect. So, it should be: The train had left before I arrived. The train leaving happened before you arrived, so "had left" tells us that. It’s not rocket science, just remember the order of events. It's a bit advanced, so I'll give you a pass for not getting it immediately. Just this once.

And for this one: I had finished the book yesterday. Is that proper English?

Hmm, after the last one, I think it should be "I finished the book yesterday"? Because there's no other past action.

Finally, you're actually listening! Yes, you're right. You should say: I finished the book yesterday. The past perfect, "had finished," is only used when you're talking about something that happened before another specific past action in the same sentence. If it's just a single action yesterday, simple past is enough. Don't get ahead of yourself, though. You only got that because I drilled the last one into you.

Try this. I shall see you when I shall come back. What's wrong with that?

"When I shall come back" sounds a bit repetitive, doesn't it? So, "when I come back"?

Precisely! You're actually learning something! You should say: I shall see you when I come back. When you have a main clause in the future, like "I shall see you," the verb in the time clause, like "when I come back," must be in the present tense. It's a rule, so just remember it. You did well on that one. Not that I'm impressed or anything.

Okay. If he will ask me, I shall stay. Correct or not?

I think it's wrong again. Similar to the last one. "If he asks me"?

You've got it! You should say: If he asks me, I shall stay. For a simple future condition, the "if" clause uses the present tense, and the main clause uses the future tense. Simple as that. You're not completely brainless, I suppose. Just make sure you remember it next time.

Now, for something a bit different. He talks as if he knows everything. How does that sound to you?

Sounds pretty normal. People say that.

That's where you're mistaken! It's very common, but it's not strictly correct. It should be: He talks as if he knew everything. After "as if" or "as though," you usually use the past tense to show that something isn't real or is hypothetical. Like he would talk if he actually knew everything. You know, for someone who worries so much, you don't worry enough about getting your English right. I'm telling you this for your own good.

Next. I would wish to know more English. Is that the right way to express a wish?

No, that sounds a bit too formal. I think it should be, "I wish I knew more English."

Oh, you finally got a harder one right! Yes, you should say: I wish (that) I knew more English. To talk about a wish you have right now, you use "I wish" followed by a clause with a past tense verb. It shows it's a hypothetical situation. See? You can get it right when you actually try.

Right, conditional sentences. If he would ask me, I should stay. Is this an improbable condition expressed correctly?

Improbable condition? That sounds complicated. If he would ask me... no, I think it should be, "If he asked me, I should stay."

Exactly! It seems you're not entirely useless after all. You've got the conditional spot on. For an "improbable" condition, we use the past tense in the "if" clause – "If he asked me" – and then the conditional, "I should stay," in the main part. The past tense here doesn't mean past time, it just shows it's unlikely. Good job. Don't let it go to your head.

Last conditional for now. If he would have asked me, I should stay. What about that one? Is it an impossible condition?

Impossible... so it's about something that can't happen now because it's in the past. So it should be the past perfect in the "if" clause... "If he had asked me"? And "I should have stayed"?

Unbelievable. You actually pieced that together! You're absolutely right! It should be: If he had asked me, I should have stayed. For an "impossible" condition, meaning it's too late now, you use the past perfect in the "if" clause and the past conditional in the main clause. That was genuinely impressive for you. Maybe you do have a brain in there somewhere.

Next one. Sir, to go home to bring my book? Is that how you ask your teacher something?

No, that sounds like you're just saying words. You need to ask a question. "Sir, may I go home to bring my book?"

Finally, something completely straightforward that even you can manage! Yes, that's right. You should say: Sir, may I go home to bring my book? An infinitive like "to go" just names an action. It doesn't tell us who is doing it or when. You need a full verb, a 'finite' verb, to make a proper sentence and ask a question. Honestly, some of these are so simple, I wonder if you do it on purpose.

Alright, final one. They asked him to be captain, but he refuses. What's wrong there?

Asked... and refuses. One is past, one is present. They don't match. So it should be "he refused."

Spot on! You should say: They asked him to be captain, but he refused. If you start a sentence talking about something in the past, you have to keep all the other verbs in the past tense too. It's about consistency! You can't just jump tenses halfway through. That's a good way to end, you actually got that one right. Maybe all my brilliant teaching is starting to rub off on you after all.

Summary

• 122. Using the present continuous for a habitual action, instead of the simple present.
• 123. Using the verb "to use" for a present habitual action.
• 124. Using the past continuous for a habitual action, instead of the simple past tense.
• 125. Using the past tense instead of the past perfect.
• 126. Using the past perfect instead of the past tense.
• 127. Using the future in a clause of time, instead of the present tense.
• 128. Using the future in the "if" clause instead of the present tense.
• 129. Using the present tense after "as if" or "as though" instead of the past.
• 130. Using the past conditional of "wish" instead of the present indicative.
• 131. Using a wrong tense with an "improbable" condition.
• 132. Using a wrong tense with an "impossible" condition.
• 133. Using the infinitive instead of a finite verb.
• 134. Mixing up the tenses.

Reference: T. J. FITIKIDES, "COMMON MISTAKES IN ENGLISH" p24 - p26