Problems with Verbs

1. Subject / Verb Agreement

Third person singular -s

X That man live in California.

That man lives in California

2. Wrong tense

Watch for key "time words" and phrases

X Yesterday I go to the dance.

Yesterday I went to the dance

3. Passive and non-passive expressions

Extra "be"

X What was happened last night?

What happened last night?

Omitted "be"

X I concerned about my grades.

4. Modal usage

Insertion of "to"

X I had better to go.

I had better go.

Non-base form after modal

X I could played basketball.

I could play basketball.

5. Wrong word choice

X I have met tony for tenyears.

I have known Johanna for five years.