Identify and correct inappropriate shifts in verb tense

Key Notes:

Understanding Verb Tense:

  • Verb tense indicates the time of action or state of being.
  • Common tenses include:
    • Present (e.g., run, runs)
    • Past (e.g., ran)
    • Future (e.g., will run)

Types of Shifts in Verb Tense:

  • Inappropriate Shifts occur when the writer suddenly changes the verb tense in a way that confuses the reader.
  • Consistent Tense: Maintain the same tense throughout a sentence or paragraph unless there is a valid reason to change.

Common Causes of Shifts:

  • Mixing tenses within a sentence or paragraph without a time marker.
  • Changing from past to present (or vice versa) when recounting events.
  • Using different tenses to describe actions happening simultaneously.

Examples of Inappropriate Shifts:

  • Incorrect: “She walks to the store and bought some groceries.”
  • Correct: “She walks to the store and buys some groceries.”
  • Incorrect: “I was watching TV when the phone rings.”
  • Correct: “I was watching TV when the phone rang.”

Identifying Shifts:

  • Read Carefully: Look for shifts in verb tense as you read sentences or paragraphs.
  • Time Markers: Pay attention to time markers (e.g., yesterday, now, next week) that indicate the correct tense to use.

Correcting Shifts:

  • Choose a Primary Tense: Decide on the main tense for your writing and stick to it.
  • Revise: When you identify a shift, revise the sentence to maintain consistent tense.
  • Use Verb Tense Charts: Utilize charts that outline the correct forms of verbs in different tenses for reference.

Practice Exercises:

  • Identify: Provide sentences with inappropriate shifts and ask students to identify and correct them.
  • Writing Prompts: Have students write paragraphs on a given topic, ensuring they maintain a consistent verb tense.

Common Tense Patterns:

  • Past Events: Use past tense throughout (e.g., “He walked to the park and played soccer.”).
  • Present Events: Use present tense consistently (e.g., “She runs every morning before school.”).
  • Future Events: Use future tense consistently (e.g., “They will visit the museum next week.”).

Let’s practice!🖊️