COMMON ERRORS IN USING ENGLISH TENSES BY EFL STUDENTS

Abstract

The correct use of English verb tenses remains one of the major challenges for learners of English as a Foreign Language (EFL). At the elementary level, students frequently encounter grammatical difficulties that affect their ability to communicate accurately in both written and spoken forms. Among the various tense forms, the Present Perfect and Past Simple tenses are particularly problematic because they both refer to actions connected with the past while expressing different temporal meanings. The present study investigates the common errors EFL learners make in the use of these two tenses and examines the factors contributing to such errors. The research is based on an analysis of previous studies concerning tense usage and grammatical difficulties experienced by foreign language learners. The findings indicate that students often have difficulty distinguishing between the communicative functions of the Present Perfect and Past Simple tenses. The most frequent errors involve the misuse of temporal expressions, incorrect verb forms, and the substitution of the Present Perfect with the Past Simple. These difficulties are largely attributed to first-language interference, insufficient grammatical competence, and limited opportunities for authentic language practice. The study highlights the need for more effective instructional strategies to improve learners’ mastery of English tense usage.