The Common Error of the Unnecessary 'Be' Verb

Question: What is the error in the sentence, "This flash drive is contain the files you need"?

The error in "This flash drive is contain the files you need" is the incorrect addition of an extra "be" verb, specifically "is," which is unnecessary and grammatically incorrect in this sentence structure.

​Many English learners mistakenly add an extra "be" verb (like "is") when forming sentences, especially when using verbs like "contain," "consist," "include," and "belong," which are commonly misinterpreted as needing auxiliary verbs.

In English, verbs stand alone in the simple present tense without needing an auxiliary verb as long as the sentence is not negative and is not a question. The verb "contain" is one of these verbs. When we say "This flash drive contains the files you need," the verb "contains" is in the simple present form, which already expresses the intended meaning without needing an extra "be" verb.

Adding "is" in front of "contain" mistakenly forms a structure that would typically only be correct in the present continuous tense (e.g., "is containing"), but "contain" is rarely used in the continuous form, as it describes a state rather than an ongoing action.

The correct sentence then is:

• "This flash drive contains the files you need."

Common Verbs That Often Lead to This Error
Here are a few more examples of state or stative verbs that learners sometimes incorrectly pair with "be":
Belong – Incorrect: "This book is belong to me."  • Correct: "This book belongs to me."

Consist – Incorrect: "The team is consist of experts." • Correct: "The team consists of experts."

Include – Incorrect: "The report is include the findings." • Correct: "The report includes the findings."

Own – Incorrect: "She is own a car." • Correct: "She owns a car."

Have – Incorrect: "He is have two dogs." • Correct: "He has two dogs."

The main takeaway for English learners is to avoid adding an extra "be" verb with verbs that already describe a complete state or condition in the simple present form.

Exercise -- Find and correct the error in the following sentences:
1. Don is prefer the blue shelves to the black ones. 
2. This tool is measure the humidity inside this room. 
3. They are recognize the seriousness of this situation. 
4. My dog is always know the sound of my voice. 
5. I am remember the names of everyone in my class. 

____________________________________
Answers (jumbled):
3. They recognize the seriousness of this situation.
1. Don prefers the blue shelves to the black ones. 
4. My dog always knows the sound of my voice.
2. This tool measures the humidity inside this room. 
 5. I remember the names of everyone in my class.