Error Spotting
🔒 Log in to trackTense and sequence-of-tenses errors
🔒 Log in to trackEvery sentence has a time word (an anchor) such as yesterday, since 2019 or when. The verb must obey it. Tense errors have a few fixed shapes. Look for will inside a time clause. Look for since and for mixed up. Look for a missing past perfect, and for a perfect tense next to a finished time.
The anchor decides the tense
An anchor is a word that names the time: yesterday, since 2019, by the time, as soon as. The verb must match it. A tense error means the verb and the anchor disagree.
Example: He has left two days ago. The anchor ago names a finished time. Use the simple past: He left two days ago.
The main anchors
| Anchor | Tense | Example |
|---|---|---|
| yesterday, last week, ago, in 2019 | simple past | He left two days ago. |
| since + point, for + length, so far, yet, already, just | perfect forms | She has been teaching since 2015. |
| every day, usually | simple present | The shop opens at nine. |
| when / if / until / as soon as (future meaning) | simple present | I will call when the meeting ends. |
| earlier of two past events | past perfect | The train had left before I reached. |
| a general truth | simple present | The earth moves round the sun. |
Rules examiners love
- No will in a time or condition clause. After when, before, after, until, as soon as, if, unless, use the simple present for the future. Right: when the meeting ends. Wrong: when the meeting will end.
- Since and for. Since takes a point (since 2015, since morning). For takes a length (for ten years). Since ten years is wrong.
- Past perfect for the earlier event. With two past actions, the earlier one takes had + participle. Clue words: by the time, before, already.
- No perfect with a finished time. Has gone clashes with yesterday, last week, in 2019.
- General truths stay in the present. The teacher explained that the earth moves round the sun.
- Past reporting verb. Said, asked pull the reported clause back: said that she was busy. A general truth is the exception (rule 5).
Watch: Do not force the past perfect everywhere. After before or after, the perfect is optional if the order is already clear.
Since and for with the perfect continuous
Has / have been + -ing pairs with since or for.
- She has been working here for ten years.
- It has been raining since he left. (a past clause after since, present perfect in the main clause)
The two-step method
- Circle the time word in every part.
- Check each verb against the table above.
If a verb inside a when / if / until clause has will, or a perfect tense stands next to ago, you have found the error.
Tip: Used to and would show a past habit. Say used to, never use to.
Question types you will see
Each type: how to recognise it, the method step by step, and one question to try.
Will inside a when / if / until clause
The sentence is about the future. A clause starting with when, if or until has will + verb.
Find the time or condition word.
If it points to the future, its clause takes the simple present.
Keep will only in the main clause.
The future helper never enters a time clause in English.
Find the part with the error. (a) The chief guest will not leave (b) the venue until (c) the programme will conclude. (d) No error
Show solutionHide solution
'Until' starts a time clause about the future.
The clause needs the simple present.
Correct: 'until the programme concludes'.
(c) the programme will conclude
Since vs for
A perfect or perfect continuous verb is followed by a time phrase. The choice is between since and for.
Ask what the phrase names: a point or a length.
Point (2015, morning): since.
Length (ten years, two hours): for.
The two words split all time phrases between them.
Find the part with the error. (a) My uncle has been teaching (b) in this school (c) since fifteen years. (d) No error
Show solutionHide solution
'Fifteen years' is a length.
A length takes 'for'.
Correct: 'for fifteen years'.
(c) since fifteen years
Past perfect for the earlier past event
Two past actions are in one sentence, often with before, after, by the time or already.
Put the two actions on a timeline.
The earlier one takes had + participle.
The later one takes the simple past.
The past perfect marks the earlier of two past events. Without it, the order is lost.
Find the part with the error. (a) When we reached the hall, (b) the play already began, (c) so we watched (d) from the back.
Show solutionHide solution
The play began before we reached.
So the play is the earlier event.
Correct: 'had already begun'.
(b) the play already began
Present perfect with a finished time
A has / have / had + participle stands next to yesterday, ago, last week or in 2019.
Look for ago, yesterday, last ... or a year next to a perfect form.
A finished time needs the simple past.
Correct the verb part.
The present perfect connects to now. A finished time cuts that link.
Find the part with the error. (a) Ravi has left (b) for Hyderabad (c) two days ago (d) to attend an interview.
Show solutionHide solution
'Two days ago' is a finished time.
The present perfect cannot go with it.
Correct: 'Ravi left'.
(a) Ravi has left
General truth pulled into the past
A sentence reports what someone said, and the reported clause states a scientific or permanent fact.
Check the reported clause for a general truth.
Such truths stay in the simple present.
A past form there is the error.
Sequence of tenses has a standing exception for facts that are always true.
Find the part with the error. (a) The teacher explained (b) that the earth (c) moved around the sun. (d) No error
Show solutionHide solution
'The earth moves round the sun' is a permanent fact.
It stays in the simple present.
Correct: 'moves around the sun'.
(c) moved around the sun
Past reporting verb, unchanged verb inside
A past reporting verb (said, asked) is followed by a clause that still has will, can or a present form.
Spot the past reporting verb.
Check the verb in the reported clause.
Move it back one step: will to would, can to could, is to was.
A past reporting verb pulls the reported clause into the past.
Find the part with the error. (a) She said that (b) she will meet us (c) at the station (d) the next morning.
Show solutionHide solution
'Said' is past.
'Will' must move back to 'would'.
Correct: 'she would meet us'.
(b) she will meet us
Shortcuts that save time
Circle yesterday, ago, since, for, by the time, when and next week before you judge any verb. Most tense items solve themselves.
When I reached / the station, the train / already left / without a whistle.
Show solutionHide solution
Two past events: the train left first, then I reached.
The earlier event needs the past perfect.
Correct: 'had already left'.
Part 3 (already left)
Scan for will inside a when / if / until clause with future meaning. SSC plants this error again and again.
Since + starting point (since Monday, since 2019, since childhood). For + length (for ten years, for a week). The wrong partner is the answer.
Mistakes to avoid
Where most students lose marks on this subtopic.
Using the present perfect with a finished time ('I have met him yesterday').
Use the simple past: 'I met him yesterday'.
Moving only half the sentence back: 'He said he will come'.
Move the whole clause back: 'He said he would come'.
Using the past perfect whenever two past verbs appear.
Use it only to show which action came first.
Writing 'since' with a length of time because it sounds formal.
Length takes 'for': for ten years.
Putting will inside the when-clause.
Use the simple present in the when-clause. Keep will in the main clause.
Quick revision
Read this the night before the exam.
ago, yesterday, last ...: simple past only. Never has / have.
since + point of time. for + length of time.
when / if / until / as soon as (future): simple present. No will inside.
Earlier of two past events: had + participle.
General truths stay in the simple present, even in reported speech.
has / have been + -ing pairs with since or for.
Practice: 12 questions
Sets of 10, mixed across the question types above. Every answer has a step-by-step explanation.
Topic test · 12 questions
Suggested time 7 min · wrong answers go to your mistake notebook automatically.