Grammar Lesson
Consistent Verb Tense
In English grammar, the word tense means time. The main tenses include
present, past, and future. Therefore, verbs show time according to how they are
conjugated (e.g., what endings are added) or what helping verbs are used.
When you are writing, you should not shift tenses unnecessarily. If you begin
writing or telling a story in present tense, you will usually stay in present tense.
Correspondingly, if you begin writing or telling a story in past tense, you should
usually stay in past tense.
You may shift tenses in a reasonable or logical manner. For example, you may
tell a story in past tense, but then change to the present tense to discuss what
you have learned from that experience; then, you may proceed to the future
tense to show how the lesson will influence future behavior.
Ex.-- Incorrect shift
I interviewed three people about the value of a college education.
The first was my mother, Edna, who says that her mother told her she
needed to find a job to help the family; therefore, she never went to
college.
Note that the underlined verbs are all in past tense except for says which
is in present tense. Therefore, change says to said.
Ex.--Correct
I interviewed three people about the value of a college education. The
first was my mother, Edna, who said that her mother told her she
needed to find a job to help the family; therefore, she never went to
college.
I.
Read Langan’s Sentence Skills with Readings Chapter 11 on Consistent Verb
Tense, pp. 189-193.
II.
Do Practice 1 in Langan textbook on pp. 190-191. Check answers in back of
book.
Do the Review Tests 1 & 2 in Langan textbook on pp. 191-193.
III.
Do the practice exercises at the online websites below.
http://www.slideshare.net/professorgriffith/verb-tense-3017489
PowerPoint presentation on Verb Tense: Keeping Tense Consistent)
http://www.mhhe.com/socscience/english/langan/sentence_skills/exerci
ses/ch10/ie11.htm (Consistent Verb Tense: Fill in blanks)
IV.
Take the online quiz in Blackboard by the required date.