因为中文和英语表达方式的不同，中国人在学习和运用英语语法的时候经常出现错误，尤其是在写信、写电子邮件、写记叙文时。比较常见的错误有：时态不对应;通篇须用几种时态时用一种时态;时态混用或串用;不用进行时。

　(1)一般过去时表示过去发生的动作或存在的状态，而过去完成时表示在过去某一动作发生在另一动作之前。试比较：

　　The class had already begun when I came to school. 我来到学校时，已经开始上课。

　　He had gone home before I got to his office. 我到他办公室以前，他已回家了。

　　(2)有after或before引导的时间状语从句的复合句中，由于从句动作和主句动作发生的先后顺序已经非常明确，所以可以用一般过去时代替过去完成时：

　　He called on me soon after he had returned. 他回来不久便拜访我。也可以说：He called on me soon after he returned.

　　The train had left before I got to the station. 我到车站时,火车已经开走了。也可以说：The train left before I got to the station。

　　(3)描述一连串的过去动作，无需用过去完成时，例如：

　　He stood up, took his bag, put on his hat, left the room and went away. 他站起来，拿起书包，戴上帽子，离开房间走了。

　　She looked around but saw nothing. 她环顾四周，但是什么也没有看见。

　　He came in and said hello to everyone. 他进来向每一个人问好。