Common Verb Mistakes
A2 · ElementaryCommon Grammar MistakesI am agree, she go, I didn't went — small verb slips that are easy to fix once you can spot them.
What you'll learn
- Don't add 'am/is/are' before an ordinary verb — 'agree', 'like', 'want' don't need 'be' in front of them
- Third person singular (he/she/it) needs an -s in the present simple: she goes, not she go
- 'Did/didn't' already shows past tense — the main verb goes back to its base form: didn't go, not didn't went
- Modal verbs (can, will, must) never take 'do/does/did' in front of them
- In negatives and questions, 'don't/doesn't/didn't' or 'do/does/did' carry the tense — the main verb stays in its base form
Small slips, big impact
These aren't new grammar rules — they're the handful of verb mistakes that show up again and again, even at a fairly good level. Each one has a simple fix once you know what to look for.
Don't add 'be' before an ordinary verb
'Am/is/are' is only needed with an adjective, a noun, or an -ing form — never directly before an ordinary base-form verb like 'agree', 'like', or 'want'.
Don't forget -s with he/she/it
In the present simple, the verb needs an -s ending whenever the subject is he, she, it, or a singular noun.
Don't mark the tense twice
'Did', 'didn't', 'does', and 'doesn't' already show the tense — the main verb after them stays in its base form. Adding a past-tense ending on top is a double marking mistake.
Never combine a modal with do/does/did
Modal verbs like can, will, must, and should already work like an auxiliary — they never need 'do/does/did' as well.
Real English
Watch out
'Agree' is an ordinary verb, not an adjective — it never takes 'am/is/are' in front of it.
The present simple needs -s with he/she/it.
'Didn't' already marks the past — the main verb stays in its base form.
Modal verbs like 'can' never combine with 'do/does/did'.
Real life — Checking someone's understanding
"Do you understand the instructions?"
"Yes, I understand. It doesn't look too hard."
"Great — did you already start?"
"Not yet, but I will start soon."
Practice
Exercise 1 · Choose the correct sentence
Which is correct?
Exercise 2 · Choose the correct sentence
Which is correct?
Exercise 3 · Choose the correct sentence
Which is correct?
Exercise 4 · Choose the correct sentence
Which is correct?
Exercise 5 · Choose the correct sentence
Which is correct?
Exercise 6 · Choose the correct sentence
Which is correct?
Exercise 7 · Choose the correct sentence
Which is correct?
Exercise 8 · Choose the correct sentence
Which is correct?
Exercise 9 · Correct the mistake
Correct the mistake: He don't like coffee.
Exercise 10 · Correct the mistake
Correct the mistake: I am understand the lesson.
Quick challenge
Five quick questions to check what stuck.
Question 1 / 5
Score: 0/0
Which is correct?
You learned
- Don't put 'am/is/are' before an ordinary verb.
- Add -s to the present simple verb with he/she/it.
- Don't mark the past tense twice — after did/didn't, use the base form.
- Modal verbs never combine with do/does/did.
Related grammar lessons
Adjective vs Adverb Mistakes
A focused review of the most common mix-ups between adjectives and adverbs — dropped -ly endings, and adjectives that get replaced by adverbs after linking verbs.
Subject–Verb Agreement Mistakes
A focused review of the trickiest subject–verb agreement errors — agreeing with the wrong noun when a phrase comes between the subject and the verb, and singular indefinite pronouns that feel plural.
Common Article Mistakes
A focused review of the most persistent article mistakes — missing 'a/an' before a job or role, and an extra 'the' added to general statements or place names that don't need one.
Common Preposition Mistakes
A focused review of the prepositions most often paired with the wrong verb or adjective — married to (not with), depend on (not of), listen to (not nothing at all).