Common mistake 'hasn't' + irregular past tense verb
Common Mistake: 'Hasn't' + Irregular Past Tense Verb
One of the most common grammar mistakes is the incorrect usage of 'hasn't' followed by an irregular past tense verb. This error often occurs when we intend to use the present perfect tense but inadvertently apply it incorrectly. Let's take a closer look at this mistake and how to avoid it.
Understanding the Present Perfect Tense
The present perfect tense is used to describe an action that started in the past and has a connection to the present. It is formed by using the auxiliary verb 'has' or 'have' followed by the past participle form of the verb.
For regular verbs, the past participle form is created by adding '-ed' to the base verb. For example:
- I have finished my homework.
- She has visited that museum before.
However, when it comes to irregular verbs, the past participle form doesn't follow a specific pattern and needs to be memorized. Some examples of irregular past tense verbs include:
- I have driven my car all day.
- He has eaten dinner already.
The Common Mistake
The mistake occurs when we use the contraction 'hasn't' followed by an irregular past tense verb. Let's look at an example:
- Incorrect: She hasn't went to the store yet.
- Correct: She hasn't gone to the store yet.
In the incorrect sentence above, 'hasn't went' is incorrect because the irregular past tense of 'go' is 'gone', not 'went'.
How to Avoid the Mistake
To avoid this common mistake, it's essential to memorize the irregular past tense forms of the verbs. Here are a few examples:
- Incorrect: He hasn't wrote the report yet.
- Correct: He hasn't written the report yet.
Another way to avoid this mistake is by using a grammar checker tool like Linguix. Grammar checkers can swiftly identify errors in verb usage and help you correct them before finalizing your writing.
By being aware of this common mistake and practicing correct verb usage, you can improve your English grammar and effectively communicate your ideas.
'hasn't' + irregular past tense verb mistake examples
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Incorrect:They haven't bit their tongue.Correct:They haven't bitten their tongue.
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Incorrect:You weren't awake by the alarm clock, were you?Correct:You weren't awaked|weren't awoken by the alarm clock, were you?
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Incorrect:The children weren't awake by the storm, were they?Correct:The children weren't awaked|weren't awoken by the storm, were they?
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Incorrect:The technicians weren't awake by the emergency alarm.Correct:The technicians weren't awaked|weren't awoken by the emergency alarm.
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Incorrect:We slept soundly; we know we weren't awake by the storm!Correct:We slept soundly; we know we weren't awaked|weren't awoken by the storm!
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Incorrect:Tom hasn't send any message yet.Correct:Tom hasn't sent any message yet.
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Correct:They haven't awoken before nine in a long time.
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Correct:You weren't awake.
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Correct:You weren't awake at the time of the accident.
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Correct:Are you sure they weren't awake?
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Correct:Tom and Mary said that they weren't broke.
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Correct:The technicians weren't awake at the time of the accident, were they?
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Correct:I thought Tom and Mary weren't awake.
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Correct:Tom's lazy children weren't awake when I visited him.
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Correct:Sami became more and more concerned that Layla still hadn't showed up.
