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Verb Tense Consistency
18e. Do not change needlessly from one tense to another.
EXERCISE A Each of the following sentences contains an error in consistency of verb tense. Revise each
sentence to make the verb tenses consistent. Give only one answer for each sentence.
became
Example 1. Slowly, the sun sank below the horizon, and the sky becomes dark.
or
sinks
Slowly, the sun sank below the horizon, and the sky becomes dark.
1. Pioneers traveled west in Conestoga wagons and have endured many hardships.
2. After the president of the United States threw out the first ball, the baseball game begins.
3. The hungry child will eat some crackers and drank a cup of milk.
4. Eduardo worked in the garden while we trim the hedges.
5. By dinner I will have finished my homework, and Laurie finishes her chores.
6. After I swallowed the huge gulp of water, I will cough.
7. As the trees sway in the breeze, the birds will have sung merrily.
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8. Hannah had mixed her paints before she notices a crack in her palette.
9. My parents owned a diner until last year when they sell it.
10. Tim had washed the dishes but forgets to put them away.
EXERCISE B For the following sentences, fill in each blank with an appropriate tense for the verb given in
parentheses.
has played
Example 1. Jason _________________
piano since he was five years old. (play)
11. She has roasted a turkey and _________________ rolls for the holiday meal. (heat)
12. I noticed the last bus and _________________ after it. (run)
13. Last weekend I _________________ Grandma and spent the afternoon with her. (visit)
14. Ron will do the laundry, and I _________________ the windows. (wash)
15. Jessie _________________ his homework before his mother came home from the store. (finish)
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USAGE
When writing about events that take place at the same time, use verbs that are in the same tense.
When writing about events that occur at different times, use verbs that are in different tenses.
INCONSISTENT We sat on the porch and gaze at the stars.
CONSISTENT We sat on the porch and gazed at the stars.
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for CHAPTER 18: USING VERBS CORRECTLY
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Active and Passive Voice
EXERCISE A Above the underlined verb in each sentence, write A for active voice or P for passive voice.
P
Example 1. Six Nobel prizes are awarded each year.
1. The Nobel Prize fund was established by Alfred Bernhard Nobel.
2. Various institutions function as prize awarders.
3. Winners are named in six categories: physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, peace, and
economics.
4. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awards the prizes in physics and chemistry.
5. Each award consists of a gold medal, a diploma, and money.
6. The first Nobel prizes were awarded on December 10, 1901.
7. Each year, the new winners give lectures as part of their awards ceremonies.
8. Prizes have been declined by various nominees, usually for political reasons.
9. During World Wars I and II, the prize committees couldn’t gather information on nominees.
10. No Nobel prizes could be awarded during this time.
EXERCISE B Underline the verb in each sentence. Above it, write A for active voice or P for passive voice.
P
Example 1. Our calendar has been influenced by the early Roman calendar.
11. The name January comes from the Roman month Januarius.
12. Janus was honored by Romans as the god of doors, gates, and new beginnings.
13. June is derived from the Roman month Junius.
14. Junius was named after Juno, the goddess of marriage.
15. People associate the month of May with the growth of springtime.
16. In Roman mythology, Maia reigned as the goddess of growth.
17. In Latin, decem means “ten.”
18. The tenth month of the Roman calendar was called December.
19. August refers to Emperor Augustus, ruler of Rome from 27 B.C. to A.D. 14.
20. On the 15th of Februarius, a festival of purification was celebrated by Romans.
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ELEMENTS OF LANGUAGE | First Course
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USAGE
A verb in the active voice expresses an action done by its subject. A verb in the passive voice
expresses an action done to its subject.
ACTIVE Principal Ruiz presented the awards.
PASSIVE The awards were presented by Principal Ruiz.
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for CHAPTER 18: USING VERBS CORRECTLY
CLASS
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page 500
Sit and Set
USAGE
The verb sit means “to be seated” or “to rest.” Sit seldom takes an object. The verb set usually
means “to place” or “to put (something somewhere).” Set usually takes an object. Set has the
same form for the base form, past, and past participle.
EXAMPLES You cannot sit on that table. [no object]
I will set this figurine on the table. [Figurine is the object of set.]
EXERCISE A Underline the correct form of sit or set in the parentheses in each of the following sentences.
Example 1. I (sit, set) the treats on the counter so that the dog couldn’t get to them.
1. Please (sit, set) your glass of water on a coaster.
2. Where will all our guests be (sitting, setting) for the meal?
3. (Sit, Set) on that chair and tell me if you think it’s comfortable.
4. This longhaired cat leaves hairs wherever she (sits, sets).
5. (Sit, Set) the groceries on the counter, please.
6. If more than two people (sit, set) on this old bench, it will break.
7. I am (sitting, setting) all the items for the garage sale on these tables.
8. Martina has always (sat, set) near the front of the bus.
9. With a grunt, Mel (sat, set) the heavy boxes on the floor.
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10. On a cool evening, I (sit, set) in the backyard under the stars.
EXERCISE B Underline the form of sit or set in each of the following sentences. If the form is already
correct, write C above it. If the form is not correct, write the correct form above it.
sit
Example 1. At holiday meals, the teenagers always set together.
11. When our relatives arrived, they began sitting the food on the dining table.
12. I was setting quietly in a corner when I noticed my nephew Gordy.
13. His mother had sat him in a highchair near the dining table.
14. From his highchair he could reach the food that was sitting nearby.
15. He was sticking his fingers into a sweet-potato pie that set within his reach.
16. He then flung globs of pie filling into the dish of corn I had sat on the table earlier.
17. I went over to Gordy and set the pie out of reach.
18. If someone were setting beside him, maybe he would behave.
19. I sat in the nearest chair and then burst out laughing.
20. I had set on a chocolate cake that someone had carelessly left in the chair.
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for CHAPTER 18: USING VERBS CORRECTLY
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Rise and Raise
EXERCISE A Underline the correct form of rise or raise in each of the following sentences.
Example 1. The deer has (raised, risen) from its hiding place in the thicket.
1. April (raised, rose) from her seat and left the room.
2. In the back of the class, Tom (raised, rose) his hand to ask a question.
3. The crow flapped its wings and (raised, rose) above the treetops.
4. The sun (raises, rises) in the east.
5. Julie (raised, rose) to her feet when she saw the shooting star.
6. Leon (rose, raised) one objection to the game plan.
7. Grace and Becky slowly (raised, rose) the curtain.
8. On the first day of spring, I (rise, raise) all the windows.
9. The teenagers in the movie screamed as they watched a ghost (rise, raise) above them.
10. I (rose, raised) a white handkerchief to show that I surrendered.
EXERCISE B Underline the form of rise or raise in each of the following sentences. If the form is already
correct, write C above it. If the form is not correct, write the correct form above it.
risen
Example 1. My grandparents have raised early every morning of their lives.
11. Grain prices rose again last month.
12. Each morning when the sun raises, the farmer fills the water tank near the barn.
13. The water in the pond has raised to the top of its banks.
14. Our neighbors are rising crops of peanuts on their farm.
15. In winter the cows rise each morning to a meal of peanut hay.
16. In the barn, stacks of hay bales raise to the rafters.
17. As I gaze out into the pasture, I must raise my hand to block the sun from my eyes.
18. Rise the hood of the truck so that I can check the oil.
19. Even going slowly, the truck was rising a cloud of dust on the dirt road.
20. In the evening, sounds of the cows’ moos raise in the distance.
180
ELEMENTS OF LANGUAGE | First Course
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USAGE
The verb rise means “to move upward” or “to go up.” Rise does not take an object. The verb
raise means “to lift (something) up.” Raise usually takes an object.
EXAMPLES Tina watched the hot-air balloon rise high into the sky. [no object]
She raised her hand in a gesture of farewell. [Hand is the object of raised.]