Identify and correct inappropriate shifts in verb tense
key notes :
📝 Identify and Correct Inappropriate Shifts in Verb Tense ⏳✏️
Verb tense tells us when an action happens: past, present, or future.
Sometimes, writers shift tenses inappropriately, which can make sentences confusing. We need to identify and correct these shifts.
| What is an inappropriate shift in verb tense? ❌ |
Occurs when the tense changes unnecessarily in a sentence or paragraph.
Makes the time of action unclear.
Example:
- ❌ She was walking to school and finds a wallet.
- ✅ She was walking to school and found a wallet. ✅
| Common Verb Tenses ⏰ |
| Tense | Example | Emoji |
|---|---|---|
| Past | I played football yesterday. | ⚽️🕰️ |
| Present | I play football every day. | ⚽️📅 |
| Future | I will play football tomorrow. | ⚽️➡️ |
| Tips to Identify Shifts 🔍 |
- Look at all verbs in the sentence.
- Ask: Do all verbs show the same time? ⏳
- If not, check if the change is necessary.
Example:
- ❌ He eats breakfast and went to school.
- ✅ He ate breakfast and went to school. ✅
| Common Mistakes ⚠️ |
Mixing past and present
- ❌ She walks to the park and saw a bird.
- ✅ She walked to the park and saw a bird.
Shifting unnecessarily in narrative
- ❌ Yesterday, I went to the market and buy some fruits.
- ✅ Yesterday, I went to the market and bought some fruits.
Switching future and present
- ❌ I will call you when I am free.
- ✅ I will call you when I am free. ✅ (here it’s correct because the present tense “am” is okay after “when” for future reference)
| How to Correct Shifts 🛠️ |
Decide the main tense for your sentence or paragraph.
Change all other verbs to match the main tense unless a shift is needed.
Example:
- ❌ I am reading a book and walked to the library.
- ✅ I was reading a book and walked to the library. ✅
| Quick Reminder – “Tense Flow” 🌊 |
- Past narrative → keep all verbs in past.
- Present narrative → keep all verbs in present.
- Future narrative → keep all verbs in future.
| Fun Tip with Emoji 😎 |
- Past ⏳ = 🏃♂️💨 yesterday
- Present ⏰ = 🏃♂️ today
- Future 🔮 = 🏃♂️➡️ tomorrow
let’s practice!
