Verb Errors - Part 2/4

This section of our course will review those errors most commonly presented in the CPE and teach you what to look for. We will not review here the basic rules of grammar, such as the formation and use of the different tenses and the passive voice, the subjective and objective cases of pronouns, the position of adjectives and adverbs, and the like. We assume that a candidate for the CPE is familiar with basic grammar, and we will concentrate on error recognition based on that knowledge.

4. Errors in conditional sentences

In conditional sentences, the word if will NEVER be followed by the words will or would. Here are the correct conditional forms:

FUTURE

If I have time, I will do it tomorrow.

PRESENT

If I had time, I would do it now.

PAST

If I had had time, I would have done it yesterday.

Sentences using the words when, as soon as, the moment, etc., are formed like future conditionals:

I will tell him if I see him.
I will tell him when I see him.

The verb to be will ALWAYS appear as were in the present conditional:

If I were you, I wouldn't do that.
She wouldn't say so if she weren't sure.

NOTE: Not all sentences containing if are conditionals. When if appears in the meaning of whether, it may take the future:

I don't know if he will be there.
(I don't know whether he will be there.)

INCORRECT

If I would have known, I wouldn't have gone.

CORRECT

If I had known, I wouldn't have gone.

INCORRECT

You wouldn't be so tired if you weren't going to bed so late.

CORRECT

You wouldn't be so tired if you didn't go to bed so late.

INCORRECT

Call me the moment you will get home.

CORRECT

Call me the moment you get home.

INCORRECT

We could go to the beach if it wasn't so hot.

CORRECT

We could go to the beach if it weren't so hot.

5. Errors in expressions of desire

Unfulfilled desires are expressed by the form "___ had hoped that ___ would (or could, or might) do ___."

I had hoped that I would pass the exam.

Expressions with wish are formed as follows:

PRESENT

I wish I knew him.

FUTURE

I wish you could (would) come.

PAST

I wish he had come. (or could have come, would have come, might have come)

NOTE: As in conditionals, the verb to be will ALWAYS appear as were in the present: I wish she were here.

INCORRECT

I wish I heard that story about him before I met him.

CORRECT

I wish I had heard (or could have heard or would have heard) that story about him before I met him.

INCORRECT

She wishes you will be on time.

CORRECT

She wishes you could (or would) be on time.