1. Photoshopped Summer Narrative Verb Tense Consistency

2.  Using the correct verb tense allows you to clearly express the time relationships among your ideas. Whenever possible, keep your verbs consistent.  It’s important for the reader to know if your event took place in the past or if it’s an event happening right now.  Video: http://education- portal.com/academy/lesson/identifying-errors-of-verb- tense.html

3. Fix It  If you suspect inconsistency in your writing: 1.THINK about what “tense” or “time” you want to convey our story– past or present. 2.LOCATE verbs in the first sentence, and see what tense they are in. (This will likely be the tense you use throughout your story). 3.REREAD your other sentences, and spot shifts in the initial tense you chose. 4.CORRECT the shifts in verb tense to make sure they’re all consistent.

4. Student Example #1  Today was a bright sunny Friday at the beach. There are a lot of surfers, boogie boarders, and people are just swimming in the gigantic waves. The sun was so strong that it was so uncomfortable to relax in your chair-- sweat would drip down your face and form puddles on your bathing suit drawstring waist. My Mom, Dad and I were sitting in our beach chairs, and my sister Gianna and my brother Rocco were out in the ocean swimming in the waves. I look over and I see a life guard boat, and it has painted on the side Sea Isle City, NJ. It is a perfect beach day, a day I’ll never forget – one that is almost too perfect.

5. Student Example #1  Today was a bright sunny Friday at the beach. There are a lot of surfers, boogie boarders, and people are just swimming in the gigantic waves. The sun was so strong that it was so uncomfortable to relax in your chair-- sweat would drip down your face and form puddles on your bathing suit drawstring waist. My Mom, Dad and I were sitting in our beach chairs, and my sister Gianna and my brother Rocco were out in the ocean swimming in the waves. I look over and I see a life guard boat, and it has painted on the side Sea Isle City, NJ. It is a perfect beach day, a day I’ll never forget – one that is almost too perfect.

6. Student Example #2  I was riding down the bumpy, narrow street when I see that Anthony Elgord or “professor” is doing another one of his stupid experiments that usually never works. This time there’s a bigger group of people watching him fail, or maybe he’s actually created something. I zoom home, hoping I won’t miss it. I run inside, grab my iPhone 5, and hurry back. “I didn’t miss it” I said… but when I say it I’m panting like a dog and my house is not that far away. Anyway, I sit down and as soon as he lays his eyes on me, his face turns as red as a burning fire ball. Anthony walks up to me and whispers, “Don’t mess me up.”

7. Student Example #2  I was riding down the bumpy, narrow street when I see that Anthony Elgord or “professor” is doing another one of his stupid experiments that usually never works. This time there’s a bigger group of people watching him fail, or maybe he’s actually created something. I zoom home, hoping I won’t miss it. I run inside, grab my iPhone 5, and hurry back. “I didn’t miss it” I said… but when I say it I’m panting like a dog and my house is not that far away. Anyway, I sit down and as soon as he lays his eyes on me, his face turns as red as a burning fire ball. Anthony walks up to me and whispers, “Don’t mess me up.”