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Home  arrow Common Errors Workbook  arrow Grammar  arrow 2. Confusing the past tense and past participle forms of irregular verbs  arrow Examples

Examples
  1. James has (gone/went) to the airport to pick up his father.

    Step 1. The verb following have is a form of go.
    Step 2. Go is an irregular verb.
    Step 3. Choose the past participle form, gone.

  2. His father has (taken/took) a trip every weekend for the past month.

    Step 1. The verb following have is a form of take.
    Step 2. Take is an irregular verb.
    Step 3. Choose the past participle form, taken.

  3. He has not (came/come) home early from any of his trips.

    Step 1. The verb following have is a form of come.
    Step 2. Come is an irregular verb.
    Step 3. Choose the past participle form, come.

  4. James' mother has not (saw/seen) him since he left for the airport.

    Step 1. The verb following have is a form of see.
    Step 2. See is an irregular verb.
    Step 3. Choose the past participle form, seen.

  5. He finally (brung/brought) his father home after dinner.

    Step 1. The sentence does not contain have, so a simple past tense form can be used. Brought is the past tense of bring. (Brung is a nonstandard form and therefore should not be chosen for edited written English.)






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