Recognize incorrect verb tense or verb form

Every language needs a way to show when something happens. Did it happen yesterday? Is it happening right now? Will it happen tomorrow? In English, we change the verb (the action word) to show this timing. This timing system is called verb tense.

English verbs have changed a lot over the centuries. Long ago, English had many more verb endings and forms. Over time, the language got simpler in some ways but kept tricky irregular verbs (verbs that don't follow the normal rules). That's why we still say "went" instead of "goed" and "swam" instead of "swimmed."

On the TACHS, you'll read sentences and look for mistakes. One of the most common mistakes is using the wrong verb tense or verb form. So how do you spot these errors? Let's learn the core rules.

Before you can find errors, you need to understand the basic tenses and how they work. There are three main time frames: past, present, and future. Each has a regular form and sometimes a tricky irregular form.

The diagram below shows how the three main tenses line up on a timeline. Notice the time clue words under each section. These clue words help you figure out which tense a sentence needs.

When you see a sentence on the TACHS, look for those clue words first. They're like a GPS telling you which tense you need. If the sentence says "yesterday" but uses a present-tense verb, you've found the error!

Verbs have different forms depending on how they're used in a sentence. You need to know these forms to catch errors on the TACHS. Let's look at the four key forms every verb has.

The Four Principal Parts of a Verb

The biggest source of errors is mixing up the past tense and the past participle. For regular verbs, they look the same ("walked" and "walked"). But for irregular verbs, they're different. You say "I went" (past tense) but "I have gone" (past participle). Saying "I have went" is a common error.

Common Irregular Verbs to Know

On the TACHS, verb errors usually fall into a few categories. The diagram below shows the five most common types. Let's break each one down so you know exactly what to look for.

The tense shift error is the most common on tests. It happens when a writer starts in one tense and accidentally switches to another. The wrong participle error trips people up because they confuse the simple past with the past participle. Always remember: if you see "have," "has," or "had," the next verb must be the participle form.

The wrong irregular form error happens when someone treats an irregular verb like a regular one (adding "-ed" when they shouldn't). The subject-verb mix-up is about matching singular and plural. And the clue word mismatch happens when the time word says one thing but the verb says another.

Let's walk through a TACHS-style question step by step. Here's the sentence:

Some verb errors are easy to spot. Others are sneaky. The table below compares common traps you might see on the TACHS and explains why one form is correct.

So far, you've learned about simple past, present, and future. But English also has perfect tenses that show when one action happened before another. You don't need to master all of these for the TACHS, but knowing the basics will help you spot even trickier errors.

The key idea is that perfect tenses always use a helping verb + a past participle. So every rule you've learned about participles still applies. In high school, you'll study these tenses more deeply. For now, just remember: if you see "have," "has," "had," or "will have," the main verb must be a past participle.

Try these five problems. For each one, find the verb error and explain what the correct form should be. The problems get harder as you go!