Grammar · Standard English

Correcting common errors

Standard English is the form used in writing and formal speech — the kind marked correct in exams. This quiz drills the errors children make most: was/were, double negatives, did/saw vs done/seen, and slang like ain't, them (for those) and should of. Spot them and fix them below.

1 What 'standard English' means

Standard English is the form used in writing and formal speech — the kind expected in exams. Non-standard English includes slang and dialect that isn't accepted in formal writing.

✗ We was happy. → ✓ We were happy.

2 was / were

Use was with I/he/she/it and were with you/we/they.

✗ They was late. → ✓ They were late. · ✗ You was right. → ✓ You were right.

3 Double negatives

Standard English uses one negative, not two. "didn't see nothing" is non-standard.

✗ I didn't see nothing. → ✓ I didn't see anything. (or: I saw nothing.)

4 done / did, seen / saw, come / came

Use the simple past on its own: did, saw, came, went. Use done, seen only with a helper (have done, has seen).

✗ I done it. → ✓ I did it. · ✗ We seen it. → ✓ We saw it.

5 Common non-standard words

Replace dialect/slang forms with standard ones.

ain't→ isn't / aren't / hasn't

gonna / wanna→ going to / want to

them books→ those books

should of→ should have

The 30-second method

How to correct an error fast

Check was/were matches the subject (they were, not they was).
One negative only — swap 'nothing' for 'anything' after didn't.
did/saw/came alone; done/seen only with have/has.
Swap slang: ain't, gonna, them (for those), should of.
Read it aloud formally — does it sound right for writing?

10 worked examples

Read the non-standard sentence, then the standard fix.

1. We was tired.

We were tired. — they/we take 'were' (Rule 2).

2. She don't know.

She doesn't know. — he/she/it takes 'doesn't' (Rule 1).

3. I didn't do nothing.

I didn't do anything. — one negative (Rule 3).

4. He done his homework.

He did his homework. — 'did' alone (Rule 4).

5. We seen the film.

We saw the film. — 'saw' alone (Rule 4).

6. Look at them shoes.

Look at those shoes. — 'those', not 'them' (Rule 5).

7. I ain't going.

I'm not going. — replace 'ain't' (Rule 5).

8. You should of asked.

You should have asked. — 'have', not 'of' (Rule 5).

9. Me and him went.

He and I went. — subject pronouns (Rule 1).

10. They was gonna leave.

They were going to leave. — were + going to (Rules 2, 5).

Mock paper — 20 questions

Progress0 / 20

Pick one answer (A–E) for each question. The timer starts when you answer your first.