PEL101- COMMUNICATION SKILLS-I LECTURE-21 WEEK-11 DESIGNED BY ANUDEEP ID-13654

Consistency of verb tense Consistency of verb tense means that all actions in a sentence that happen (or happened) at the same time are in the same tense. Shifting from one tense to another without a good reason is not only incorrect but is confusing and distracting as well.

EXAMPLE Example of Inconsistent Tense: We were seven miles from shore. Suddenly the sky turns dark. In the first sentence, the writer uses the past tense (with the verb were), but then shifts to present tense (with the verb turns) in the second sentence. The tenses are inconsistent because both actions happen at the same time –in the past. To correct the inconsistency, make both verbs the same tense: We were seven miles from shore. Suddenly the sky turned dark.

Consistency of verb tense If all of the actions happen in the present or happen all the time, use the present tense for all verbs in the sentence. Example- A wide seat makes the rider shift from side to side and it causes painful rubbing If all of the actions happened in the past, use the past tense for all verbs. Example- I went to my room and I cried because I started thinking about sad moments.

Consistency of verb tense Inconsistent: The movie started just as we take our seats. (The actions both happened at the same time, but started is in the past tense, and take is in the present tense.) Consistent, present tense: The movie starts just as we take our seats. (The actions and verb tenses are both in the present.) Consistent, past tense: The movie started just as we took our seats. (The actions started and took both happened in the past, and both are in the past tense.)

EXERCISE Identify the verbs. Decide if there unnecessary shifts in tense. 1. Those who want a good workout needed different kinds of equipment than those interested in an easy ride. 2 . Serious riders wore special shoes that snap onto the pedals to allow pushing up as well as pushing down. 3. Once an experienced cyclist chose the proper bicycle, he or she knows how to ride it properly. 4. The smart rider also kept his or her knees slightly bent, which eases the strain on the knees. 5. My arm is hurting when I went in to see the doctor. 6. I love to play the piano as a young girl, and continue to play as an adult. 7. I would not have taken the first exit if I know the second exit brought me closer to my destination. 8. The professor was considering retirement until he find out he could not afford it. 9. She became a mother when she will have been twenty-five years old. 10. Her mother told her to clean her room, when she is walking out of the house

ANSWERS Identify the verbs. Decide if there unnecessary shifts in tense. 1Those who want a good workout need different kinds of equipment than those interested in an easy ride. 2. Serious riders wear special shoes that snap onto the pedals to allow pushing up as well as pushing down. 3 . Once an experienced cyclist chooses the proper bicycle, he or she knows how to ride it properly. 4. The smart rider also keeps his or her knees slightly bent, which eases the strain on the knees. 5. My arm was hurting when I went in to see the doctor. 6. I loved to play the piano as a young girl, and continue to play as an adult. 7. I would not have taken the first exit if I had known the second exit brought me closer to my destination. 8. The professor was considering retirement until he found out he could not afford it. 9. She became a mother when she was twenty-five years old. 10. Her mother told her to clean her room, when she was walking out of the house.

Consistency of verb tense Good writing is consistent. It is important that each sentence or paragraph stay consistent. The most common mistake is switching verb tense. Read the following paragraph, which contains several inconsistent sentences. Pay special attention to the boldfaced verbs: I used to think I want to own a pig. After visiting a farm last summer, I realize that pigs were not for me. I decided to look at other options for pets. I visited a stable and I love it. I have decided a horse is the perfect pet and felt confident this is the right decision.

ANSWER I used to think I wanted to own a pig. After visiting a farm last summer, I realized that pigs were not for me. I decided to look at other options for pets. I visited a stable and I loved it. I have decided a horse is the perfect pet and feel confident this is the right decision.

Stay Consistent! If you suspect tense inconsistency in your own writing, or the writing of others. 1) THINK about what "tense" or "time" the overall sentence is in - past, present or future. 2)  LOCATE verbs (action words) in the sentence, and see what tense they are in. 3)  RE-READ the sentence, to make sure you understand what it is saying. 4)  RE-EXAMINE the verbs in the sentence, to make sure they are in a consistent tense.  

Tense consistency exercise Complete the following sentences using an appropriate verb form. 1. If the company followed the quality guidelines, they ……………………… not land in trouble. Would b) will 2. The telephone ……………………. while I was having a bath. Rings b) rang 3. Since its conception in the early 1970s, the internet ………………………. in popularity. Grew b) has grown 4. If she had acted more responsibly, everything …………………………… all right. would be b) would have been 5. Thousands of people ………………………… see the art exhibition before it closes on Friday. a) Will b) would have

Tense consistency exercise Complete the following sentences using an appropriate verb form. 6. Captain James Cook ………………………. by Hawaiian islanders in 1779 while he was on a visit to Alaska. Killed b) was killed 7. I was terribly disappointed with my marks because I ……………………… really hard. Worked b) had worked 8.The teacher started asking questions as soon as she ………………………… the lessons. Finished b) finishes 9. Everyone ……………………… that she would return safely. Hopes b) hoped 10. The boy confessed that he ………………………. the money. a) has taken b) had taken

ANSWERS 1. If the company followed the quality guidelines, they would not land in trouble. 2. The telephone rang while I was having a bath. 3. Since its conception in the 1970s the internet has grown in popularity. 4. If she had acted more responsibly everything would have been all right. 5. Thousands of people will see the art exhibition before it closes on Friday. 6. Captain James Cook was killed by Hawaiian islanders in 1779 while he was on a visit to Alaska. 7. I was terribly disappointed with my marks because I had worked really hard. 8. The teacher started asking questions as soon as she finished the lessons. 9. Everyone hoped that she would return safely. 10. The boy confessed that he had taken the money.