Even strong writers sometimes stumble over past participles. These verb forms are tricky but essential for clear, professional writing. Mistakes here can make your work seem sloppy or unpolished. Below are 10 common past participle errors, along with corrections and simple explanations to help you avoid them.
What Is a Past Participle Error?
Past participle errors happens when you use the wrong form of a verb in phrases like:
- “I have went” (wrong) instead of “I have gone” (correct)
- “She has ate” (wrong) instead of “She has eaten” (correct)
Past Participle Error Examples
Errors like “should have went” or “have drank” are easy to miss but stick out to careful readers. To help you polish your writing, here are 10 past participle examples, along with simple corrections and explanations to avoid them
1. “Should Have Went” vs. “Should Have Gone”
❌ Incorrect: She should have went to the meeting.
✅ Correct: She should have gone to the meeting.
Why?
- “Gone” is the past participle of “go.”
- After “have/has/had,” always use the past participle, not the simple past (“went”).
2. “I Seen” vs. “I Saw” or “I Have Seen”
❌ Incorrect: I seen that movie last week.
✅ Correct: I saw that movie last week. (simple past)
✅ Also Correct: I have seen that movie. (present perfect)
Why?
- “Seen” always needs a helper verb (have/has/had).
- Without one, use “saw” for simple past tense.
3. “Had Went” vs. “Had Gone”
❌ Incorrect: He had went home before dinner.
✅ Correct: He had gone home before dinner.
Why?
- In past perfect tense (had + past participle), “gone” is correct—never “went.”
4. “Could Have Ran” vs. “Could Have Run”
❌ Incorrect: She could have ran faster.
✅ Correct: She could have run faster.
Why?
- “Run” is the past participle of “run.”
- “Ran” is simple past—never use it after “have/has/could have.”
5. “Was Broke” vs. “Was Broken”
❌ Incorrect: The vase was broke when I found it.
✅ Correct: The vase was broken when I found it.
Why?
- “Broken” is the past participle used in passive voice.
- “Broke” is simple past (e.g., He broke the vase).
6. “Have Drank” vs. “Have Drunk”
❌ Incorrect: I have drank too much coffee today.
✅ Correct: I have drunk too much coffee today.
Why?
- “Drunk” is the past participle of “drink.”
- “Drank” is simple past (e.g., I drank coffee yesterday).
7. “Should Have Spoke” vs. “Should Have Spoken”
❌ Incorrect: He should have spoke up earlier.
✅ Correct: He should have spoken up earlier.
Why?
- “Spoken” is the past participle; “spoke” is simple past.
- After “should have,” always use the participle.
8. “Has Wrote” vs. “Has Written”
❌ Incorrect: She has wrote three books.
✅ Correct: She has written three books.
Why?
- “Written” is the past participle of “write.”
- “Wrote” is simple past (e.g., She wrote a book last year).
9. “Was Supposed To Went” vs. “Was Supposed To Go”
❌ Incorrect: He was supposed to went to the store.
✅ Correct: He was supposed to go to the store.
Why?
- After “to,” always use the base verb (“go”), not past tense.
10. “Had Did” vs. “Had Done”
❌ Incorrect: They had did their best.
✅ Correct: They had done their best.
Why?
- “Done” is the past participle of “do.”
- “Did” is simple past—never use it after “had.”
Final Tip: How to Avoid These Past Participle Errors
- Memorize common irregular past participles (gone, seen, written, etc.).
- Remember the structure:
- Have/has/had + past participle (e.g., have gone)
- Was/were + past participle for passive voice (e.g., was broken)
- When in doubt, look it up! Even professionals double-check.
Fixing these errors will make your writing smoother and more polished.
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