1. Consistent Verb Tense

2. EXAMPLE 1: Today started like any other. I got up, ate breakfast and sat down to read the paper. As I was reading my dog (A) comes into the room and (B) starts to bark. Not his usual “I’m hungry, feed me” whine, but he (C) is really upset about something! I (D) run to the window to look out but I saw nothing.

3. EX 1 CORRECTION: Today started like any other. I got up, ate breakfast and sat down to read the paper. As I was reading my dog (A) came into the room and (B) started to bark. Not his usual “I’m hungry, feed me” whine, but he (C) was really upset about something! I (D) ran to the window to look out but I saw nothing.

4. EXAMPLE 2: This is the perfect present! It is functional, pretty and desperately needed. While I can’t say that I always (A) picked the greatest gifts, I must say that this one (B) was ideal! I (C) knew that it was just what she (D) wanted. She always talks about having one, so I know that I didn’t go wrong this time.

5. EX 2 CORRECTION: This is the perfect present! It is functional, pretty and desperately needed. While I can’t say that I always (A) pick the greatest gifts, I must say that this one (B) is ideal! I (C) know that it was just what she (D)wants. She always talks about having one, so I know that I didn’t go wrong this time.

6. EXAMPLE 3: My story begins with the setting sun over the Grand Canyon. What a beautiful sight! The light (A) shined in such a way that it (B) looked like jewels dancing in the sun. I can see very little now, as the shadows take over and night begins to fall. I (C) had waited for this moment for a long time. The stars (D) were coming out!

7. EX 3 CORRECTION: My story begins with the setting sun over the Grand Canyon. What a beautiful sight! The light (A) shines in such a way that it (B) looks like jewels dancing in the sun. I can see very little now, as the shadows take over and night begins to fall. I (C) have waited for this moment for a long time. The stars (D) are coming out!

8. EXAMPLE 4: The only words that we were able to read on the paper are wisdom and truth. All the other words (A) are either misspelled or smudged, because the printer was not working correctly, and the writer (B) is not a very good speller. So when I tried to read it aloud, I (C) am the one who (D) appears incompetent.

9. EX 4 CORRECTION: The only words that we were able to read on the paper are wisdom and truth. All the other words (A) were either misspelled or smudged, because the printer was not working correctly, and the writer (B) was not a very good speller. So when I tried to read it aloud, I (C) was the one who (D) appeared incompetent.

10. EXAMPLE 5: One of the most important battles of the Revolutionary War occurred in September and October 1777 at Saratoga, N.Y. The leader of the British troops, General John Burgoyne, set up camp near Saratoga and (A) is planning to march South to the city of Albany. Burgoyne’s army (B) has been recently weakened by the American militia who had ambushed some troops in Bennington, VT. The march to Albany (C) is a dangerous one but Burgoyne decided to take the risk because he (D) feels bound by his orders from London.

11. EX 5 CORRECTION: One of the most important battles of the Revolutionary War occurred in September and October 1777 at Saratoga, N.Y. The leader of the British troops, General John Burgoyne, set up camp near Saratoga and (A) was planning to march South to the city of Albany. Burgoyne’s army (B) had been recently weakened by the American militia who had ambushed some troops in Bennington, VT. The march to Albany (C) was a dangerous one but Burgoyne decided to take the risk because he (D) felt bound by his orders from London.

12. EXAMPLE 6: Meanwhile, also near Saratoga, the American troops under General Horatio Gates and General Philip Schuyler gather reinforcements and supplies. The American forces (A) outnumbered the British enemies by a margin of two to one. The Americans are much better equipped than the British, whose provisions (B) were badly depleted. Despite these disadvantages, the British (C) opened an attack on the Americans. After four hours of fierce fighting, the Americans (D) withdrew.

13. EX 6 CORRECTION: Meanwhile, also near Saratoga, the American troops under General Horatio Gates and General Philip Schuyler gather reinforcements and supplies. The American forces (A) outnumber the British enemies by a margin of two to one. The Americans are much better equipped than the British, whose provisions (B) are badly depleted. Despite these disadvantages, the British(C) open an attack on the Americans. After four hours of fierce fighting, the Americans (D) withdraw.