Abstract
The study explores the spoken language of advanced English speakers with regard to the mistakes and inaccuracies they make in the use of morphological categories of verbs. The data is drawn from the advanced learner corpus LINDSEI_CZ (50 advanced students).
The results are quantitatively analysed in order to identify phenomena in which advanced students commit errors most frequently. Such errors occur even in relatively basic usage of tenses and sequence of tenses, especially in the present perfect.
The study also identifies a number of other typical problems and points out that these problems may stem from negative L1 transfer, but may also be due to inappropriate techniques used in teaching these phenomena. It calls for the reassessment of grammar teaching, away from the decontextualized practice and grammatical interpretation based on strict rules, and towards a discourse-oriented practice and the development of a deeper understanding of complex concepts that influence the choice of tense and aspect.