Error past tense
Meaning of error
to make a mistake (jargon).
Infinitive
- 1. Any error in the calculation can significantly impact the final result.
- 2. The system automatically corrects any error that occurs during the processing of data.
- 3. Finding an error in a large dataset requires careful analysis and attention to detail.
Past Simple
- 1. I realized too late that I had made an error in my calculations.
- 2. She apologized after she discovered she had error in the report.
- 3. The technician admitted he had error in installing the software, which caused the system crash.
Past Participle
- 1. The report has been thoroughly reviewed for any errors.
- 2. All the documents were reviewed carefully to ensure no error was overlooked.
- 3. The calculation was reviewed by the team yesterday.
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Bare infinitive
- To describe habitual actions or tendencies of making mistakes, especially in a specific field or context.Example. Developers often error by overlooking boundary conditions in their code.Example. Humans error, but thorough review processes catch most of these mistakes.Example. To error less in your calculations, always double-check your work.
- To state facts or general truths about the nature or instances of making mistakes.Example. Developers often error by overlooking boundary conditions in their code.Example. Humans error, but thorough review processes catch most of these mistakes.Example. To error less in your calculations, always double-check your work.
- To give instructions or advice related to the likelihood or prevention of making mistakes.Example. Developers often error by overlooking boundary conditions in their code.Example. Humans error, but thorough review processes catch most of these mistakes.Example. To error less in your calculations, always double-check your work.
Past Simple
- To talk about a specific instance in the past when a mistake was made.Example. The scientist erred in her experiment, leading to unexpected results.Example. In the early stages of his career, he erred frequently but learned from each mistake.Example. We once erred in our approach to customer service, but we've since improved significantly.
- To describe a series of mistakes made in the past.Example. The scientist erred in her experiment, leading to unexpected results.Example. In the early stages of his career, he erred frequently but learned from each mistake.Example. We once erred in our approach to customer service, but we've since improved significantly.
- To express a past habit of making mistakes that is no longer current.Example. The scientist erred in her experiment, leading to unexpected results.Example. In the early stages of his career, he erred frequently but learned from each mistake.Example. We once erred in our approach to customer service, but we've since improved significantly.
Past Participle
- Perfect tenses - To talk about mistakes that have been made, with relevance to the present moment or completed at an unspecified time in the past.Example. Mistakes were erred in the design phase, which required significant revisions.
- Example (Present Perfect). She has erred in her calculations, which affected the project's outcome.Example. Mistakes were erred in the design phase, which required significant revisions.
- Example (Past Perfect). By the time the error was discovered, they had already erred in distributing the funds.Example. Mistakes were erred in the design phase, which required significant revisions.
- Passive voice - While less commonly used in passive voice due to its nature, it can be applied to describe situations where the focus is on the mistake made, rather than who made it.Example. Mistakes were erred in the design phase, which required significant revisions.
Common mistakes
— 01
Wrong Patterns
A common mistake is trying to apply regular verb conjugation patterns to 'error' by adding '-ed' or '-d' to create a non-existent past form like 'errored' instead of using the correct irregular past form 'erred.' This error stems from an overgeneralization of the most common rule for forming past tenses in English, without recognizing that 'error,' when used as a verb, follows an irregular pattern that does not adhere to the regular '-ed' suffix rule.
— 02
Using the Base Form
Another frequent error involves using the base form 'error' instead of the past simple or past participle form 'erred' in sentences that refer to past actions. For example, saying 'Last year, I error in my calculation' instead of the correct 'Last year, I erred in my calculation.' This mistake indicates a misunderstanding of tense usage and the need to modify the verb to accurately reflect past actions.
— 03
Confusion with Noun
Since 'error' is more commonly used as a noun, some learners might be unaware that it can also function as a verb and thus might misuse or avoid attempting to conjugate it altogether. They may opt for constructions that avoid using 'error' as a verb, such as 'made an error' instead of directly using 'erred,' even when 'erred' would be more concise and appropriate in the context. This avoidance can lead to less precise or more cumbersome phrasing.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple form of 'error'?
How do you use the past participle form of 'error'?
Can 'erred' be used in passive voice constructions?