Verb Agreement

Verb agreement is one of those annoying things in a language which can express several tenses; an action in the future cannot happen before an action in the present or the past.  This seems quite logical, but can be difficult to control when there are several clauses in the sentence, or when there are several tenses being used.  To top it all off, English has several versions of each tense (simple past, past perfect, past progressive, etc.)  Keeping the tenses straight is essential when it comes to clear communication.



Agreement Of Simple Tenses



After using a past simple tense in the negative, the next verb in the clause should be in the present simple tense.  The simple tense involves one verb communicating the time.



Incorrect: Yesterday, he didn’t did all his work.

The negative past simple tense verb, “didn’t”, requires a present tense verb following it. “Did” should be changed to “do”.



Incorrect: The screw would not went in the hole we drilled for it.

The negative past simple tense verb, “would not”, requires a present tense verb following it. “Went” should be changed to “go”.





Two Clauses In One Sentence



When we have two clauses in the same sentence, they frequently use the same verb tense (i.e. both tenses should be past tense, or both tenses should be future tense). If the second clause uses past simple tense, the first clause may be best if written in the past perfect tense instead of the present perfect tense. Think of it this way: if the first action finished before the second action occurred, use the past perfect tense for the first action.



Incorrect: She has just finished setting up the romantic dinner before her partner came home.

Because the second clause uses the past simple tense, “came”, the first clause would be better if written in the past perfect tense: She had just finished setting up the romantic dinner before her partner came home.



Incorrect: We have eaten dinner when the fire broke out in the kitchen.

Because the first action had finished before the second action occurred, the first clause should use the past perfect tense: We had eaten dinner…



Verb Agreement In Negative Sentences



If the negative auxiliary verb is in the present simple tense, the main verb in the clause should be in the root form.



Incorrect: They don’t thinking about how other people feel.

The main verb in the clause should be in the root form: They don’t think about how other people feel.



Incorrect: What happens if I do not goes to work today?

The main verb in the clause should be in the root form: What happens if I do not go to work today?





Present Tense Signal Phrases



Certain phrases are commonly used with the present perfect verb tense. Such phrases (e.g. just, already, yet, ever, never, still, so far ) may be used with the past simple tense in everyday use, but are more formal if used with the present perfect tense (have/has + present tense verb). Consider using the  present perfect tense, for a more formal tone.



Incorrect: You still didn’t pick up the parcel at the post office.

The present perfect tense signal phrase, “still”, indicates the verb may be better if changed to the present perfect tense, “you still haven’t picked up…”



Incorrect: So far, he just made a mess instead of cleaning his room.

The present perfect tense signal phrase, “so far” indicates the sentence may be better written in the present perfect tense: So far, he has just made a mess instead of cleaning his room.



Past Tense Signal Phrases



When phrases which clearly imply the past tense are used, present tense verbs should not be used in the clause. For instance, “yesterday” implies an occurrence in the past. Some other past tense signal phrases are: …ago, in 2008, the other day, last week/month/year/summer, and previously.



Incorrect: He is going to university last year.

The past tense signal phrase in this sentence is, “last year”. The verb could be changed to “he went”, or “he was going”, as appropriate.





Was/Were + (Not) + Present Participle + When



If the first clause of your sentence refers to an action which is still happening when the action in the second clause happens, you need to use the past continuous tense in the first clause, and the past simple tense in the second clause. The first clause will have: was/were + verb ending in “ing”.



Incorrect: They were walked in the door when the thieves attacked them.

Because the thieves attacked while they were still moving through the door, the first clause should use the past continuous tense; “walked” should be changed to “walking”.

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